Buddhist-Christian Dialogue: a Way Toward Peaceful Co-Existence in Myanmar Ciin Sian Khai
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Buddhist-Christian Dialogue: A Way Toward Peaceful Co-Existence in Myanmar Ciin Sian Khai This research focuses on Buddhist-Christian dialogue in Myanmar. The author explores if the initiative for interfaith Buddhist-Christian encounter can help or hinder peaceful co-existence in his country. The close relationship of Christians in Myanmar to Dialogue: the colonial British rulership in the 19th and 20th century can be seen as an impeding factor for today’s relationship A Way Toward between Buddhists and Christians. Reconciliation and for- giveness can only be approached by revisiting the histori- Peaceful Co-Existence cal memories and by providing detailed information on the conditions of Christian and Buddhist co-existence in the past. A major part of the research are interviews held with in Myanmar missionsakademie Buddhists and Christians in Myanmar questioning their an der universität hamburg knowledge about each other and evaluating their willing- academy of mission ness to a better mutual understanding and to dialogue. at the university of hamburg Ciin Sian Khai, Baptist pastor in Myanmar, graduated Dialogue Buddhist-Christian B.Theol. at Zomi Theological College, Falam/Myanmar, B.A. (History) at Dagon University, Yangon/Myanmar, M.Div. at Myanmar Institute of Theology, Yangon/Myanmar, and M.Theol. at the Protestant Theological University, Kampen/ Netherlands. For his contribution on Buddhist-Christian dialogue in Myanmar, the Faculty of the Humanities – Dept. of Protestant Theology at the University of Hamburg con- Khai Sian Ciin ferred a doctorate to Rev. Khai. ISBN 978-3-921620-94-6 ISSN 2196-4696 STUDIEN ZU INTERKULTURELLER STUDIEN ZU INTERKULTURELLER 8 THEOLOGIE AN DER MISSIONSAKADEMIE THEOLOGIE AN DER MISSIONSAKADEMIE 8 Ciin Sian Khai Buddhist-Christian Dialogue: A Way Toward Peaceful Co-Existence in Myanmar STUDIEN ZU INTERKULTURELLER THEOLOGIE AN DER MISSIONSAKADEMIE 8 Bibliografische Information Der Deutschen Bibliothek Die Deutsche Bibliothek verzeichnet diese Publikation in der Deutschen Nationalbibliografie. Detaillierte bibliografische Daten sind im Internet über http://dnb.ddb.de abrufbar. Missionshilfe Verlag, Hamburg 2015 Alle Rechte vorbehalten Cover Design: Martin Keiper ISBN 978-3-921620-94-6 ISSN 2196-4696 To My beloved Parents Pi Vial Sial Cing & Pu Thang Za Gin Whose maha metta-karuna I could never ever return 3 4 Preface It is a great joy to me to write a preface for this book which is the doctoral dissertation of Ciin Sian Khai submitted to the Department of Protestant Theology of Hamburg University in summer term 2015. Dr. Khai finished his theological doctorate on 9 July 2015. I was privileged to supervise his research on Christian- Buddhist dialogue in Myanmar during the years of his studies in Hamburg and learned very much about the missionary and political history, culture, Christianity, Buddhism, religious relations, and the vision to religious and political peace of his country. Myanmar became very close to me even though I have so far not been to the country. Moreover, Dr. Khai was a person not only of scholarly diligence but also of a subtle sense of humour and was a great enrichment to the community of the Academy of Mission. I wish him and his family all the best for the private future and academic career. Hamburg, July 2015 Ulrich Dehn 5 6 Acknowledgement To begin with, I am sincerely thankful to the Academy of Mission for consistent scholarship assistance in order for me to complete my doctoral studies at the University of Hamburg. Also, I would like to express my gratitude to Stowe Fund which financed me for mission research at Yale Divinity School, USA in 2013. I am deeply indebted to my Doktorvater, Prof. Dr. Ulrich Dehn, for his guidance and friendship which make me feel at home during my days under his supervision. Further, I am grateful to Prof. Dr. Adrian Hermann, Zweitgutachter for my dissertation. My special thanks go to Dr. Uta Andrée, director of Mission Academy, whose motherly care, concern and untiring assistance in my study is of great value and unforgettable. My heartfelt thanks also go to Prof. Dr. Werner Kahl, Dr. Michael Biehl, Sabine Förster, Dr. Claudete Beise Ulrich, Dr. Sönke Lorberg-Fehring, Jantje Trey and staff members in Mission Academy, Thomas Andrée, Dr. Dieter und Ursula Hecker, Dr. Gerhard Köberlin, Dr. Hans-Bernd Zöllner, Melissa Seiling, Heike Nutsman und Familie (meine Gastfamilie in Bochum), Tabea Teßmer who voluntarily taught me German language during my embarkation of German language in Bochum. Furthermore, I would like to thank my international