On the crossroads of Buddhism and Marxism: Agganna-Sutta narrative in the papers of two Burmese communists
https://doi.org/10.28995/2658-4158-2025-3-114-137
Abstract
This article carries out a study of two ideological papers (treatise “Ideology of Socialism” and essay “Socialist ideology and Burmese history”), written by two famous Burmese communists: thakin Soe and thakin Than Tun. An unusual modernistic interpretation of famous Buddhist narrative from Aggañña-sutta could be seen as a peculiar point of such publications, which provides an opportunity for their study, comparison and in-depth analysis. Soe and Than Tun referred to the famous Buddhist legend to explain the issues of state origin and the social stratification. In their understanding such processes were facilitated by the emergence of private ownership. Their interpretation has much in common with Marxist theory of State origin. However, both theorists paid due attention to a Buddhist moral understanding of history. They presented private property as an attribute of Self-illusion as well as a key factor in moral decline of ancient beings.
Current paper helps to develop a more comprehensive understanding of Buddhist-Marxist synthesis in history of Burma. Also, according to a Theory of radical tradition, a substantive understanding of current political situation in Myanmar necessitates the study of Burmese protestant intellectual views. In that context a study of thakin philosophical thought becomes relevant nowadays.
About the Author
I. A. Zaitsev
Institute of World Economy and International Relations
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Ivan A. Zaitsev
23, Profsoyuznaya St., Moscow, 117418
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Review
For citations:
Zaitsev I.A. On the crossroads of Buddhism and Marxism: Agganna-Sutta narrative in the papers of two Burmese communists. Studia Religiosa Rossica: Russian Journal of Religion. 2025;(3):114-137. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.28995/2658-4158-2025-3-114-137
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