False Monks and False Dhamma

In Myanmar, the dhamma preached by false monks is like rain falling irregularly on different places and persons.

When poor people search for fish and prawns to survive, these monks preach to them: “You fools are killing other beings – this is a grave sin, you will go to hell.”

But to the wicked military generals who have illegally seized state power and are brutally killing citizens, they dare not preach: “You are killing the people – this is a grave sin, you will go to hell.”

When the destitute poor, having nothing to eat, steal a little food to survive, the monks preach and write that: “You stealing others’ property is an extremely grave sin. You will suffer in hell for this. You will be reborn as servants in others’ homes. You are poor because of bad karma from past lives.”

But to the wicked military generals who come bearing bribes with money illegally stolen from the country – even though the monks know these are ill-gotten gains – they dare not preach about hell or damnation. Instead, shamelessly changing their tune and thinking only of their own benefit and comfort, they preach this false dhamma: “Your current wealth and power come from good karma in past lives. Because of your current donations, you will be equally prosperous in future lives and will certainly reach the celestial realms and Nibbana.”

Before the military dictators seized power, Myanmar was superior to other nations in every aspect. But because these power-hungry military dictators illegally seized control and monopolized all the nation’s resources, consuming them at will, the people – who should not be poor – have become impoverished.

Because there are no jobs, they must go to other countries and do work that citizens of those countries don’t want to do.

Because there is no healthcare, people who shouldn’t die are dying.

Because education lacks independent critical thinking and consists only of “write this, memorize this, recite this, answer this,” the education system has deteriorated and collapsed.

To destroy unity, mutual affection, respect and appreciation among our own citizens, the military dictators and their complicit false monks and non-clergy supporters use religious incitement and racial incitement, causing our own people to become divided and turn against each other – these are the evils we face.

Despite clearly witnessing all these true causes, the false monks of Myanmar dare not preach these truths. Instead, they shamelessly preach that current poverty is due to past-life karma.

The Buddha taught that attributing everything to past-life karma is “Pubbekata-hetu-ditthi” (the deterministic view of past action). He taught not to make such attributions to past karma alone. Yet these false monks, pretending the Buddha taught this, deceive and mislead people while living off such preaching.

Because of these false monks and false dhamma, people are deceived by false propaganda, and Myanmar remains under military dictatorship for a prolonged period, enduring military slavery and falling into poverty.

To be liberated from military dictatorship and slavery, we must collectively remove the propaganda planted by military dictators and overturn the false dhamma preached by false monks – only then will we achieve the quickest liberation. I write this to raise awareness.

Min Thonenya (Buddhist University)