Nay Pyi Taw February 24
A ceremony to inaugurate the Adhipati Road of Dhammaduta Chekinda Buddhist University and the main building took place at Hsekeindayama Monastery in Dhammaduta Zaytawun Tawya in Hmawby Township of Yangon Region this morning, attended by members of the Sangha led by Dhammaduta Dr Ashin Chekinda, Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and wife Daw Kyu Kyu Hla, Commander-in-Chief (Navy) Admiral Tin Aung San and wife, senior military offiers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, the commander of Yangon Command, wellwishers and guests.
At the ceremony, Quartermaster-General Lt-Gen Nyo Saw, Commander of Yangon Command Maj-Gen Thet Pon and Director Maj-Gen Maung Maung Myint of the Directorate of Military Engineers cut the ribbon to open the Adhipati Road of Dhammaduta Chekinda Buddhist University.
The Senior General unveiled the stone plaque and title of the main building at the university. The Senior General and wife together with senior military officers sprinkled scented water on the stone plaques. Then, the Senior General and those present visited the university.
The Senior General and wife signed the visitors’ book of the university. The Senior General and Dhammaduta Dr Ashin Chekinda discussed construction of the university, giving training to trainees in MA and PhD courses, teaching of Buddhism in the international community, needs of trainees to do research for deserved degrees to be conferred on by the university, arrangements for lecturers, examiners and supervisors as well as hostels, fulfillment of alms and other facilities, plans of teaching in English, academic terms for trainees in line with the Vinaya during the Buddhist lent and external period, entry qualification to the university, needs of teaching with the use of e-education and e-learning systems, and procedures of the university under the Vinaya rules.
Then, the ceremony of sharing merits gained followed in commemoration of the successful opening ceremony of the Adhipati Road and the main building of the university. It was attended by 400 members of the Sangha led by Vice Chairman of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee Abbot of Thiri Mingala Monastery from Chon-in Village of Yedashe Township in Bago Region Abhidhaja Agga Maha Saddhammajotika Bhaddanta Obhasa, State Ovadacariya Adhipati Ukkatha of Shwegyin Nikaya Maha Nayaka Dhammasenapati 15th Shwegyin Sangharaja Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru Agga Maha Pandita Weikzawtayon Sayadaw Bhaddanta Vijjota and joint Shwegyin Sangharaja abbots.
The Senior General and wife, and the congregation took the Five Precepts from Abbot of Maha Gandayon Monastery of Amarapura Township in Mandalay Region Bhaddanta Indobhasabhivamsa and listened to the Metta Sutta recited by members of the Sangha. Member of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee Abbot of Nyaungthonbin Samanekyaw Monastery Agga Maha Saddhammajotika Bhaddanta Tejosarabhivamsa read the words of advice of Chairman of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee Abbot of Bhamo Monastery from Mandalay Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru Abhidhaja Agga Maha Saddhammajotita Dr Bhaddanta Kumarabhivamsa.
State Ovadacariya Adhipati Ukkatha of Shwegyin Nikaya Maha Nayaka Dhammasenapati 15th Shwegyin Sangharaja Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru Agga Maha Pandita Weikzawtayon Sayadaw Bhaddanta Vijjota gave words of advice, saying that understanding the needs for flourishing of the Buddhism, Sayadaw Ashin Chekinda established the great university in order to propagate the Buddhism not only at home but abroad. Such efforts should be made for ensuring progress of the Buddhism and achieving peace and tranquility for the national, religion and the State. The Sayadaw prayed for those persons to attain the noblest Nirvana.
The Senior General supplicated on purpose of the Adhipati Road and the main building of the university. He expressed his delightedness for the grand inauguration of the Dhammaduta Chekinda Buddhist University which can create flourishing of the Buddhism with auspiciousness. Myanmar needs to establish the well-qualified society throughout the world. High qualifi cation is of great importance in building a modern and developed nation. Only then will the teachings of the Lord Buddha create the peaceful and tranquil society. Student monks from Myanmar having Sasana Dhammacariya, Sasana Tekkasila Dhammacariya, Sasana Tekkasila Maha Dhammacariya, BA and MA degrees go to overseas countries for studying modern university education as part of efforts to ensure perpetual existence and propagation of Patiyatti, Patipatti and Pativeda Sasana of the Lord Buddha. According to the data, more than 500 Myanmar Buddhist monks pursued education in Thailand, more than 600 in Sri Lanka and over 500 in India in 2018-2019 academic year. Each scholarship monk needs to spend some US$-4,000 per year to pursue courses of MA or PhD degree. Hence, Myanmar monks learning education abroad spend more than US$-6 million for each academic year. Such an amount is equal to more than Ks-9,000 million. The Student monks face lack of safety and mindfulness in the countries with different religions and weakness in Vinaya rules due to self-reliant activities.
