Blood on the Lotus

Episode #302: We are joined by Jansen Stovicek, a former monk from the Czech Republic who spent many years in Myanmar as Ashin Sarana. He discusses the intersection of Buddhism and Myanmar's challenging political landscape, with a focus on Thabarwa Sayadaw, an influential yet polarizing monk who inspires both deep reverence and strong controversy. (Note that we will refer to Ashin Sarana by his monastic name here, as at the time of the interview, he had not yet disrobed.)

Ashin Sarana notes that Thabarwa Sayadaw has repeatedly made statements that seem both supportive of the military and openly questioning democratic forces, suggesting that the latter lacks emotional maturity and stability—yet he and his supporters insist on his neutrality. This claim is further belied by controversial remarks he has made about the country’s non-Buddhists, which often appear dismissive or at best, ambiguous. These comments minimize the historic and ongoing suffering of the country’s minorities at the hands of the military. Thabarwa’s own statements have created much distance between himself and Myanmar’s democratic movement.

Beyond his political stance, Thabarwa’s skepticism toward economic development and education—which he views as eroding core Buddhist values—has placed him at odds with advocates of modernization. He has expressed concern that development poses a risk to religious devotion, which he sees as fundamental to Burmese identity, and he has spoken in ways that indicate a belief in the military as a force that protects traditional values.

A core theme in Thabarwa’s worldview concerns his definition of “peace.” For him, true peace is not just about the absence of violence; it lies in the presence of unwavering devotion to the Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha. By this logic, a society devoted to these values could be considered “peaceful” despite injustice and violence towards marginalized communities. This perspective has made him a divisive figure, sparking debate about his role in Myanmar’s struggle for freedom and stability, and complicating his public image.

“One thing I need to add," Ashin Sarana says in closing, "is that there is one kind of attachment that arahants [fully enlightened beings] entirely relinquish, and that is attachment to views. And I wonder if the Sayadaw actually has attachment to a view regarding the military.”