Burmese Monks Tales – The Monk’s Tales of Burma were always told by their author on the spur of the moment, and originally were not noted down. By word of mouth they reached villages all over Burma, and took place alongside the Jakatas, the folk tales. The Monk’s Tales were collected in Burma in the years 1926-29 and most of them originates from the dark decade of Burmese history (1876-85), when British occupied the country. The British rulers never understood that the Burmese society based on the monastic schools was a main foundation of Burmese society. Since Buddhism had never in any place been a single canonical religion, every monk are encouraged to discuss and debate any point of doctrine. This underlying premise gave rise to monk’s tales as a way of educating laymen under the British suppression.
Burmese Monks Tales
Burmese Monks TalesStorytelling in traditional Burmese Buddhism
Storytelling is an important aspect of Burmese Buddhism, as it is used to convey moral and spiritual teachings to laypeople. The stories, known as “Jatakas,” are based on the past lives of the Buddha and other enlightened beings and are used to illustrate the principles of Buddhism, such as the law of karma and the nature of suffering. These stories are often told in the form of parables, and the characters in them are often animals or other beings, each representing a different aspect of human nature.
One of the most famous Jatakas in Burmese Buddhism is the “Vessantara Jataka,” which tells the story of Prince Vessantara, who gives away all his possessions, including his wife and children, in acts of generosity. This story is considered to be one of the greatest examples of selfless giving and is often used to teach the importance of generosity and detachment.
In addition to Jatakas, Burmese Buddhism also includes other forms of storytelling such as the “thachin” traditional storytelling performances, where a storyteller recounts a tale accompanied by the music of a traditional orchestra. These stories include both religious and secular themes, and often include elements of humor and satire.
In summary, storytelling is a key medium for the transmission of Buddhism teachings in Myanmar, through traditional performances and jatakas, it helps to convey the moral and spiritual teachings to laypeople.