Burma

Burma is a large south-east Asian country between India and Thailand where about 90% of the people call themselves Buddhists. Theravada Buddhism existed in the Mon country of southern Burma from perhaps as early as the first millennium but only became the religion of all Burma after the 11th century. Before that Brahmanism, Mahayana and Vajrayana were the main religions. Today Burmese monks have a reputation for dedication to meditation and abhidhamma study. In 1989 the military government changed the country’s name to Myanmar.

See also

• Kyi, Aung San Suu
• Shwedagon Pagoda

References

Buddhism in Myanmar - A Short History, Roger Bischoff, 1995.