Nay Pyi Taw December 26
Families of the Tatmadaw (Army, Navy and Air) donated cash for nine prerequisites for Buddhist Academies of Myanmar and for Sitagu water donations, taking place at Sitagu International Buddhist Academy in Dagon Myothit (North) Township in Yangon Region this morning, attended by Chancellor of Sitagu International Buddhist Academies and Sitagu Hospitals Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru Agga Maha Pandita Maha Dhammakathika Bahu-janahitadhara Joint Shwegyin Sangharaja Sitagu Sayadaw Dr Bhaddanta Ñanissara and members of the Sangha.
The ceremony was also attended by 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, Commander-in-Chief (Air) General Maung Maung Kyaw and wife, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, the commander of Yangon Command, senior military officers from various military stations in Yangon Command, and guests.
First, the Senior General and those present opened the ceremony by reciting Namo Tassa three times and took the Five Precepts from Sitagu Sayadaw.
The Senior General supplicated on religious affairs related to the purposes of cash donations for nine prerequisites for Buddhist Academies of Myanmar and for Sitagu water donations by families of the Tatmadaw (Army, Navy and Air).
In his supplication, the Senior General said Sitagu Sayadaw led four main tasks of Sasanahita, Parahita and Lokahita in the past. He said he was especially delighted at development of Sitagu water donations on Sagaing Hill, donation for Sitagu hospitals, Sitagu foreign missionary monasteries, Sitagu natural disaster rescue and relief works, renovation and construction of Sitagu temples and stupas, Sitagu education tasks, Sitagu education donations and Sitagu meditation tasks one after another thanks to generosity, diligence, mindfulness, concentration and education capabilities of the Sayadaw and generosity, goodwill and cash and kind donations of ethnic people.
These missionary tasks undertaken through a large sum of donated funds are essential for the State, lineage and religion. As strengthening Sasana can make the nation strong and existent, the Tatmadaw participates in cementing the Sasana as much as possible. Efforts for the religion emphasize peace and stability of the State. It can help the people have higher charity, morals and meditation as part of efforts to propagate Sasana. Likewise, efforts to restore peace and stability of the State are to safeguard the country. It can be seen that if any country across the world has strong Sasana, it enjoys fruits of peace and stability. That is why the Tatmadaw makes donations as much as possible.
He expressed delightedness of families of the Tatmadaw (Army, Navy and Air) for grasping the chance to make donations to Pariyatti Sasana so as to ensure perpetual existence of the Sasana.
The Senior General and wife offered alms donated by families of the Tatmadaw (Army, Navy and Air), Ks – 50 million for Buddhist Academies of Myanmar and Ks – 24.6 million for Sitagu water donations to Sitagu Sayadaw who returned certificates of honour.
Afterwards, Admiral Tin Aung San, General Maung Maung Kyaw and senior military officers donated offerings to Sitagu Sayadaw and members of the Sangha. Sitagu Sayadaw gave Dhamma gifts to them.
The Senior General and party took a sermon on establishment of Theravada Buddhist universities in Myanmar in successive eras, and current collaboration of Theravada Buddhist Academies at home and abroad delivered by Sitagu Sayadaw and shared merits gained.
