從僧林到人群——緬甸仰光民眾禪修大眾化研究

From Forests to Masses: Popularization of Buddhist Meditation in Myanmar

近二、三十年來，隨著禪修風氣日益盛行，緬甸已成為全球修行者的重要學習場所。雖然緬甸禪修被視為古老的傳統，但實際上，當地的大眾禪修文化是在近代興起的。佛教作為緬甸社會的文化根基，禪修之風一旦興起，便迅速吸引了大批民眾參與，禪修中心如雨後春筍般在全國各地紛紛設立。隨著不同老師教授方法的差異，被稱為「禪法」的各種修行體系也隨之出現。本文旨在通過問卷調查獲取民眾對禪修的認知與參與度數據，並結合對部分禪修中心的實地訪問資料，探討以仰光為例的緬甸社會禪修大眾化程度。同時嘗試從史料文獻入手，一窺近代禪修興起並逐漸普及的過程。
研究結果顯示，禪修已經成為緬甸民眾日常生活中的普遍文化。緬甸民眾禪修文化的興起，建立在深厚的佛教文化基礎之上，因外來統治者的壓迫而得到激發，並得益於政府的推動及僧信二眾共同積極深耕與拓展，從而形成當代緬甸各種禪法體系共榮共存的修行場域。本文提供一個更全面的視角，提供學界進一步了解緬甸佛教與禪修文化的多元現象、發展歷程及其特色。

Over the past two to three decades, Myanmar has become an important destination for the growing number of meditation practitioners worldwide. Although meditation in Myanmar is often regarded as an ancient tradition, its widespread adoption among the general populace is a relatively modern phenomenon. As Buddhism constitutes the cultural foundation of Myanmar society, this modern meditation trend rapidly garnered a substantial following in the country, leading to the swift establishment of meditation centers nationwide. With the diversity of methods advanced by different teachers, various systems of practice—also referred to as“meditation traditions”—have emerged. This paper examines the extent of meditation’s popularization in Myanmar society, particularly in Yangon, by analyzing survey data on public awareness and participation, alongside fieldwork conducted at selected meditation centers. Additionally, it seeks to trace the rise and gradual popularization of modern meditation practices through historical documentation.
The findings indicate that meditation has become a part of everyday culture for the people of Myanmar. The rise of meditation culture in Myanmar is deeply rooted in the country’s rich Buddhist heritage, further catalyzed by the nation’s experiences under foreign rule. The widespread adoption of meditation practices is also attributed to the efforts of the post-independence government and the collaborative endeavors of both monastic and lay communities in promoting and expanding these practices. Consequently, a diverse array of meditation systems now coexists and thrive in contemporary Myanmar. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive perspective on the diversity, developmental history, and unique features of Myanmar’s Buddhist and meditation culture.