Venerable Sayadaws and lay devotees must work together to promote the flourishing and worldwide propagation of Buddhism.

The grand ceremony commemorating the 70th Anniversary of the Successful Convocation of the Sixth Buddhist Council of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar was held at the Maha Pasana Cave on the Thiri Mingala Kaba Aye Hill in Yangon yesterday morning, and with reverence by President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar U Min Aung Hlaing and his wife Daw Kyu Kyu Hla in attendance.

The President unveiled the stone archive inscription and sprinkled scented water on it together with his wife.

Chairman of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee Thanlyin Minkyaung Sayadaw Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru Aggamaha Saddhammajotikadhaja Dr Bhaddanta Candima Bhivamsa lit an oil lamp to mark the 70th Anniversary of the Sixth Buddhist Council.

Members of the Sangha, the President and attendees watched a documentary video clip on the Sixth Buddhist Council.

The Chairman Sayadaw delivered a Saraniya Katha while State Ovadacariya Shwegyin Nikaya Ganadhipati 16th Sangharaja of Shwegyin Nikaya Chancellor of Sitagu International Buddhist Academies Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru Aggamaha Saddhammajotika Maha Dhammakathika Bahujanahitadhara Sitagu Sayadaw Dr Bhaddanta Nyanissara administered Sammodaniya Katha.

As part of honouring the venerable Sayadaws at the Sixth Buddhist Council, Tipitakadhara Dhammabhandagarika Sayadaw Bhaddanta Vayaminda Bhivamsa and Tipitakadhara Dhammabhandagarika Sayadaw Bhaddanta Paññvamsa Bhivamsa held a question-and-answer session for the Vinaya Pitaka, and members of the Sangha recited it.

President U Min Aung Hlaing spoke about religious affairs, saying that the first Buddhist Council was held over three months after the Parinibbana of the Lond Buddha; 100 years after the Parinibbana of the Lord Buddha, the Second Buddhist Council was held at the Valikārāma monastery in the city of Vesali, India, with 700 Arahats led by the Venerable Mahāyasa Thera. Furthermore, 235 years after the Buddha’s Parinibbana, the Third Buddhist Council was convened in the city of Pataliputta, India, with 1,000 Arahats led by the Venerable Mahāmoggaliputta Tissa Thera. In addition, 450 years after the Parinibbana of the Buddha, the Fourth Buddhist Council was held in Sri Lanka at the Aloka Cave in the Matula-Malaya region, where 500 Arahats led by the Venerable Mahādhammarakkhita Thera compiled the teachings into written form on palm leaves.

In 2415 Religious Era and 1218 Myanmar Era, a total of 2,400 members of the Sangha led by Sayadaw Bhaddanta Jagara Bhivamsa of Dekkhinayama Phayagyi Monastery held the fifth Buddhist Council at the ground royal hall of Mandalay Royal Palace with the assistance of King Mindon. They then put the Pitakat as a stone inscription. Although this Council was conducted approximately 2,000 years later, it is a matter of pride and joy for Myanmar.

The Sixth Buddhist Council was held with the participation of 2,500 members of the Sangha led by Nyaungyan Sayadaw of Mogaung Monastery from Mandalay from the full moon of Kason in 2498 RE and 1316 ME to the full moon of Kason in 2500 RE and 1318 ME. And it turns 70 years old.

Kaba Aye Hill, where the sixth Buddhist Council was convened, was located on 168.157 acres of land in Yeku Ywama Ward of Thamaing Township, Insein District, in the past. Thiri Mingala Kaba Aye Pagoda was built on the land in 1950, and Maha Pasana Cave, four halls, a three-storey refectory, the Maha ordination hall, the Pitaka press and the Buddha Sasana Sangha Hospital in 1953. Moreover, the Pitakat Chamber was constructed there in 1954.

After conducting the preparations, the gala opening ceremony of the Sixth Buddhist Council was held three days from 18 to 20 May 1954. Nyaungyan Sayadaw served as the Chairman of the Sangha Maha Nayaka of the Working Committee, and Bagaya Sayadaw as the Secretary. The Sixth Buddhist Council was organized by President Dr U Ba Oo and sponsored by Sir U Thwin, Chair of the State Buddhist Sasana Organization.

The ceremony was attended by President Dr U Ba Oo, Prime Minister U Nu, Attorney-General U Chan Tun, Minister for National Planning and Religious Affairs U Win, Chair Sir U Thwin of the State Buddhist Sasana Organization and Vice-Chair U Theim Maung, who supplicated religious affairs and read the papers of appreciation.

