Reddening of lion's eyes

by Nathan Maung

Tuesday, 17 June 2008 15:09

Though scientists around the world warn about climate change and tell the entire world what to do and not to do, the underdeveloped world like in Asia including Burma generally view the climate in the same way, by their faith and belief.  To these people from the backward and underdeveloped world, the ravaging wild fire, earthquake, severe storms and flood, the consequent famine which kill millions of people are bad omens and punishment ordained by heaven.  Global warming and climatic change is generally accepted by the people as man-made disasters. But at the same time, frequent and unpredictable natural disasters are, in the eyes of these backward people, due to the unjust and brutal rule of tyrants; rising crimes and egocentric attitude of the people; overwhelming greed, anger, illusion and pride among the people. So these natural disasters are believed to be punishment by the holy god.  Especially after the brutal crackdown on the popular protest led by the hundreds of thousands of monks in September 2007, popularly known in Burma as the saffron revolution, the people were shocked to see the protesting Buddhist monks marching peacefully in the heavy rain on the streets by reciting Metta Sutra being killed by arbitrary gunfire. After which the monks were rounded up from their monasteries and taken away by the authorities.  The people firmly believed that the heavenly god would certainly punish sooner or later for killing the heads, arms and eyes of the country. Then the people drew historical parallels between the current events and the historical experiences just before Burma was occupied and annexed by the foreign intruder. The people predict that history will repeat itself and the days of the emperor maniac Than Shwe and his cohorts are numbered, not later than 2008. The people hold on to the universal truth in their own way in black magic, 'tabaung' (commoners' prophecy) and occultism. The nearest historical parallel is the mass killing of royal blood in the reign of the last King 'Thibaw' and its consequences of nationwide unrest and economic recession, outbreak of small pox in the whole of upper Burma, the sudden and untimely death of King Thibaw's only son, the whole sky reddened just before the last King was ousted from his throne, untimely lightning and strong wind among other things as bad omen for the king and his subjects. These events were transmitted through generations as oral history until today.  Another historical parallel are the events that occurred in the reign of military dictator U Ne Win (1962-1988); the thousand years old historical monuments in Pagan were reduced to rubble in a severe 1975 earthquake. After four years of this event, former capital city of Burma, Mandalay was burnt to ashes. The people see these events as bad omen for the country and its rulers. After these events, the long awaited outcome happened in 1988 as the nationwide popular uprising which toppled the powerful and dreaded 'Burma Socialist Programme Party' (BSPP) and its boss U Ne Win who was dethroned in this uprising and disappeared from the political stage of Burma until his death. The people said that the whole sky was similarly reddened in March 1988 just before the storm, the 1988 uprising.  Mao Tse Tung, the unrivalled great leader of China died just a few months after the severe and deadly earthquake hit China in 1976, which killed hundreds of thousands of people. The long suffering people under his brutal rule believed in consensus that this was the heavenly punishment of their great leader Mao.  When the people feel destitute, desolate and are in despair, they usually turn to religion and related superstitions and omen.  At that time, the people put aside scientific politics and philosophy and turn to popular omen and it is undeniable to see that these omens become more important than the scientific explanations among the people. Since the brutal crackdown against the monks who are most revered in the majority Buddhist society of Burma, bad omens have been predetermined in the unconscious mind of the people.  The series of tragic disasters of the severe fire that broke out in Mandalay in the beginning of this year, the deadly cyclone that hit the Rangoon and Irrawaddy Divisions in May strengthened people's belief in bad omens. Though the people are longing for democracy, they firmly believe that only the rulers with mystic powers and glory can bring peace and prosperity to the country. The country will face a series of tragic events and disasters when the rulers lose all these glory, mystic power and fail to observe truth and value.   The certain and imminent danger is famine after the rice bowl of Burma, the Irrawaddy Division, has been destroyed by the deadly cyclone. The country will face this disaster in a few months. Time is ticking away.  At the same time, the usual seasonal storms are forming over Burma Sea this monsoon season. The landslide and flood waters rub the wound of the people who are still licking their injuries left by the recent deadly cyclone. Many appalling events have occurred in Burmese history when the undeserved dog reigned over the throne. If the people believe in these heavenly bad omens, they should prepare for the imminent disasters and their future. Democracy is not a ready made meal and will not be brought to us on a silver platter. We must prepare ourselves to get our meal and must strengthen our morale for building the future state and our era.  If we still believe the age-old 'taboung' (commoners' prophecy) of 'When the lion's eyes reddened, the fall of the Bagan (ancient kingdom in 11th-12th century AD in central Burma) country was not far behind', it's time to build ourselves for our future, because the lion's eyes have reddened. ( Note: This is the translated version and the orginal piece in Burmese language has been appeared in www.mizzimaburmese.com) < Prev   Next >