The curricula of the Dhammaduta Chekinda Buddhist University are designed in line with the standards of international universities, and the university is managed by local and foreign experts. Based on original Pali texts of Lord Buddha, commentaries on Buddha Pali texts and detailed explanation of commentaries on Buddha Pali texts, the university will apply both modern and traditional education techniques in its teaching with a focus on research and practical knowledge for living. And it will give lectures in English language like international universities and will also partner with foreign universities and conduct exchange programme. Therefore, the new generation of Buddhist monks will be able to learn higher education peacefully in their homeland. This will help to save Myanmar country from spending certain amount of foreign currency for overseas education. Providing Pariyatti education, which is the main root of Sasana, the Dhammaduta Chekinda Buddhist University will contribute to both to secular and spiritual societies. Disciples have to support wholeheartedly for the Dhammaduta Chekinda Buddhist University to be able to stand tall in international community as a prestigious seat of Buddha Dhamma education and the pride of Myanmar. The Senior General said Tatmadaw (Army, Navy and Air) families led by him practise Dana, Sila, and Bhavana as much as they can physically and mentally in order to do their fair share for perpetuity of Buddha, Dhamma pillar. The Senior General said he saw during his visit to the university on 17 July, 2018 that the gravel roads in the university precinct were bumpy, and not convenient for walking. So, with the good intention that all the members of Sangha and followers can perform their religious duties at ease, Tatmadaw (Army, Navy and Air) families and well-wishers made donations to upgrade the roads to a standard that matches the grandeur of the university. The new main road is 5,188 feet long, 18 feet wide and 9 inches thick reinforced concrete structure, and the new inner road is 2,208 feet long, 12 feet wide and 9 inches thick reinforced concrete structure. Moreover, for the convenience of vehicles that come to university, two reinforced concrete type parking facilities each measuring 100 feet long and 50 feet wide and nine inches thick, and two other reinforced concrete type parking facilities each measuring 80 feet long and 50 feet wide and nine inches thick, and university roundabout with a diameter of 60 feet were also built. The Senior General said he believed that roads will create comfort for monks and disciples. While disciples learn and practise the Ovada of Sangha who give advices in line with Vinaya, Sangha promote and sustain Pariyatti, Patipatti and Pativedha with meals, robe, monastery and medicines donated by disciples. There should be such mutual reliance between Sangha and disciples in line with the saying “Buddha Sasana will flfl ourish brightly only when there is mutual support between Sangha and followers.”
Next, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and wife offered documents related to construction of Adhipati Road from Dhammaduta Chekinda Buddhist University and the main building to 15th Shwegyin Sangharaja Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru Agga Maha Pandita Weikzawtayon Sayadaw. The Sayadaw presented gifts to mark opening of Dhammaduta Chekinda Buddhist University and a certifi cate of honour to the Senior General and wife.
Afterwards, the Senior General and wife offered provisions to Vice Chairman of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee Abbot of Thiri Mingala Kyaungtaik Abhidhaja Agga Maha Saddhammajotika Bhaddanta Obhasa. Then, senior military offi cers and well-wishers donated alms to Sayadaws.
After that, those present received a sermon delivered by Upaukkatha of Shwegyin Nikaya Maha Nayaka Joint Shwegyin Sangharaja Abbot of Maha Withokdayon Taikthit Sishin Sayadaw and shared merits gained. After the ceremony, the Senior General and wife together with those present offered meals to members of the Sangha.
Dhammaduta Chekinda Buddhist University was built with collective donations of Tatmadaw families (Army, Navy and Air) starting from 2017 in commemoration of the three successive ceremonies of honouring the All Shwegin Nikaya Sangha Meeting once three years. It was under the leadership and management of Shwegyin Nikaya Adhipati Ukkatha Maha Nayaka 14th Shwegyin Sangharaja Waso Sayadaw and Shwegyin Nikaya Adhipati Ukkatha Maha Nayaka 15th Shwegyin Sangharaja Weikzawtayon Sayadaw. Dhammaduta Chekinda Buddhist University aims to give training on Theravada Buddhism to student with the use of modern academic techniques, provide Pariyatti plus Patipatti and train those of Buddhist missionary capable of serving the temporal and religious interests after learning advanced Buddhism subjects because it deeply believes that learning and practising of Theravada Buddhism would build peace of individuals as well as those of the world. The university is comprised of Vinaya Department, Suttanta Department, Abhidhamma Department, Kammathana Bhavana Department, Buddhism Philosophy Department, Pali Literature Department, Buddhism History and Culture Department, Research Department, Computer Department and Language Department. The university will give lectures on English and Computer at level 1 and 2, master’s course (Pali and Buddhism) and doctoral course (Pali and Buddhism Literature).
