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Overcoming Stigma With Brahamavihara

Presenter: Sayardaw U Tay Zadipati

Shwe Chin Thae (Golden Lion) CBOSagaing DivisionMyanmar

ICAAP attendance supported by UNAIDS

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A Brief History

• After attaining enlightenment, the Buddha founded the order of monks (Sangha)

• These monks travelled around sharing the Gospel of Liberation From Suffering (Vinaya Pitaka, Maha Vaggapali)

• To survive, the monks begged for alms– This was for two reasons. To reduce their pride and to increase the

links between monks and the community

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History

• This vital force – of monks and the community supporting and helping each other – continues today– Community members feed the monks– Monks undertake social work

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Buddhism & Discrimination• Judging, excluding and stigmatising people is NOT Buddhist

behaviour– This comes from social and cultural factors that existed before the

Buddha– The Buddha clearly said NO to standing in judgement of others– Buddha’s original teachings and practice can be used to reduce

exclusion and stigma

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The Relevant Teachings

• Many of Buddha’s texts, practices & teachings can be used to guide non-stigmatising HIV prevention, treatment, and care and support efforts

“[Practice] no discrimination; strive to understand root cause and effect and

treat everyone with the same respect and dignity, no matter what one's class, sexual orientation and past”

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Buddha’s Own Example

• Some extremely common sermons in Myanmar, regularly preached in public, tell of Buddha’s own practice of not discriminating against anyone

• Angulimala, a notorious and hateful killer feared by all, was welcomed and accepted as a monk in the Buddhist Order

From the Angulimala Sutta, in Majjhimapannasapali

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Buddha’s Own Example

• Ambapa-li, a sex worker during the time of Buddha, was welcomed as a Bikkhuni, Buddhist nun, in the female Sanhga (deserving of the same respect as the male Sangha for spiritual goodness)

From the Ambapa-li Therigatha in Therigatha Pali

• Ambapa-li’s goodness was acknowledged and recorded in the Sanana chronicle

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Buddha’s Own Example

• Sirima, a sex worker, was well recognised and respectfully received as one of Buddha’s devotees without any discrimination

• When she passed away, the Buddha asked King Bimbisara to invite the whole city to the funeral, then delivered the sermon himself

In the Dhammapada Atthakatha (Detailed Explanation of the Original Dhamma)

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Buddha’s Own Example

• Pandaka, a man who had sex with other men, became a monk in the Noble Order of Sangha

The Story of Pandaka, in Mahavaggapali, Vinaya Pitaka

• The Buddha himself bathed and took care of a monk who was suffering from severe diarrhea

“Taking care of the sick is the same as taking care of me”

The Story of a Patient Monk in Maha Vaggapali, Vinaya Pitaka

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Buddha’s Own Example

• In such a way the Buddha himself showed real-life applications of the principles and values of his teachings:

Do good for the betterment of humankind without discrimination

• Such principles and values are known as Brahmavihara

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Conclusion

• For thousands of years, Buddhists in Myanmar have turned to the Sangha in times of joy or sorrow– Even without such special occasions they make offerings to show

their respect to Buddha and to gain merit

• Buddhist monks should engage in social work

• To truly follow Buddha, this social work should be carried out for the welfare of all humanity without discrimination

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Thank You To contact Shwe Chin Thae, please contact:

Email: tayzadipati@gmail.com