Shinbyu – Buddhist novice ceremony
Shinbyu ceremony held by King Zero. In
preparation for full ordination as a monk, a boy must first become a
novice (shinlaung) before the age of 20 (usually at 10) in a ceremony
called Shinbyu. After 20 he can become a
monk in the upasampada ordination. The importance of this tradition is
reflected in the Burmese saying, “You must become a monk, before you can
become a man.”
Becoming a novice for a certain period in life will assist a boy to
gain merit which will, in future lives, enable him to reach Nirvana
(enlightenment). Attaining Nirvana is the ultimate goal for all
Buddhists. By entering the order of The Sangha in this life, a novice
will greatly enhance his Karma (Merit) in gaining Nirvana in later
lives. The shinbyu traditionally starts early in the morning with a procession to the monastery with the young boy dressed in dazzling silks embroidered with gold to look like a royal prince or king, shielded from the sun by a gold umbrella and led on horseback by an orchestral band headed by a clown with a moustache called U Shwe Yoe holding a parasol and dancing merrily. This ritual symbolises Prince Siddhartha Gautama’s departure from the royal palace with its sensuous pleasures and luxuries at the age of 29, leaving his wife and newborn son in search of the Four Noble Truths.
0 comments:
Post a Comment