The Mingun buddhist home

As I write this article, my heart aches to think that at present the borders of Myanmar (formerly Burma) are closed due to the coup d'état that took place on February 1, 2021 when the army took over and arrested Aung San Suu Kyi, at the democratically elected head of government at the time. During these two years thousands of people have been tortured and killed during the large and participatory protests organized against the military regime. During my numerous trips to Myanmar, I frequently visited the small village of Mingun, north of Mandalay, famous for its large 90-ton bell 5 meters in diameter and for the unfinished Pahto Dawgyi Pagoda.

On the banks of the Ayerwaddy River, a few steps from the Pagoda is the Buddhist Rest Home founded in 1915 by Daw Oo Zun (1868-1944), a woman full of courage and selfless spirit who donated all her possessions to pursue Buddhist ideals of generosity, compassion and respect for older people. In 2016 I decided to start the photographic project dedicated to portraying the guests of the house with the aim of creating a photographic exhibition to raise funds. At the moment, for the reasons described above, the work is suspended in the hope of being able to resume it as soon as possible.

The Buddhist Rest Home was designed to accommodate a total of 125 people. In 2019, the last year I was able to enter the country, the population of the house was made up of 28 men and 49 women, for a total of 77 people. In interviewing the managers, I discovered that the oldest people treated so far were 139-year-old Pho San Ya and 113-year-old Pho Ye.

As for meals, breakfast of rice porridge or rice with beans is served daily at 6am. The mid-morning meal, corresponding to our lunch, at 10.30am comprises rice and curry and dinner, again rice and curry, is at 5pm. A special meal is served before noon on Buddhist Sabbath days.

People can donate by providing 3 meals a day for the elderly, paying a cash amount of 50,000 kyats (about €20). If the giver wishes to prepare meals, the house provides all the necessary equipment. In addition to cash donations for food, donations are accepted for water, electricity, medicines, clothing, funeral expenses, furniture and building renovations. In any case, donations are always aimed at a specific need and the accumulation of money is not contemplated except in modest quantities to prevent any unforeseen events. Regardless of class, race, or religion, the primary purpose of the home is to meet both the physical and spiritual needs of the elderly who either have no one to care for them or are too poor to fend for themselves.

Like any self-respecting community, the Mingun Buddhist Rest Home also has its own regulations, of which I report the main points. The older person must be 70 or very close to 70 but destitute. The elderly person must be childless or with children who immigrated abroad. Proof of age must be provided, such as a national registration card, certificate of citizenship, or any other indisputable proof. The elderly person must be in good health, i.e. must be self-sufficient. You must be free from involvement in legal disputes on economic or financial matters. You must be able to provide a recommendation from the neighborhood or village council concerned. Two people from the neighborhood concerned or two people who know the older person personally must provide a recommendation and a guarantee for admission.

Senior citizens who meet the conditions listed above are required to report for a personal interview at the Mandalay office. All residents are required to participate in daily community prayers. Everyone is obliged to live together in an amicable way and help each other. Arguing, being rude to donors or asking visitors for money is strictly prohibited. Each person is obliged to keep their bed and assigned space clean at all times and everyone is responsible for maintaining and cleaning the entire dormitory. No one can leave the confines of the house without permission. Those who are in good health are allowed to visit their homes for 5 days every 6 months with the permission of the office supervisor. The clothing and other utensils made available by the house are for use during the residence and must be returned upon departure. Such property must be protected from damage or loss.

While ill, the elderly can undergo treatment with modern medicines or with indigenous Burmese methods, according to their choice. Men and women are prohibited from visiting the dormitories of the opposite sex. All are welcome to report to the office supervisor regarding their living conditions or any difficulties that may arise. Any violation of the house rules will result in eviction from the house.

Any elderly person who has been removed from the home for any reason will not be able to gain re-admission. The rules may seem strict but they are necessary for coexistence. However, what I was able to observe during my stay was the love that everyone has for the elderly and the commitment to do everything possible to make their inevitable short stay in the Buddhist Rest Home pleasant and comfortable.

Roberto Cristaudo

NP Maggio 2023