Unorthodox Inquiries

About this episode

U Pandita discusses the challenges of censorship and authoritarian governance within Myanmar's monastic order.

Episode #531: “The laws that govern the monks’ organization were written before 1988, during a one-party dictatorship! In the Sangha organization, you cannot have different voices… everything comes from the top-down. If you say anything unorthodox, your writing will be censored.” U Pandita explains the challenges within Myanmar’s Saṅgha, where rigid hierarchies and censorship laws stifle independent thought and research. He critiques the authoritarian governance of the monastic order, noting that senior Buddhist monks resist change because they benefit from the status quo. Monks lack autonomy, and dissenting voices face severe consequences, including disrobement or legal action. He contrasts his current freedom in Sri Lanka with the restrictions in place in Myanmar, where his academic work would be censored, and he would be in danger. He highlights how the Saṅgha’sinability to modernize perpetuates problems like corruption, and silence around controversial topics. He also criticizes the Sangha’s role in promoting nationalist and anti-Islamic sentiments, driven by the military’s claim of “protecting Buddhism,” which he dismisses as a self-serving excuse. U Pandita delves into…

People in this episode

Guest: U Pandita

Topics covered

• Buddhist ethics
• monastic governance
• censorship
• nationalism
• corruption
• independent thought

Keywords

• monks
• censorship
• Buddhism
• Myanmar
• Saṅgha
• nationalism
• ethical standards
• corruption

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Saṅgha

Places: Myanmar, Sri Lanka, 1988, Buddhism

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