On March 28, a powerful earthquake rocked Myanmar, claiming thousands of lives and targeting the country’s vital Buddhist infrastructure, including numerous monasteries. Many monks, vital figures in Myanmar's spiritual landscape, perished when their monasteries collapsed.
A Tragic Earthquake Devastates Monasteries and Monks in Myanmar
A Tragic Earthquake Devastates Monasteries and Monks in Myanmar
A recent earthquake in Myanmar has had a profound impact on the country's Buddhist society, leading to loss among its monasteries and clergy.
The Old Masoeyein monastery in Mandalay faced complete destruction, mourning the loss of monks and religious buildings. In a touching scene last week, congregants gathered to honor Ashin Pyinnyar Tharmi, a 27-year-old monk whose body was found among the rubble. Ashin Javanar Linkhara, a fellow monk, emotionally recalled the loss while holding the deceased's about-blanket, symbolizing the fragile nature of life—alluded to by the phrase “Impermanent, alas, are all formations.”
This tragedy occurred amid an ongoing humanitarian crisis in Myanmar, exacerbated by a prolonged civil conflict. The March earthquake not only claimed numerous lives but also dealt a blow to the nation’s identity intertwined with Buddhism, which is practiced by around 90% of the population.
In recent years, Buddhism has become entwined with nationalism, leading to extremist movements that have sparked violence against other communities. While the full scale of the earthquake's toll on the Buddhist clergy remains to be determined, thousands of sacred monuments have been lost, marking a somber moment in Myanmar's history.
This tragedy occurred amid an ongoing humanitarian crisis in Myanmar, exacerbated by a prolonged civil conflict. The March earthquake not only claimed numerous lives but also dealt a blow to the nation’s identity intertwined with Buddhism, which is practiced by around 90% of the population.
In recent years, Buddhism has become entwined with nationalism, leading to extremist movements that have sparked violence against other communities. While the full scale of the earthquake's toll on the Buddhist clergy remains to be determined, thousands of sacred monuments have been lost, marking a somber moment in Myanmar's history.
