The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-01-13
MONKS OE BURMAH.
A BROTHERHOOD TO WHICH EVERY
MALE BURMESE BELONGS.

Final utilization Is the Supreme De-
sire Of Their Lives-Privations That
the ''Phoongyees- Undergo-How They
Are Regarded by the People.
The Burmese have a highly lourishing
monastic institution, the members of which
are styled "Phoongyees, " a word signifying
"great glory" The Phoongyee order is an
absolute necessity under the present Budd
hist dispeDsation, because no one can
emerge from the whirlpool of ever recur
ring existence unless he abandon the world
and become a recluse, a monk. For this
reason every man with the least claim to
responsibility or good social standing IN
Burmah must go through the formality of
assuming the yellow robe of a Phoongyee
once in his lifetime, and join the religious
brotherhood for a few days at least. This
Is generally done in boyhood
These monks live in monasteries or
-kyourgs," built away from the hum and
buzz of towns and villages. Successful
traders will oftenti1nes spend the better
part of their gains in building monastery,
either as means OF acquiring merit or for
the sake of preixing to their name the
honorable appeliation OF "kyoung-taga,
l. e., builder of monastery. This they be-
stow on some favorite monk of theirs, who
ipso facto is installed rs superior OF It The
order has a duly organized hierarchy, with
q great teacher at the head of it, styled
"Thathanapine Tsa-yah-dawgyee. After
him come the "Gine-oks," or provincials,
under whose direct jurisdiction are the alb
bots of the different monasteries These
last rule, IN their turn, over the novices
and other "OopatZins, -" or simple monks.
The respect shown by the people IN gen.
eral to these monks amounts 10 generation,
to worship In fact, the Assembly of the
Rahaus is one Of the three precious things
every Burmese is bound to venerate. They
are addressed as Phra, j. e., lords. The
person who addresses them, be ne prince or
plebeian. must approach them ii a kneel-
ing posture, with bis hands joined and
raised to his forehead-a form Of salutation
known m Burnlah as ''sheekoing'
after making three different prostrations
proffers his request. As rule, no one
goes TO see a Phoougyee empty handed
The monk on receiving u present never &C
knowledges IL. Sonnet INES be might deign
to say '-Thadoo, thadoof' tWell, well1, bot
never Thank youg' The reason of this Is
that the monk coafe-s a favor on the give-
by affording him an opportunity Of acquir-
ing merit for his next existence
The Phoongyees live exclusively on the
Hber2lity Of their coulSrymen, who are
very generous 10 them. As compensation
they teach children the first rudimenss OF
reading, writing and arithmetic By Al
imperative rule Of their order the Pboon
gyees are obliged 70 beg their daily food
For this reason every morning. between
and 5 O'Clock. they 20 forth IN procession
from their respective BlonastSrIsss carry ln2
q large iacourr-Si wooden bowl, which they
clasp With both bands IN front Of their per
sons and with slow steps. eyes down, mouth
shut, soiemnly pace the streets. hating
from time 20 time 5efOTe a door They
neither knock nor make their pressEce
known by any sign whatsoever. hst staEssi
there as mute and RaosIoniezss statues
Should no one come oct and attend
them they move On 10 Ehe next hos
where, perhaps, they VIII receive { c1IpfT
Of boiled rice or carry. which taey acerssf
without bc-zyfng the least sign Ct graf
tide or reeognit soo-Uo. Dos even 20 mus
as looking N the doncr When ;hey thin
they have easaEh Tor the day Ssey rcsara
hor1e n TIE ssHle slew, silent ard ssletnH
manner NJ shey vest cat The senior nsas
bers OF the fraternity very oftsu stzy II
hone But SssesE WAITS arc regularly AID
nkensifsdy suppiied b. pioas woInen WHO