Social Actions against Ontology? "The Disadvantages of Compartmentalized Life"
Since there is no philosophical underpinning, aside from the structural and historical role
of the religion, Burmese find themselves at a serious disadvantage. One of the clearest cultural
impacts is the notorious mentality of Burmese people’s short-lived perseverance. The Burmese
temperament is described with the metaphor of a hay-fire. When you set fire to the haystack, it
burns quickly and even aggressively, but it extinguishes quickly too. Similarly when all protests
are silenced, Burmese just sit back and learn to adjust to the status quo. The passivity, apathy and
even cynicism with politics are increasing while there is no ideological drive pushing them back
on track. Burmese cannot draw power, guidance, or energy from their philosophy. In short,
Burmese Buddhism’s ontological underpinning does not operate at a functional level.
So, there is an inherent inconsistency between Burmese Buddhist ontological philosophy
and Burmese practical activism. Burmese Buddhist monks and their followers are being pulled
by their ontology in one direction and again by their structural/historical role in a different
direction. Life seems divided into separate and distinct elements for Burmese Buddhists.
Burmese must think critically about how to adjust the gap between the reality and the
idea. Otherwise, the role of Buddhism in Burma’s future may become more nominal, perhaps
merely an instrument or ritual for relieving tension, in the approaching waves of wide-ranging
industrialization and globalization. Religious values will then not be exercised in the daily
practice. The compartmentalization between daily life and religious life of Burmese people will
become more substantial.