November 16, Irrawaddy
Dhamma VCDs by two of Burma’s respected senior monks, which are
interpreted as critical of the junta’s brutal crackdown on the monk-led
demonstrations, have been banned by authorities, according to Rangoon
sources.
The two monks, U Nyanithara and U Kawvida, are well-known for their Dhamma
talks [Buddhist teachings] to laypeople.
“Normally all Dhamma cassette tapes or VCDs are sold at shops across the
country," said a Rangoon resident. "But we cannot buy these recent VCDs
at shops because authorities banned them. But you know it's the IT age. So
the VCDs are copied and delivered person-to-person.”
One Rangoon resident told The Irrawaddy on Friday that U Kawvida called
the Burmese junta the second "Azartathet" [Azartathet is an infamous
villain who killed his father for power in Buddhist stories]. U Kawvida
is abbot at Mizzima Gon Yee Monastery in Rangoon.
The monks' dhamma talks, recorded on VCDs, are based on classic Buddhist
stories, but the meaning of the words are interpreted by laypeople as
critical of Snr-Gen Than Shwe and the junta, in part because the talks
were given shortly after the country-wide protest demonstrations.
U Kawvida, a Buddhist PhD scholar, said in his VCD that the worst disease
is hunger, and if people are poor and hungry, it is a universal truth that
they will explore. According to one layperson who saw the VCD, the story
was saying that if a government causes people to be poor and hungry, it is
natural for people to protest and demonstrate. His most recent Dhamma
talks were in Rangoon and Magway.
Another senior monk, U Nyanithara , also known as Thitagu Sayardaw, spoke
before laypeople in Myingyan in central Burma. In his VCD, titled “The Way
of Dumb People,” he criticized people who are guided by numerology and
astrology. One layperson said the story was critical of Snr-Gen Than Shwe,
who is famous for basing important decisions on his astrologer's advice. A
second VCD is titled "The Ending of the King."
U Nyanithara openly talked about democracy in many Dhamma talks following
the 1988 uprising, and his democracy dhamma tapes were popular among
Burmese. He is active in humanitarian work and well-known for his water
supply projects, known as Thitagu Water Donations. He has helped establish
Buddhist groups in the US, Canada, Australia and in Europe.
Dhamma VCDs by two of Burma’s respected senior monks, which are
interpreted as critical of the junta’s brutal crackdown on the monk-led
demonstrations, have been banned by authorities, according to Rangoon
sources.
The two monks, U Nyanithara and U Kawvida, are well-known for their Dhamma
talks [Buddhist teachings] to laypeople.
“Normally all Dhamma cassette tapes or VCDs are sold at shops across the
country," said a Rangoon resident. "But we cannot buy these recent VCDs
at shops because authorities banned them. But you know it's the IT age. So
the VCDs are copied and delivered person-to-person.”
One Rangoon resident told The Irrawaddy on Friday that U Kawvida called
the Burmese junta the second "Azartathet" [Azartathet is an infamous
villain who killed his father for power in Buddhist stories]. U Kawvida
is abbot at Mizzima Gon Yee Monastery in Rangoon.
The monks' dhamma talks, recorded on VCDs, are based on classic Buddhist
stories, but the meaning of the words are interpreted by laypeople as
critical of Snr-Gen Than Shwe and the junta, in part because the talks
were given shortly after the country-wide protest demonstrations.
U Kawvida, a Buddhist PhD scholar, said in his VCD that the worst disease
is hunger, and if people are poor and hungry, it is a universal truth that
they will explore. According to one layperson who saw the VCD, the story
was saying that if a government causes people to be poor and hungry, it is
natural for people to protest and demonstrate. His most recent Dhamma
talks were in Rangoon and Magway.
Another senior monk, U Nyanithara , also known as Thitagu Sayardaw, spoke
before laypeople in Myingyan in central Burma. In his VCD, titled “The Way
of Dumb People,” he criticized people who are guided by numerology and
astrology. One layperson said the story was critical of Snr-Gen Than Shwe,
who is famous for basing important decisions on his astrologer's advice. A
second VCD is titled "The Ending of the King."
U Nyanithara openly talked about democracy in many Dhamma talks following
the 1988 uprising, and his democracy dhamma tapes were popular among
Burmese. He is active in humanitarian work and well-known for his water
supply projects, known as Thitagu Water Donations. He has helped establish
Buddhist groups in the US, Canada, Australia and in Europe.
