Labour of Devotion: Material Construction and Charisma of Saintly Monks in the Myanmar–Thai Border Region

Abstract

The Myanmar–Thai border area has been the stage for charismatic monks revered by the populace following three religious traditions: the northern Thai tradition of khruba worship, Myanmar Buddhism in the peripheries, and Karen history of seeking variable millenarian leaders. Their practices are characterised by the construction of large Buddhist structures; the formation of a community of devotees; ascetic and/or moral practices; and a diversity of followers including ethnic minorities. The construction is enabled by donations from those wielding political and economic power, and through the massive labour of devotees. Minorities and impoverished populations provide the labour of devotion towards religious construction, gaining sustenance by the monk’s compassion. This article examines the process of material construction of enormous architectural structures such as pagodas. This involves the labour of devotees, in this case namely the Karen minorities, which in turn expands the capacity for further merit-making and thereby increases the saints’ charisma.