Letter from Burma 10
By jeand
- 1649 reads
Heinda Mine
Tenasserim
Southern Burma
March 1, 1935
Dear Dorothy,
Our busy lives continue much as always. We seem to have guests nearly every day for
tiffin or tea or both. I shouldn't complain as I don't have to do the cooking, cleaning or washing up.
We went to dinner at Tangthonla.
We have some baby chicks - 13 now in all. We will put the hen over another 10 eggs in a few days time.
I heard about Bill Murray's death. Do you have any of the details? When was the funeral? Did you go?
We are having a water crisis at the moment. Not that it is something very different, it happens each year about this time. We need to get several carts in most days just for our basic needs. But now there is a flood in Number 2 Mine, and we have had no water carts for days. Thank goodness we can escape to Tavoy for next week.
Love,
Gwenllian
Heinda Mine
Tenasserim
Southern Burma
March 16, 1935
Dear Rosalind,
I have spent the last week in Tavoy, and for the benefit of your project, spent some
time researching the various pagodas hereabouts. Here is what I have found, along with a photograph.
The most venerated pagodas near Tavoy are the Shin Motehti Pagoda, a few miles south of the town, with very intricate metalworking on the various spires, Shin Datweh Pagoda in the north and I visited the Shin Maw Pagoda on the Tavoy promontory. The 243-foot long reclining Buddha image (pictured above) is the largest in Burma. The statue is safely housed in a structure highly reminiscent of a giant Australian wool shed, is a nicely maintained place of worship that seemed to be well frequented. We gave a few
chat to help with its ongoing upkeep.
Anotherpagoda is located in Myo Haung Village (ancient name- Thargara City), about 10 miles from Tavoy. Myo Haung is believed to be an ancient site with ruined city walls.
Paya Gyi Thein Wa Kyaung is a famous monastery which houses many Buddha images as well as a figure of the Guardian of the Earth that devotees worship for their good health.
Tavoy is one of the oldest ports in Burma and was mentioned by the merchant traveler
Ralph Fitch, who in 1583 became the first Englishman to set foot on Burmese soil.
I will tell you about the pagodas which are nearer to us when I next write.
Love
Mummy
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Comments
Hi Jean,
Hi Jean,
I love Buddhas, I wonder if the one in the picture still exists! They are so sacred that I can imagine it does. I also love the fact there are figures the people called guardians of the earth, what a wonderful image that portrays.
Another fascinating read Jean, much enjoyed.
Jenny.
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I think I saw that Buddha
I think I saw that Buddha picture in the Observer magazine recently. I may be wrong. That's my default setting. We certainly need or more guardians of the earth. But ironically, it was one of those looking and not seeing moments. I glanced and the photo and didn't see it. Just thought it was a photo of a woman lying down.
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The statues aren't sacred in
The statues aren't sacred in themselvs, only if people regard them so, or because they are so old that people are intrigued as with any ancient object that has survived, but the whole system draws towards worship of things that have been carved, man-made. I think the origins of Buddhism were more toward achieving a calm demeanour and hoping for absorption into an impersonal Nirvana and basically had an atheistic outlook, but idol worship has crept in. The idea of Guardian of the earth seems to be representing a longing for what/who is guarding/can guard/can be prayed to for help, but statues soon become prayed to themselves, sadly.
I was amused by The statue is safely housed in a structure highly reminiscent of a giant Australian wool shed. Not that I have seen one of those either. Rhiannon
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