Not for anything in particular —
even me the very Buddha
along with other antiques
they’ve put up for sale
here in Europe,
they have such a sharp eye for business —
what business brings you here?
asks the Buddha
You may not know it
but if you were in Burma
you would surely receive
all kinds of veneration,
but
telling only untruths and preaching only falsehoods
Your Holiness would exclaim “Buddha!”
and long to flee
Telling untruths
you tire yourself out
on the rounds of births
A scandal to the whole world
the generals delivering all kinds of orders
engaging in all kinds of impropriety
what if they bind you hand and foot
These hare-brained guys
don’t know the truth
they don’t keep promises
all kinds of lies
come out of their foul mouths
they have no respect for the nation
with their childish mentality
they’re too dirty
An army exists to oppress the people
who flatter them they ask them
to sharpen the swords
it’s a haven for thugs
the king of the master gangsters
Bo Ne Win’s army
only knows how to shoot and cheat
The people are paupers now
the monks are beggars now
the scoundrels are monsters
weapons matter most
weapons are paramount
weapons reign supreme — that’s militarism
For you
to sit in peace
here in a European supermarket
is much safer
far from all the mishaps
and the name Buddha bandied about
don’t feel uncomfortable
With all the crimes of the Burmese military
the Buddha will never leave prison
will always be in trouble
then you’ll really be uncomfortable
Don’t think such an ignoramus as me
was lecturing you
I’ve come to think like this
because so many lay disciples in my country
have been victimized —
excuse me, Venerable Sir!
Translated from Burmese by Maung Tha Noe and Christopher Merrill