| said that under the monarchy of the 19th century | | | | oppose the government at every available |
| when Buddhist studies flourished, monks were strict in | | | | opportunity.” At the end of the year, senior |
| discipline. The king appointed a hierarchy headed by a | | | | monks agreed to formulate a new code of conduct |
| Sangharaja to regulate the affairs of the Order. Under | | | | and form a hierarchy to enforce the strict rules of |
| the British rule, no new patriarch was appointed. | | | | monkhood. |
| Eventually, the British ruler made arrangements for the | | | | In 2508/1965, young pongyis in many parts of Burma |
| monks to elect a head for themselves. Since then, | | | | condemned the revolutionary government as |
| discipline in the monasteries has become lax. Many | | | | anti-religious and urged its overthrow. On April 27, |
| younger monks became involved in politics. There | | | | ninety-two pongyis were arrested by the government. |
| were even small groups of monks who formed gangs | | | | By showing public evidence of the corruption of the |
| demanding protection money from theaters in | | | | arrested monks, the government prevented popular |
| Mandalay. The monkhood did not receive direct | | | | opposition and won the approval of the monkhood. As |
| government support. Their influence on the political | | | | the government action was proved to be an effort to |
| parties was the only tie they had to the state. | | | | purify the Sangha, the political role of the pongyis was |
| In August 2504/1961, Buddhism was made the state | | | | crushed. This was followed by many meritorious |
| religion by a vote of 324 to 28. The event, however, | | | | activities on the part of the government to show that it |
| did not please some minority groups in the hill country, | | | | supported Buddhism only in a nonpolitical role. To a |
| especially the Kachins and the Karens who had been | | | | great extent, the government has met with success. |
| converted to Christianity. Uprising problems developed | | | | The above story may be summed up in Mr. |
| at the time when economic conditions had become | | | | Schecter’s words, “In Burma the monks |
| worse. On March 2, 2505/1962, General Ne Win | | | | have failed to serve as anything more than a critical |
| seized power, suspended the constitution and | | | | and negative force; since their contribution to |
| pro-claimed a new anti-Communist government under | | | | independence, they have spent their efforts in holding |
| a Revolutionary Council. Its policy and social and | | | | on to past prerogatives rather than offering initiatives..... |
| economic ideas were outlined in the document called | | | | It (the Ne Win government) has tried to apply Buddhist |
| “The Burmese Way to Socialism,” in | | | | principles to social, economic and political change, |
| which Buddhist thought and Marxism could join. But the | | | | leaving the clergy behind.”1 |
| new leading role was to be played by the socialist | | | | To many people, however, the attitude of the Ne Win |
| military, not the pongyis. Ne Win returned to the policy | | | | regime towards Buddhism has been negative or |
| of the leader of the Burmese independence | | | | doubtful. At least, it is apparent that the rich |
| movement, that is, to separate religion from politics. | | | | government support to Buddhist activities formerly |
| In August 2507/1964, a number of pongyis attacked | | | | given by U Nu has been reduced to a deficiency. The |
| and destroyed the printing press and the office of a | | | | majestic work of publishing Buddhist texts and |
| Mandalay newspaper which published an article | | | | translations, though not brought to a complete stop, has |
| “A reminder to keep the Sasana pure.” | | | | hardly continued. The advancement of Buddhist studies |
| Then, the Ne Win government issued a statement, | | | | and propagation has been barely encouraged or even |
| saying, “.....from now onwards the revolutionary | | | | checked by some government restrictions, though |
| government will have to defend itself against bogus | | | | there is now a sign of some improvement. |
| sanghas who have merely adorned the yellow robe to | | | | |