ABSTRACT
The three decades after the end of the Second World War were a time of great outward change in South–East Asia, as elsewhere. Burmese Buddhism, with its characteristically rural ambience and its limited economic aims, in general presents a strong contrast to many of the presuppositions, norms, and values of the industrialised and possibly overdeveloped world of the West. There is, however, the other equally significant difference just noted; namely between Thailand and Japan. Even if Burmese Buddhists were all alerted to the situation and were made to realise that there were alternative ways of using their surplus earnings, it is by no means likely that they would choose to avail themselves of them, in the sense of engaging in competitive entrepreneurial activity. From time to time throughout the history of Burma and Thailand royal Buddhism has invaded the lives of the people, making demands upon them and pressing them into the service of an expansionist and even imperialistic ruler.
