A look inside the spiritual culture of Burma, exploring the meaning of monks taking to the streets there in September, the way in which religion and military rule are intertwined, and how Buddhism remains a force in and beyond the current crisis.
Buddhist monks peacefully walked the streets of Rangoon (Yangon), on September 18, 2007. They protested the military regime's recent crackdown on them because the monks demanded the junta implement efforts to relieve poverty in Burma. The monks refused to accept donations from military officials and perform religious rites for them.
Burmese monks queue, waiting for lunch.
Jordt is an assistant professor of Anthropology at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, former Buddhist nun, and author of Burma's Mass Lay Meditation Movement.
Host/Producer: Krista Tippett
Managing Producer: Kate Moos
Senior Producer: Mitch Hanley
Consulting Editor: Bill Buzenberg
Producer: Colleen Scheck
Associate Producer: Shiraz Janjua
Online Editor: Trent Gilliss
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