By Joah McGee
The aftermath of the military coup in Myanmar has posed significant challenges for monastics. To understand this, it is helpful to look at traditional Burmese Buddhist society in more detail. While monastics provide spiritual guidance, education, and support to the community, the laity offers material sustenance and assistance. This reciprocal relationship holds deep cultural and religious significance in Myanmar, and providing for the needs of monastics is considered a noble act.
Unfortunately, since the coup, not only has the safety of lay people been compromised, the economy has all but collapsed. There has been an acute shortage of resources, which has frequently resulted in laypeople lacking sufficient food to sustain their monastic communities. For the Burmese people, the inability to properly feed monastics is a source of deep pain and embarrassment. This has further complicated the overall stress and frustration brought on by the country’s political turmoil.
In the midst of this difficult situation, Buddhist Global Relief has provided a glimmer of hope with their generous donations, which have enabled our ground team to provide basic food supplies to many monastics throughout the country. Our most recent event sponsored by Buddhist Global Relief focused on supporting nuns in the Bagan region. In Burma, female renunciates are often overlooked and neglected in comparison to their male counterparts, and fewer resources are provided for their well-being. This initiative sponsored by BGR aimed to address this disparity and extend support to the nuns, who are essential members of the monastic community.
This donation evoked gratitude and joy in both the monastics and their lay supporters. It enabled the nuns to continue to carry out their monastic responsibilities amidst challenging circumstances, while the lay supporters found solace in knowing that despite all the hardship, their monastic community would not go hungry.
Beyond addressing the pressing need for food aid, this caring act serves as a poignant reminder of the deep interconnectedness and resilience in Burmese society, even in the face of strong adversity. And the origin of this donation from beyond Burma’s borders amplifies the sense of interconnectedness even more!
The generous support from BGR bears witness to the compassion and solidarity of the global community, and the shared humanity that unites us all. During a time marred by crisis and uncertainty, all these collective efforts from distant places have bridged geographical gaps, offering hope and sustenance to the monastic communities in Myanmar.
The following words are from our team leader, who organized the event on the ground:
“We recently held a donation event to support the nuns residing in 17 monastic sites across Bagan and Nyaung-U. This contribution will have a profound impact on these nunneries, providing essential sustenance for a period of at least 2 or 3 months. Among the recipients of our donation were young nuns from Pariyatti nunneries, where they diligently study Buddhist scripture. The abbess of one such nunnery expressed her gratitude, informing us that she no longer has to worry, as this donation will ensure that the nuns under her care are now well-fed. This act of generosity is deeply appreciated and will serve as invaluable support for both the nunneries and the dedicated nuns residing there.
“During our visit, we encountered nuns of varying ages, some even in their 80s. Their joy was palpable as they approached us, eager to express their heartfelt appreciation. One elderly nun, aged 74, shared her story with me. She explained that she resided alone for many years in a monastery that housed a meditation center. The resident monk had graciously provided her with nourishment throughout her time there, and she had always felt a sense of indebtedness. Though she could only contribute physically by helping in the monastery’s kitchen, our donation now granted her the ability to cover her own needs without further straining the monastery during this difficult time. Overwhelmed with gratitude, she extended her thanks to all the donors and volunteers, emphasizing the significance of being remembered. She wished us prosperity in our everyday lives and ultimate liberation.
“It is also worth noting that some of the nuns we supported hailed from the Tant Kyi Daung area, situated on the western bank of Ayeyarwady River in the Magwe Region. Unfortunately, this area has recently been marred by violence due to the presence of several military bases nearby. Consequently, the nuns from this area were forced to relocate to Bagan. Although I am saddened by the circumstances that led to their displacement from their original secluded nunneries nestled within the forests away from densely populated areas, I am really grateful that we could extend our donation to these resilient nuns in their time of need.
“To commemorate the donation, we invited a respected monk to deliver a speech. In his remarks, he highlighted the rarity of such donation events exclusively benefiting nuns, as donations to monks are more usual. He emphasized the unfortunate reality that female monastics are often overlooked and face financial hardships. We extend our deepest appreciation to those who generously contributed, making this exceptional event possible.”
Joah McGee spent nearly 15 years living in Myanmar, with much of the time spent at monasteries and meditation centers. In an effort to help Western practitioners become more aware of Burmese Buddhist practice and culture, he authored a comprehensive guidebook for meditators, and organized pilgrimages to lesser-known sites. In 2019, Joah launched the Insight Myanmar Podcast, a platform designed to showcase conversations with seasoned practitioners and experienced teachers. However, the political landscape tragically changed in 2021 with the military coup in Myanmar. In response to the dire situation, Joah founded the nonprofit organization, Better Burma, which provides much-needed support through humanitarian projects to vulnerable communities adversely affected by the coup.
