Buddhism in Myanmar: A Short History

This is a Pariyatti audiobook of "Buddhism in Myanmar: A Short History" (Wheel Publication No. 399–401) by Roger Bischoff narrated by Shelina Hetherington.

"Myanmar, or Burma as the nation has been known throughout history, is one of the major countries following Theravada Buddhism. In recent years Myanmar has attained special eminence as the host for the Sixth Buddhist Council, held in Yangon (Rangoon) between 1954 and 1956, and as the source from which two of the major systems of Vipassaná meditation have emanated out into the greater world: the tradition springing from the Venerable Mahāsi Sayādaw of Thathana Yeiktha and that springing from Sayagyi U Ba Khin of the International Meditation Centre.

"This booklet is intended to offer a short history of Buddhism in Myanmar from its origins through the country’s loss of independence to Great Britain in the late nineteenth century. I have not dealt with more recent history as this has already been well documented. To write an account of the development of a religion in any country is a delicate and demanding undertaking and one will never be quite satisfied with the result. This booklet does not pretend to be an academic work shedding new light on the subject. It is designed, rather, to provide the interested nonacademic reader with a brief overview of the subject.

"One of the objectives of the narrative is to show that the Buddha’s Teaching did not make a lasting impression on Myanmar immediately upon first arrival. The Sásana had to be re-introduced or purified again and again from the outside until Myanmar had matured to the point of becoming one of the main shrines where the Theravada Buddhist teachings are preserved. The religion did not develop in Myanmar. Rather, the Myanmar people developed through the religion until the Theravada faith became embedded in their culture and Pali Buddhism became second nature to them." —Roger Bischoff