Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1893-11-10


the "Phoongyees" Undergo-How They
Are Regarded by the People.
The Burmese have II highly flourishing
monastic institution, the members Of which
are styled "Phoongyees, word signifying
great glory" The Phoongyee order is an
absolute necessity under the present Budd-
hist dispensation. because no one can
emerge from the whirlpool Of ever recur-
ring existence unless he abandon the world
and become a recluse, II 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 Phoongyee
once in his lifetime, and join the religious
brot herhood for few days at least This
IL generally done in boyhood.
These monks live in monasteries or
"kyoungs." built away from the hum and
buzz of towns and villages Successful
traders will oftentmes spend the better
part of their gains in building a monastery,
either as a means of acquiring merit or for
the sake of prefxing to their name the
honorable appellation of 'Kyoung taga,"
i. e.. builder of Il monastery. This they be
stow on some favorite monk of theirs. who
ipso facto is installed M superior of it, The
order has duly organized hierarchy. with
great teacher" at the head of it, styled
''Thathanapine 1sa-yah tiawgyee." After
him come the "Gine-oks," or provincials.
under whose direct jurisdiction are the alb
bots of the different inconsistencies. 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 to veneration,
to wors~ip In fact. the Assembly of the
RahAils is one of the three precious things
every Burmese is bound to venerate. They
are addressed ~ Phra. l. e., lords The
person who addresses them, be he prince or
plebean. must approach them in kneel
ing posture. with his hands joined and
raised to his forehead-a form Of salutation
known in Burmah rs ''sheek oing"-and
after making three different prostrations
proffers his request. Az rule, no one
goes to see Il Phoongyee empty handed.
The monk on receiving present never &c
knowledges it. Sometimes he might deign
to say "Thaloo, thadool" (well. wellD but
never Thank your The reason of this is
that the monk confers favor on the giver
BY affording him IN opportunity of acquir
ing merit for his next existence.
The Phoongyees live exclusively on the
liberality of their countrymen, who are
very generous to them. As Il compensation
they teach children the first rudments of
reading writing and arithmetic. By an
imperative rule of their order the Phoon
gyees are Obliged to beg their daily food.
For this reason every morning, between I
and = O'clock they go forth in procession
from their respective inconsistencies carrying
large lacquered wooden bowl which they
clasp with both hands in front of their per
sons and with slow steps. eyes down, mouth
shut. solemnly pace the streets. halting
from time to time before door They
neither knock nor make their presence
known by any sign whatsoever, but stand
there rs mute and motionless rs statues
Should no one come out and attend to
them, they move on to the next house,
where, perhaps. they will receive cupful
OF boiled rice or curry, which they accept
without betraying the least sign of graft
tude or recognition-no. not even so much
rs looking at the donor When they think
they have enough for the day they return
home in the same slow, silent and solemn
manner rs they went out. The senior mem.
bers of the fraternity very often stay at
home. But their wants are regularly and
plentifully supplied by pious women who
carry food and little dainties to them A
monk may have his fill from sunrise to
noon. after that hour no more solid food
must enter his mouth till next morning.
On entering the monastery the monks
promise to observe poverty, chastity and
seclusion. In common with every Bud
dhist, they are bound to the observance of
the five great precepts, over and above
these there are five others which concern
them alone. These are, first, not to eat
after midday; second. not to dance, sing
or play any musical instrument; third,
not to Use cosmetics, fourth, not to stand
in unduly elevated places, fifth. not to
touch gold or silver, OF late years abuses
have crept into the order making the last
named precept almost nugatory. But they
observe with scrupulous fidelity the other
points of the law. Above all they are very
particular with regard to their vow. if we
may NO call it, of chastity Seldom or
never one hears of monk having broken
1t. In fact. ne has no occasion for so do
ing. because If he cannot bear the re
straints of monastic life he is always at
liberty to return to secular pursuits. This
however il attended in Burmah, as every
where else. with dishonor and disgrace
To secure his monks from possible
DANA. their founder, prescribes that when
any one of them is obliged to converse with
women he must screen his face with the
All he carries for that purpose; the CONVEX
sation must not be prolonged beyond five
or six words, and this. too, must be done
where every one can zee and hear them.
On no occasion or pretext whatsoever
may monk touch, never 30 slightly, even
with the tip of his finger. Il woman be she
mother or sister All oriental scholars are
familiar with the famous "casus conscien
te' proposed to Gaudama by one of his
rahaus, What if | SAW my own mother
lying in ditch" Pull her out by giving
her the end of stickl" was Gaudama's
stern reply.
The life of II Phoongyee is, on the whole,
uneventful and uninteresting Most of the
forenoon he spends in ministering to his
tUlily wants. After that he may, perhaps,
talk walk to some shrine, accompanied
by few OF his disciples, or sit idly at home
chatting with visitors or listening to the
town gossip.
must not forget to mention that he is
bound to the daily recital of his Kama.
than.'' or book of devotions, also to say his
Buddhistic formulas ON his string Of
beads. with which he closes his spiritual
duties for the day. On feast days he
mounts a platform, upon which he sits
cross legged, and putting his large palm
leaf fan before his eyes he reads out Dor
tons OF Gaudama's law Of teaching to the
assembled congregation. This is the sum
total OF his duties to them. Sometimes he
is asked to funerals, when he reads Gauda-
mas teachings on the ills of life, and moth