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54 MÆT LANKA

retained as them in the vicious Circle of the rebirths (Va††asaμsæra). The beauty of
sentiments is a concept often found in the great classics of Khün literature, especially
in the folk Jætakas, which exalted the Perfections (Pæram‚) practised by a Bodhisatta in
his long quest to become Buddha.

On the road that brought them back to Keng Tung, the pilgrims toured all the
holy places of Burma that it was possible to do. For them, these places were BraÌ Dhætu
( ~rT˚ª 1 ), sites containing holy relics. In doing so they did not fail to receive again and
again merits, which would surely have a positive impact on their Karma, both in this
existence and during their next lives, with the secret hope of attaining the Nirvæ◊a.

Conclusion

The Mæt Lanka, or « Pilgrimage to Lanka », is, as we know, the only travelogue
written by a Khün. It is the story of a journey made to Lanka by a panel of monks
originating from Keng Tung. At the end of the narrative, claiming that some pages are

still available, the versifier adds seven quatrains, in addition to two distiches at the
beginning and the end, where he shares his impressions about the pilgrimage which he
1
would have liked to join . This addition is similar to “ Complaints ”, a literary genre
quite widespread in the Khün prosody.
Throughout the narrative, which is a long poem, emphasis was placed on Karma
that must be constantly improved to break the Circle of the births and to attain the
Nirvæ◊a. As for the pilgrims, they were happy to accumulate merit, both for themselves
and for people who where dear to them. This form of altruism is explained by the Mettæ,
the Benevolence or Loving-kindness, that every Buddhist generally shows to living
beings.

Like most Lao and Tai classical works edited in recent years, The Mæt Lanka is
given in its original version which is followed by a transliteration, but also something
new, a full translation in Thai, the lingua franca of the region. Versions in French and
English, along with an overview of the work, would reach a wider audience, from
students to researchers and to lovers of ancient literature. For the Khün people, they will
be happy to take in their hands a book edited in their own language, which surely will
make them aware of their cultural heritage and the necessity to save it.
It goes without saying that such a work, which embraces a diversity of know-
ledge, was possible only with the participation of the local learned people, but also with
the help of our colleagues and friends.

1
Noi Bunyao, the versifier, intervenes from time to time in the text by engaging in personal con-
siderations. It is hard, in some quatrains, to distinguish his part and that which belongs to the author,
Sen Thiem Khek.