Hngettwin Nikaya

Hngettwin Nikaya (Burmese: ငှက်တွင်နိကာယ, [ŋ̊ɛʔtwɪ̀ɴ nḭkàja̰]; officially Catubhummika Mahasatipatthana Hngettwin) is the name of a monastic order of monks in Burma, numbering approximately 1,000 monks, primarily in Mandalay. Founded in the mid-19th century by the abbot of the Hngettwin Monastery, it is one of 9 legally sanctioned monastic orders (nikaya) in the country, under the 1990 Law Concerning Sangha Organizations. Hngettwin Nikaya is a very orthodox order, with a minimalist and austere approach to Buddhist rituals found in Burma, not recognizing any rituals inconsistent with Buddhist doctrine, including nat spirit worship. For instance, members of this order do not worship or venerate the image of Buddha, but his spirit.