In addition, it is also known with great joy that kings, prime ministers, ministers, and government representatives, as well as individual delegates and Buddhist representatives from foreign countries such as Thailand, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Laos, India, Nepal, Japan, and the United Kingdom, along with senior monastic leaders from various monastic orders, sent congratulatory messages, attended the ceremony, and participated in the proceedings of the Buddhist Council.

The Buddhist Council editting the Buddhist Tipitaka scriptures lasted for two years, from the first session of coordination, scrutiny, and approval in 1954 to the fifth in 1965.

These Pali texts were edited and approved in the five sessions, and Atthakatha treatises in the four sessions from 1956 to 1959, and Tika treatises from 1960 to 1962, along with the Buddhist Council.

As such, the Maha Pasana Cave and ordination hall where the Sixth Buddhist Council was held on a grand scale, four great halls such as Uttarakuru, the Maha ordination hall, the three-storey refectory, the Pitakat press, the Pitakat chamber, the Paha Nayaka Hall, and the Wizayamingala Dhamma Thinbin Hall were renovated in their original state with expanded construction before holding the ceremony to mark the 70th Anniversary of the Sixth Buddhist Council.

The Sixth Buddhist Council texts were compiled under the guidance of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee member Sayadaws. The group led by the Most Venerable Shwethuwun Sayadaw Bhaddanta Saddhiya prepared the computer-based edition of the Tipiṭaka in Pali, while another group led by the Rector of the International Theravāda Buddhist Missionary University in Yangon, the Most Venerable Dr Bhaddanta Silanandā Bhivaṃsa, prepared the Tipiṭaka in Pali and Roman script versions. These texts were then inscribed and carved on stone and dedicated within the precinct of the Maravijaya Buddha Park in Nay Pyi Taw. During this process, the Vinaya Piṭaka, Suttanta Piṭaka, and Abhidhamma Piṭaka were enshrined in the form of 720 stone stupas, using Myanmar script, Pali, and Roman script. Each stupa contains inscriptions on both sides – one side in Myanmar script Pali and the other in Roman script Pali – resulting in a total of 1,440 engraved stone inscription panels.

In addition, the efforts made to publish the stone inscriptions in internationally standardized book form, as well as to digitize and preserve them in mobile tablets, represent an additional historic record of the successful convening of Myanmar’s Fifth and Sixth Buddhist Councils.

If members of the Sangha and lay devotees work together in harmony, it is certain that the noble Theravāda Buddhist Sāsana will remain pure, stable, and widely propagated for as long as the world exists, and will undoubtedly flourish and spread across all countries of the world.

Sayadaws read out the messages sent by Masoeyein Taikthit of Mahaaungmyay Township in Mandalay, Maha Gandayon Monastery of Amarapura Township and Anu Nayaka Bhaddanta Kotapitiye Rahul Maha Thera of Sri Lanka.

The President and his wife donated offerings to the Chairman Thanlyin Minkyaung Sayadaw.

Pyithu Hluttaw Speaker U Khin Yi and his wife donated alms to Masoeyein Taikthit Sayadaw, Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services General Ye Win Oo and his wife, to the Sayadaw of MyoU Monastery in Tatkon, Union ministers and their wives, senior Tatmadaw officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief and their wives, and to members of the Sangha.

Secretary of SSMNC Masoeyein Taikthit Sayadaw Aggamaha Pandita Aggamaha Saddhammajotikadhaja Maha Dhammakathika Bahujanahitadhara Bhaddanta Vasettha Bhivamsa delivered a sermon, and the congregation shared the merits gained.

The President unveiled the exhibition to mark the 70th Anniversary of the Sixth Buddhist Council.

The Union Minister for Religious Affairs presented a commemorative gift to the President.

The President, his wife and attendees visited the exhibition, where the President asked about something he wanted to know.

Also, present at the ceremony were Sangharaja Sayadaws from foreign countries and venerable Sayadaws, Amyotha Hluttaw Speaker U Aung Lin Dwe and his wife, the Yangon Region Chief minister and his wife, ambassadors from international embassies to Myanmar, military attaches and officials, and deputy ministers. — MNA/TTA

Key highlights from the President’s supplication at the 70th Anniversary of the Sixth Buddhist Council

1. Efforts were made to publish the stone inscriptions in internationally standardized book form, as well as to digitize and preserve them in mobile tablets, which represent an additional historic record of the successful convening of Myanmar’s Fifth and Sixth Buddhist Councils.
2. The texts of the Tri Pitakat treatises were then inscribed and carved on stone and dedicated within the precinct of the Maravijaya Buddha Park in Nay Pyi Taw.

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