Nay Pyi Taw, January 31
Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, accompanied by his wife Daw Kyu Kyu Hla, Commander-in-Chief (Navy) Admiral Tin Aung San, Commander-in-Chief (Air) General Maung Maung Kyaw, senior military officers of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, the commander of Yangon Command and officials, paid homage to the Sayadaws who are attending the 20th All Buddha Sasana Shwegyin Nikaya Sangha Meeting being held at Dhammadhuta Zaytawuntawya Hsekeindarama Monastery in Hmawby Township, Yangon Region, this morning.
First, the Senior General and wife offered flowers, water and oil lights to the Buddha Image kept in Gandakuti Glass Chamber. Next, the Senior General and party visited the Maha Dhamma Beikman where the Sangha meeting is taking place and paid homage and offered alms to the Sayadaws.
The Senior General and party then paid homage individually to State Ovadacariya Shwegyin Nikaya Adhipati Chairman Maha Nayaka Dhammasenapati 15th Shwegyin Sangharaja Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru Agga Maha Pandita Wizawtayon Sayadaw Bhaddanta Vijjota, Shwegyin Nikaya Upa Chairman Maha Nayaka (Joint Shwegyin Sangharaja) Sayadaws Mandalay Maha Withokdayon Taikthint Madaya Thahtaytan Sayadaw Bhaddanta Manitasiribhivamsa and Sitagu World Buddhist Academy Chancellor Sitagu Sayadaw Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru Dr Bhaddanta Nanissara, Nayaka of the working committee of Shwegyin Gana Yangon Maha Withokdayon Taikthit Yaw Sayadaw Agga Maha Pandita Tipitakadhara Dhammabhandagarika Bhaddanta Sirindabhivamsa. Then, the Senior General and party supplicated on religious affairs and offered alms to the Sayadaws.
In the afternoon, the stake-driven ceremony of Dhammadhuta Chekinda University, which was established to mark the success of Shwegyin Nyikaya meetings, was held under the aegis of Joint Skwegyin Sangharaja Chancellor of Sitagu World Buddhist Academy Sitagu Sayadaw Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru Dr Bhaddanta Nanissara and the Patron of Mandalay’s Maha Withokdayon Taikthit Patron of Sishin Monastery Agga Maha Pandita Bhaddanta Aggananabhivamsa. The Senior General and patron of Dhammadhuta Disciple Group U San Nyein drove stakes simultaneously at the auspicious time, and the Sayadaws sprinkled scented water to the stakes and members of Sangha recited Jaya Mangala victorious Gathas.
According to the second part agenda of the third day of 20th All Buddha Sasana Shwegyin Nikaya Sangha Meeting, joint Shwegyin Sangharaja Sayadaws Patron of Mandalay’s Maha Withokdayon Taikthit Patron of Sishin Monastery Agga Maha Pandita Bhaddanta Aggananabhivamsa and Presiding Sayadaw of Sagaing Maha Thubawdayon Monastery Rector Sayadaw Agga Maha Pandita Agga Maha Sadhamma Jotikadhaja Dr Bhaddanta Nandamalabhivamsa who were elected as Joint Sangharaja of Shwegyin Gana at the meeting delivered Ovadkatha.
Next, masters of ceremony member of State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee Secretary of Shwegyin Gana Presiding Nayaka of Mandalay’s Awayyarama Yankin Monastery Agga Maha Pandita Agga Maha Sadhamma Jotikadhaja Bhaddanta Odatasiribhivamsa declared meeting minutes and agreements, which were approved.
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing spoke words of delight that he was not only delighted and impressed at the virtue, probity, and wisdom of the Sayadaws, and the scene of Sangha today would be the unique sight that would be engraved in the mind and heart of the congregation. He was very delighted at the sight of Sangha. It is a very rare opportunity to come across the birth of Lord Buddha, who comes to being only after countless circles of lives, flourishing Dhamma of the Buddha, and existence of the Sangha who strives to be imbued with virtue, probity and wisdom. He believed that efforts must be exerted for awareness of Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha to take root in the heart of the people. As members of the Sangha can lead the endeavours for propagation, it needs to rely on members of the Sangha only. Members of the Sangha dutifully carried out Sasana tasks, so it can be known that prestige of Buddha Sasana in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar is the highest in number of Sangha, Buddhist literature and meditation in the Theravada Buddhism. Members of the Sangha from Shwegyin Gana led by the First Shwegyin Sangharaja Sayadaw have turned out a large number of new generations outstanding Budd-hist monks not only in Buddhist literature but also in meditation. Buddhist disciples will contribute to missionary tasks of members of the Sangha who will strive for further flourishing of the Buddhism on the way similar to making utmost efforts for development of the Sasana in unison till the 20th meeting. Mainly, the Senior General supplicated that Buddhist disciples will perform perpetuation of Buddha Sasana under the leadership of the Sayadaws.
The Senior General and wife offered alms to State Ovadacariya Shwegyin Nikaya Adhipati Chairman Maha Nayaka Dhamma Senapati 15th Shwegyin Sangharaja Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru Agga Maha Pandita Wizawtayon Sayadaw Bhaddanta Vijjota and cash to the fund of the meeting through officials of Dhammadhuta disciple group. Then, the Sayadaw presented a certificate of honour to the Senior General and wife for their contributions to successful organizing of the meeting.
Those present donated offertories to members of the Sangha. Well-wishers also donated cash for nine prerequisites to members of the Sangha through officials. Afterwards, Wizawtayon Sayadaw Bhaddanta Vijjota presented certificates of honour to members from the Dhammadhuta disciple group.
Patron of the group U San Nyein read the supplication of the leading organizing committee for the meeting. Wizawtayon Sayadaw Bhaddanta Vijjota gave a concluding remark while Sitagu Sayadaw Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru Dr Bhaddanta Nanissara delivered a sermon, followed by sharing of merits gained.
Presiding Nayaka of Saddhamma Jotika Thubawdayon Monastery of Monywa Tipitakadhara Tipitakakovida Ashin Abhijatalankarabhivamsa read the paper on successful completion written by Rector Sayadaw Agga Maha Pandita Agga Maha Saddhamma Jotikadhaja Dr Bhaddanta Nandamalabhivamsa. Afterwards, the ceremony successfully concluded with three time recitation of Jayanto Bodhiya Mule Gatha.
The Senior General and party viewed construction of Dhammadhuta Chekinda University to mark the successful holding of the Shwegyin Nikaya meetings of the Whole Buddha Sasana three times under the permission of 14th Shwegyin Sangharaja Waso Sayadaw.
