Abstract
This article considers Theravada Buddhist practices referred to as thathana pyu (making or doing religion) in Myanmar. Thathana pyu may refer to different acts in different contexts: propagating the teachings of
Buddha in the world; constructing pagodas; undertaking missions intended to convert others to Buddhism;
engaging in welfare activities; pursuing personal spiritual enlightenment, etc.
I examine thathana pyu activities motivated at the national and local levels: initiatives by government
agencies and undertakings by religious communities, including pagoda-building initiatives by charismatic
monks—with several questions in mind. What do the actors do to promote Buddhism at the periphery of
the Buddhist world? When involved in thathana pyu, how do the actors conceive what they are trying to
do? In other words, what kind of targets are they working on? What difficulties do missionary monks
encounter after being detached from the support of laypersons? In Theravada Buddhist societies, a complementary
relationship between monks and laypersons has been recognized as a common basic scheme:
laypersons accrue merit by materially supporting monks in the form of donations. Working at the periphery,
monks who do missionary work forego the everyday support of laypersons. I reflect on the nature of
this Buddhism and explore how the Vinaya (precepts monks should strictly adhere to) are reinterpreted
by missionary monks.
