Dhamma banned in Burma

Irrawaddy
Wai Moe
Fri 28 Dec 2007

The Burmese military government has ordered a ban on Buddhist dhamma talks and seminars in Rangoon, according to monks in the former capital.

The monks told The Irrawaddy on Thursday that dhamma [the Buddha’s teachings] talks by four well-known monks were forced to cancel in December. The monks were named as: U Kawthala, also known as Dhamma Sedi Sayadaw; U Kawvida, also known as Mizzima Gon Yi Sayadaw; U Nadapadi, also known as Pyu Sayadaw; and U Sadila, also known as Lu Yay Chun Sayadaw.

Township authorities in Rangoon had been ordered to ban dhamma talks by the Regional Commander of Rangoon, said the sources. On Wednesday, U Kawvida, who is also a PhD in Buddhism, prepared to conduct a Buddhist tutorial in Insein Township, on the outskirts of Rangoon. However, officials arrived at the scene and ordered the dhamma talk to be stopped immediately.

“U Kawvida requested permission from the commander of the Rangoon Regional Command, Maj-Gen Hla Htay Win, to address the crowd, but the commander rejected the monk’s request,” said a monk, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

“U Kawvida was scheduled to talk in Rangoon tomorrow, but he has been forced to cancel.”

Meanwhile, in central Rangoon, a dhamma talk by Khamasiri Linkaya, also known as Shwepyihein Sayadaw, was stopped by authorities recently, according to sources in Rangoon.

Khamasiri Linkaya was then interrogated, said a monk who attended the talk, adding that the authorities suspected his speech was critical of the junta and might charge the senior monk.

Since November, dhamma VCDs featuring Burma’s most respected senior monks, including U Nyanithara and U Kawvida, which are critical of the military crackdown , have reportedly been banned by the authorities.

“The authorities ban dhamma CDs and VCDs whether they are directly or indirectly critical of military rule,” said a senior monk.

Meanwhile, the Buddhist University in Rangoon was ordered to close by authorities according to sources. Officials have yet to announce a date for the university to reopen. Monks from the Buddhist University were actively involved in the September uprising.

The Burmese junta often claims it believes deeply in Buddhism and encourages the growth of the faith. It’s a claim that few Burmese people believe since the acts of brutality carried out by the authorities against the revered monks.