A Messianic Buddhist association in Upper Burma

Abstract

In the majority of cases, the religion of contemporary Burma is described as a compound of Theravāda Buddhism and the survivals of an indigenous ‘Animism’. As an anthropological field-worker I have recently found in Burma certain beliefs and rituals which did not appear to fit exactly into either of these two categories. I present here, in two parts, a study of an association which I have chosen to call Messianic Buddhist. In the first part I describe the building in which it is housed and the cults I witnessed, together with beliefs concerning these cults elicited in the course of several conversations with members of the association. In the second part I draw on comparative materials in printed sources in order to justify my choice of terms and to attempt to explain the origin and nature of the association.