Page 45 - Inside Sec 1_มาตลังกา.indd

PRESENTATION IN ENGLISH 53

A group of pilgrims was formed. It was composed of eleven monks (Bhikkhu),
led by the Venerable Phra Gruba, the Abbot of Wat Hua Khwang, and a young novice,

the Sæma◊era Chang. Following the advice and support of the Prince, an accompanying
guide joined the group, which made a total of thirteen persons. The guide, who was an
officer of the palace, seemed like the leader, as his knowledge of the Burmese and
English languages would be very useful during the course of the journey.
The voyage was made primarily on the back of mules to the edge of the Salween
1
River and then by car and by train to Rangoon. From there, the pilgrims travelled by
2
sea to Lanka. Arriving at Colombo, they went by train to Kandy, their destination .
As expected, the pilgrimage was undertaken under difficult conditions, because
the monks had only limited means. On the ship, while the rich lived in cabins, they were

deposited on the deck. Exposed to the bad weather and suffering from seasickness, they
took refuge in the Triple Gem while expressing that their Karma had helped them since
they had given them the possibility of going to Lanka and paying tribute to the sacred
tooth of the Buddha.
In fact, the whole trip turned around the merits (Puñña) earned by the pilgrims
and “ advantages ” (Ænisaμsa) they were entitled to receive. In their vows made at each
visit to a holy place they requested that the merits acquired bear fruit (Phala), not only
for themselves but also for those who were dear to them. There is a kind of « transfer of
merit », a tradition perpetuated by the legend of BraÌ Mælaya (A. Peltier, 1982 : 63-76).
Indeed, after a tour of hell this holy man told of the tortures inflicted on the damned and
urges relatives, who lived on earth, to perform good deeds in their favor so that they can

leave the abyss and be reborn in a better world.
L. Finot (1917 : 72-73) describes Ænisaμsa as “ leaflets ” to explain to the monks
and to the lay faithful the benefits of the various acts of piety. Only a simple offering of
flowers to Buddha allows them to realize all vows : « If they wish to achieve the dignity
of Cakkavatti King amongst men, they get it ; the condition of Deva, they get it ; the
condition of the King of gods, they get it ; the condition of Brahma, they get it ; the
3
Nibbæna , they get it. Wherever they go, they will be honored by humans and gods. »
If the wishes formulated were rather wise, compared with those described in
the Buddhist texts, it is because pilgrims were impregnated with Mettæ, or “ Loving-

kindness ”, which prompted them to worry about the fate of their fellow creatures,
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1 Second largest river in Burma, after the Irrawaddy.
2
The pilgrims left Keng Tung on December 9, 1929. The boat trip lasted two weeks, both for the
outward and for the return. The stay in Lanka was also two weeks. Having visited various holy sites in
Burma, they were back in the country on June 23, 1930. The journey took a total of three and a half
months.
3
Pæli form of Nirvæ◊a.