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A Vietnamese pagoda has quietly returned a supposed Buddhist relic – eight hairs stated to be from Sidartha Gautma, the founding father of Buddhism – to Myanmar after questions arose over its authenticity.
The relic was on show on the Ba Vang Pagoda in northern Vietnam from Dec. 23-27, receiving large press within the nation on the time of its arrival. The pagoda made an enormous deal about receiving the relic with a big ceremony to obtain what it was calling considered one of Myanmar’s “nationwide treasures.”
However when RFA Vietnamese requested RFA Burmese to confirm the story with non secular specialists in Myanmar, they stated there was little if any archaeological or historic proof to authenticate the relic.
If it have been extensively believed to be professional, the relic can be much more well-known in Myanmar, a rustic that’s 87% Buddhist.
After doubts in regards to the relic appeared on social media, the pagoda returned it to its homeowners.
Many objects believed to be sacred relics have doubtful origins, a Buddhist monk who’s a member of Myanmar’s highest State Buddhist Sangha Council, informed RFA Burmese on situation of anonymity for safety causes attributable to commenting on delicate non secular points.
“Any relics that we now have right now are attributable to [people] over-believing in one thing unreasonable,” he stated. “Individuals ought to use their very own reasoning [to determine] whether or not [something like this] might be doable or not.”
RFA tried to debate the matter with the Myanmar army junta’s Spiritual Affairs Division, however each spokesmen declined to remark or have been unavailable.
A present from the enlightened
In accordance with legend, the eight hairs got to 2 Burmese retailers by the Buddha himself, who lived within the sixth and fifth centuries B.C.
Ba Vang Pagoda and its abbot, the Most Venerable Thich Truc Thai Minh, stated they’d borrowed the relic for show from Parami Monastery and Parami Worldwide Buddha Relics Museum in Myanmar.
If real, it could imply that the relic was handed down by the generations from the 2 retailers till the museum turned its steward.
RFA confirmed that each the monastery and the museum exist. They’re each situated in Yangon, however couldn’t attain the spokesperson or a accountable consultant of both.
Though the story in regards to the relic went viral on social and mainstream media in Vietnam, Myanmar’s media has had no protection concerning the lending of its “nationwide treasure” to Vietnam for exhibition, as had been reported in Vietnam.
The reckoning
The Giác Ngộ on-line newspaper beneath the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, or VBS, reported that at its assembly on Jan. 4, 2023, the standing board of VBS’ Northern Govt Council mentioned disciplinary motion towards the abbot Minh for being concerned within the show of the Buddha hair relic.
In accordance with the Most Venerable Thich Duc Thien, the vice-chairman and secretary-general of the Govt Council, the Minh admitted fault in entrance of monks, nuns and Buddhist followers for the show that provoked public controversy and broken the fame of the sangha.
The VBS accepted his penance, asking him and the pagoda to not manage any worldwide exchanges on the pagoda over the following yr, Thien informed RFA.
Translated by RFA Burmese and Vietnamese. Edited by Eugene Whong and Malcolm Foster.
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