friends at the University of Hamburg, to mention a few, Sanele Lavatai from Samoa and Aravind Jeyakumar from India for their genuine friendship. In addition, word of thanks goes to Prof. Dr. Leo J. Koffeman, professor of Systematic Theology and Church Law at Protestant Theological University, Kampen, Leiden and Utrecht, who encouraged me to develop my critical thinking, Prof. Dr. Volker Küster, professor of Cross-cultural Theology at Protestant Theological University, Kampen who motivated me to concentrate on interfaith dialogue and Rev. Stanish Stanely from India with whom I did Master program in the Netherlands for his motivation to pursue doctoral studies on interfaith dialogue. My appreciation and thankfulness goes to Rev. Dr. Vum Khan Khual, Principal of Zomi Theological Seminary, Rev. En Khan Hau, former President of Zomi Baptist Convention of Myanmar and Prof. Dr. U C. Thang Za Tuan for their support and encouragement. Last, but not least, I wish to thank my wife, Nu Yaw Di Sian Leen Sung for her encouragement, understanding and unfailing support, my parents, Pu Thang Za Gin and Pi Vial Sial Cing, my parents-in-law, Pu David Thawng Khan Thang and Pi Niang Khen Dim, my siblings, Pa Dal Khan Thang, Pa Khen Kap Langh, Pa Cin Khawm Hau, Pa Suan Khan Eng and Nu Ning Man Vung for all their love, moral support and constant prayer. 7 8 TABLE OF CONTENT INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................ 13 CHAPTER 1 A BRIEF SURVEY ON THE SOCIO-POLITICAL AND RELIGIO-CULTURAL FEATURES OF MYANMAR ............................................................................................... 25 1.1. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................ 25 1.2. SOCIO-POLITICAL CONTEXT OF MYANMAR ....................................................... 26 1.3. RELIGIO-CULTURAL CONTEXT ............................................................................... 32 1.4. CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................. 35 CHAPTER 2 BUDDHIST-CHRISTIAN RELATIONS IN MYANMAR: A HISTORICAL OVERVIEW 37 2.1. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................ 37 2.2. THE ADVENT OF BUDDHISM IN MYANMAR ........................................................ 37 2.2.1. LEGENDARY TRADITION .................................................................................. 38 2.2.2. HISTORICAL TRADITION .................................................................................. 40 2.2.3. THE DISTINCTIVE FEATURES OF MYANMAR BUDDHISM .......................... 46 2.3. THE ARRIVAL OF CHRISTIANITY IN MYANMAR ................................................ 48 2.3.1. CATHOLIC MISSION ........................................................................................... 49 2.3.2. PROTESTANT MISSION ..................................................................................... 51 2.4. THE HISTORY OF MYANMAR IN THE LIGHOF BUDDHIST-CHRISTIAN RELATIONS......................................................................................................................... 54 2.4.1. BEFORE COLONIAL PERIOD (until 1885) ....................................................... 54 2.4.2. DURING COLONIAL PERIOD (1885-1948)...................................................... 62 2.4.3. AFTER COLONIAL PERIOD (1948 – Present) ................................................. 69 2.5. CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................. 76 CHAPTER 3 VOICES ON BUDDHIST-CHRISTIAN ENCOUNTER IN MYANMAR ........................... 77 3.1. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................ 77 3.2. SUMMARY AND CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE INTERVIEWS ............................ 80 9 3.2.1. THE PERCEPTIONS OF BUDDHIST INTERVIEWEES....................................... 81 3.2.2. THE PERCEPTIONS OF CHRISTIAN INTERVIEWEES ..................................... 93 3.3. FINDINGS .................................................................................................................. 106 3.4. CONCLUSION ........................................................................................................... 109 CHAPTER 4 A THEORETICAL APPROACH TO BUDDHIST-CHRISTIAN DIALOGUE IN MYANMAR ........................................................................................................................ 111 4.1. INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................... 111 4.2. INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE IN THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH ............. 112 4.2.1. NOSTRA AETATE ............................................................................................. 113 4.2.2.