BUDDHISM IN MYANMAR: A SHORT HISTORY – ROGER BISCHOFF

Buddhism in Myanmar: A Short History

Roger Bischoff

Buddhism in Myanmar

Myanmar, or Burma, is.one of the major countries following Theravàda Buddhism today. In recent years Myanmar has attained special eminence in the Buddhist world. Between 1954 and 1956 the country hosted the Sixth Great Buddhist Council, and it has also been the source from which several of the foremost systems of Vipassana meditation have spread to the rest of the world.

This Wheel booklet offers a short history of Buddhism in Myanmar from its origins until the beginning of the colonial period in the late 19th century. The material has been sifted and organised from the point of view of a practising Buddhist. It is intended to show how Buddhism influenced the development of the Myanmar people until the Theravàda Buddhist teachings became their second nature.

Roger Bischoff is an Assistant Teacher at the International Meditation Centre in England and a long-time student of the Burmese language and culture.