Posted on 08/14/2005 10:02:19 PM PDT by LwinAungSoe
A replica of Buddha's tooth - a holy relic of the Buddhist religion - has been stolen from a temple in a northern suburb of Yangon, an official said Sunday.
The glass casing at the Swedaw Myat - "Tooth Relic" - Pagoda in which the tooth replica had been enshrined was discovered broken early Sunday morning, and the tooth, along with several precious gems, found missing, said an official at the Religious Affairs Ministry.
The replica relic had been kept on a bejeweled pedestal with a jewel encrusted holder inside the glass case.
The theft has not been publicly announced, and the official was willing to give details only on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to release information.
Soldiers have sealed the pagoda premises and pilgrims have not been not allowed to visit while the theft is being investigated.
There are generally acknowledged to be only two genuine Buddha's teeth extant, one in China and the other in Sri Lanka. Buddhists believe the teeth, reportedly found after Buddha was cremated 2,400 years ago, bring peace and good fortune.
Beijing lent its genuine tooth to Myanmar for display for 45 days in April 1994 and again from December 1996 to March 1997.
The loan was seen as a shrewd foreign policy move because it boosted both the prestige of Myanmar's otherwise unpopular military government, and China, among the country's devout Buddhist population. China is the most important ally of the ruling junta, which is ostracized by Western nations for its poor human rights record and failure to hand over power to a democratically elected government.
When China lent the real tooth, two ivory replicas were carved to be displayed with it, and after the real one was returned to China, one replica was kept at Swedaw Myat Pagoda and the other in Myanmar's second city of Mandalay.
First, let me apologize for making the comment. I realized it was in error the second after I pressed the post button. I'm glad you brought it up, so I could set things straight as best I might.
. . . AND both articles you linked, and I am no closer to understanding what makes the replica "sacred" in & of itself. The genuine relics, naturally. The 'old' replicas, because of their age...maybe. The new ones...say WHAT?
Noting the bold type, see if this helps:
The Buddha Tooth Relic was conveyed to the Union of Myanmar on 20 April 1994, under the bilateral friendly relations programme existing between the People's Republic of China and Myanmar. Myanmar Buddhist monks and public paid homage to the Tooth Relic, which sojourned first inside the Maha Pasana Cave, Kab-Aye, Yangon, and then at the Maha Convocation Hall of State Pariyatti Sasana University (Mandalay), around the clock for 45 days altogether.
The general public worshipped the Tooth Relic with offertories and contemplation in Dhamma, aiming at the three blessings of rebirth in the human abode or deva realm, or realizing Nibbana. A lot of cash and enshrinement items were also received.
A replica tooth relic of ivory was then made and placed beside the real one to receive public veneration, also in the belief that the replica was receiving the life-breath of the Buddha through the real Tooth Relic. As such the State gave the guideline that two Tooth Relic Pagodas be built, one in Yangon and another in Mandalay, enshrining one Tooth Relic and other religious items of donation.
Wonderful piece of religious art..."sacred" in that sense...undoubtedly; but an object of worship/veneration? Maybe on the same level that some venerate a crucifix itself, rather than what it sybolizes?
All of the above, plus among some who need to believe in such things, for the "magical" qualities they believe such relics hold. Pretty much the same veneration and awe you might find among some Christians for the bones of saints or some other relic, or even a statue which bleeds. But, just as sure as I write such a thing, there will be those who with greater insight and understanding will chide me for writing such a thing. Rightly so, I suppose. Still, like Christianity, Buddhism is not all of one flavor. To some, that venerated tooth might just be a tooth, or in this instance, a copy of a tooth.
I was hoping to find my copy of Ananda Coomaraswamy's Buddhism and the Gospel of Buddha, the primary text we used in school, because, as I remember, his approach was to closely link art with history and explanation. That would be useful here. But, the book is not to be found. Too bad. One of the reasons I enjoy the things people post in these threads is because they motivate me to go back and look at things I'd mostly forgotten.
Here is more information about the theft.
Lord Buddha's tooth - a historic and religious relic stolen from Burmese pagoda
Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)
August 15, 2005
In a sensational theft, which has left authorities dumbfounded a tooth of Lord Buddha --a historic and religious relic was stolen on August 14. The tooth was presented by the Chinese government to Burma.
Along with the tooth the thieves made off with, a small alter made of gold that is currently valued at 50 million Kyat from the Buddha's Replica Tooth Relic Pagoda (Swedaw Myat Pagoda) in Mayangon township in Rangoon. The altar has been missing since Sunday morning, a source close to police department said.
Gautama Buddha's sacred tooth was presented to the Burmese government by China in 1994. The presentation was part of a programme of friendly cooperation between the two countries.
The sacred tooth replica given its religious and historic value, was enshrined in the Buddha's Replica Tooth Relic Pagoda, Rangoon on Dhammapala Hill in Mayangone Township.
The pagoda is near the residence of the head of the military junta Senior Gen. Than Shwe and is located in the same ward where he stays.
A tight security cordon has been thrown around the area. Investigations are on.
Buddha has a FIRST name??? Guatama??
Siddhartha Guatama of the Sakyas (clan)
Thank you.
I did indeed miss the 'absorption' aspect. It was late, and I was reading fast, rather than 'studying'.
That is exactly what I was after.
I take it that the effect is operative only when there is purposeful direction via the veneration, else the Sacred Tooth & other relics would slowly spread its sacredness outward to all around them in ever widening circles (spheres?), until the entire earth and everything on it would be sacred.
And thanks for the expanded information on Budhism. Other than popular sources, my only "knowlege" of it is rusted shut in the same vault as much other unused superficial information from 'exploratory' & introductory courses 40 years ago.
In a more familiar, and common primitive, (certainly not mine) belief system, what it boils down to is 'sympathetic magic' utilizing the "law of contagion"?
time for a nationwide cavity search
This sounds like a good spot to tell my one Southern joke: How do you know the toothbrush was invented by a Southerner?
'Cause if a Yankee has invented it, it would have been called a "teethbrush." LOL!!
YANGON, Myanmar (AP) - A replica of Lord Buddha's tooth - regarded as a holy relic by Buddhists- has been recovered and displayed for public worship after being stolen from a suburban Yangon temple Sunday, the Religious Affairs Ministry said Wednesday.
The ministry said the relic was found Tuesday near the temple, but the thief or thieves had made off with the jewel-encrusted pedestal on which the relic had rested.
The relic, enshrined at the Swedaw Myat or Tooth Relic Pagoda, was stolen early Sunday morning. Residents living near the pagoda said police and soldiers conducted extensive searches and questioned residents living in the vicinity.
The theft has not been publicly announced and there were no reports of any culprits being apprehended.
Buddhists believe there are only two of the Buddha's teeth are still extant, one in China and the other in Sri Lanka.
Beijing lent its tooth to Myanmar for display for 45 days in 1994 and again from December 1996 to March 1997.
Two ivory replicas were carved from the one loaned by China and pagodas were built with public donations to display them - one in Yangon and the other in Myanmar's second largest city, Mandalay.
08/17/05 04:55 EDT
http://aolsvc.news.aol.com/news/article.adp?id=20050817045809990001
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Since this has been bumped, I'll just add that a replica of the stubble of the Buddha was also stolen. The relic is known as the Myanmar Whiskers, but it will always be Burma Shave to me.
[rimshot!]
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