Myanmar Religion and Beliefs
Novitiation Ceremony
Today, we will present one of the noblest
ceremonies for Buddhists in Myanmar called ceremony
of ordination and novitiation. This ceremony is
especially held in Waso month, the fourth month in
Myanmar calendar which coincide during July and
August.In Buddhism to become a novice, the novice to
be has to overcome three steps which are shaving the
hair, wearing the robe and believing Buddha, Dhamma;
Teaching of Buddha and Saga Monk as the reliable
source to take refuge.
Among them, although shaving the hair and wearing
the robe seem to be easy, it is difficult to belie ve
firmly in Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha what we call
three venerables. As it is difficult to pronounce
perfectly the novice to be has to learn at least one
month ahead how to ask for the robe from the
presiding monk and how to pronounce properly the
three venerables and how to say beats and so on in
Pali language.
Buddhists in Myanmar believed that if their sons
have been initiated into novice-hood at least on in
his life, the parents will not suffer in hell in
next existence and they regard the son who is in
novice-hood like men who are in more noble life and
pay respect while they are in novice-hood. Nowadays
in Myanmar, as the ceremonies of ordination and
novitiation are held especially in summer vocation
between March and May, you can watch Myanmar
Buddhists traditional style of novitiation
procession throughout the country.
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