Journey deep into Burma (Republic of the Union of Myanmar) and experience a Buddhist culture rich in tradition and history in the Lyman Museum’s most recent special exhibit.
Journey deep into Burma (Republic of the Union of Myanmar) and experience a Buddhist culture rich in tradition and history in the Lyman Museum’s most recent special exhibit.
“Sasana: The Burma Portfolio,” a collection of large-format black and white photographs by Dr. Stephen Garon, is on display beginning Sept. 7 through Jan. 12.
Garon, a volunteer with the Aloha Medical Mission, has been capturing images of the people and landscape of Burma on his vintage Linhof view camera since 2006.
“The result is an intimate portrayal of the Burma culture, a story of humanity and compassion that is timely and universal in scope,” said museum exhibits manager Jeff Flox.
Sandwiched between India, China, and Thailand, Burma is slightly smaller than Texas, with a population of 60 million people from 13 ethnic groups.
For over 2,000 years, Buddhism and Burmese monks have been a central fixture in Burmese society, and over 80 percent of the country’s people practice Theravada Buddhism.
At the core of the local culture is “sasana,” the teachings of the Buddha and the mutual obligation for all living beings. In her speeches, Nobel Laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi summarizes these teachings simply as “acts of kindness.”
The nationally accredited and Smithsonian-affiliated Lyman Museum, located at 276 Haili St. in Hilo, is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. For admission rates and additional information, call 935-5021 or visit www.lymanmuseum.org.