NAY PYI TAW July 30
A ceremony to donate Waso robes by families of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief (Army, Navy and Air) for 2020 took place at Anawrahta Hall of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief (Army) this morning, attended by Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and wife Daw Kyu Kyu Hla who also donated Waso robes and alms. Also present at the ceremony were Chairman of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee Presiding Nayaka of Bhamo Monastery in Mandalay Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru Abhidhaja Agga Maha Saddhammajotika Dr. Bhaddanta Kumarabhivamsa and com-mittee member Sayadaws, Ovadacariya Sayadaws of Uppatasanti Pagoda Board of Trustees, totalling 36, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) Vice-Senior General Soe Win and wife Daw Than Than Nwe, Union Minister for Home Affairs Lt-Gen Soe Htut and wife, Union Minister for Defence Lt-Gen Sein Win and wife, Union Minister for Border Affairs Lt-Gen Ye Aung and wife, Chief of the General Staff (Army, Navy and Air) General Mya Tun Oo and wife, 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 and their wives. Before the ceremony, the Senior General and wife offered alms in the emerald alms-bowl, fruits, flowers and water to the Buddha image in Anawrahta Hall. On the agenda of the ceremony, the Waso robe offering ceremony was opened with three-time recitation of Namo Tassa.
The congregation took the Nine Precepts from Bhamo Sayadaw. Then, members of the Sangha recited Metta Sutta. The Senior General and wife offered Waso robe and alms to Chairman of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee Bhamo Sayadaw. Vice-Senior General Soe Win and wife Daw Than Than Nwe donated Waso robe and offerings to Secretary of the committee Thanlyin Minkyaung Sayadaw. The Union Ministers and wives, the Chief of the General Staff (Army, Navy and Air) and wife, the Commander-in-Chief (Navy) and wife, the Commander-in-Chief (Air) and wife and senior military officers presented Waso robes and offertories to members of the Sangha. Next, Secretary Sayadaw Agga Maha Pandita Agga Maha Saddhamma Jotikadhaja Bhaddanta Candimabhivamsa of Thanlyin Minkyaung Monastery delivered a sermon, followed by sharing of merits gained. The ceremony ended with three-time recitation of Buddha Sasanam Ciram Titthatu.
After the ceremony, the Senior General and congregation offered day meals to members of the Sangha led by Chairman Bhamo Sayadaw. Afterwards, the Senior General supplicated to Chairman Bhamo Sayadaw and members of the Sangha on excavation of the marble rock from marble hill near Sagyin Village in Madaya Township of Mandalay Region in order to carve it into a 63 feet high sitting Buddha image in Bhumi Phassa Mudra with 18 feet high throne to be kept in Dekkhinathiri Township of Nay Pyi Taw, conveyance of the marble rock to Nay Pyi Taw through waterway and land route, and progress of building with the use of scale models of parks and Buddha images and sought advice from Sayadaws.
