The prima materia of Myanmar Buddhist culture: Laukathara of Rakhine Thu Mrat

The prima materia of Myanmar Buddhist Culture
Laukathara of Rakhine thu Mrat

ISBN 10: 1-928840-15-9
ISBN 13: 978-1-928840-15-2
Library of Congress Control Number: 2015956223

Overview
In 1990, Senior General Saw Maung, the Myanmar military ruler, announced that he would rule the country according to Laukathara. In the recent days, since 2007, the world is seeing the rise of "Buddhist nationalism" with the symptoms of racial and religious intolerance and violence in Myanmar.
Lauka-thara, in its poetic verses, teaches how to be a Buddhist, how to build a Buddhist society, and how to be a Buddhist king. Accordingly, the prima materia that forms the cultural fabrics of Myanmar Buddhist nationalism can be found in Laukathara. Hence, understanding of Laukathara means the understanding of Myanmar culture and society, including her political fabrics.

Objectives of the translation
There are two objectives in my endeavor of translating Laukathara into English.

The first objective is:
To present the international community with a piece of Myanmar classic cultural philosophy which has a significant political bearing.
The second objective is:
To give a glimpse of a Myanmar classic literature to the world and especially to the Myanmar diaspora who may not have the opportunity of learning Myanmar language and literature.

Culture and literature
Lauka-thara teaches how to be a Buddhist, how to build a Buddhist society, and how to be a Buddhist king. In its poetic verses, Lauka-thara illustrates the fabrics of Myanmar Buddhist culture with bright and colorful words. From learning Laukathara, one can also gain mastery of Myanmar literature. Laukathara or 'Essence of the World' is based on the Theravada Buddhism. Hence, the Theravada Buddhism or 'Elder's Doctrine' is the prima materia of the teaching. Therefore, a student of Laukathara will also be rewarded with proficiency in Buddhist teaching and in the way it is practiced day-to-day.

Author and history
Laukathara is a manual written in verses in 1333 CE by a Rakhine Buddhist Bikkhu, known as Rakhine Thu Mrat or Rakhine Holy Man, to teach his students. It was a summary of his teachings. He was the teacher of King Mun Hti (r.1279-1385 CE, Laung Krut Dynasty).

Culture and Politics
Laukathara has been in use as a guiding source of law and order, rules and regulations, ethics and philosophy, and traditions and cultures in the society as well as in the royal administration of Myanmar since the days of Rakhine King Mun Hti (r.1279-1385 CE, Laung Krut Dynasty) and King Sao Swa Ke (r.1367-1404 CE) of Ava. Thus, it has been the heart of Myanmar culture for more than 700 years.
It has three parts. Part 1 is the advice to the people at large or the commoners. Part 2 is addressed to the king and the royals and Part 3 to the Ponna or the intellectuals of the Vedic culture and science, including the medicine. The advice given to the king in Part 2 is comparable to The Prince of Niccolo Machiavelli (1498-1527 CE), in view of the government mechanism.