A senior delegation from the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) of India visited Myanmar from 17–20 March to develop strategies for promoting Buddhist studies and preserving the Pali language through collaborations in academia, media, and think tanks, thereby enhancing bilateral relations.
The visit was particularly significant as the government of India had officially designated Pali as a classical language on 3 October 2024. Pali is extensively studied in India and Myanmar and other Buddhist countries as it is the language of the Pali Canon, also known as the Tipitaka, and is regarded as the sacred language of Theravada Buddhism.
“The visit comes in the wake of India’s recognition of Pali as a classical Indian language in October 2024, a move that has revitalized academic and spiritual interest in the language,” the IBC stated in a press release. (ANI)
Based in New Delhi, the IBC serves as a global umbrella organization for Buddhists. Its mission is to preserve Buddhist practices, traditions, and history worldwide by coordinating knowledge, experiences, and resources.
The delegation, led by IBC Secretary General Shartse Khensur Rinpoche Jangchup Choeden, participated in extensive discussions with government officials in Myanmar and visited government departments, academic institutions, monastic organizations, and media outlets in Yangon and Naypyidaw to explore collaboration opportunities.
In Naypyidaw, they met with Myanmar’s Union Minister for Information U Maung Maung Ohn, Deputy Minister U Ye Tint, Minister of Religious Affairs and Culture U Tin Oo Lwin, and representatives from leading media outlet Skynet Buddha Channel and think tank Myanmar Narrative.
During these meetings, the delegates engaged in discussions on the global development of Buddhism, promotion of the Pali language, Myanmar-India bilateral relations, ongoing media collaborations, a commitment to peaceful coexistence, and joint media training initiatives.
A significant aspect of the visit was the signing of several memorandums of understanding between the IBC and Buddhist academic institutions in Myanmar, including Sitagu International Buddhist Academy (SIBA) and Shan State Buddhist University (SSBU). These were attended by distinguished figures such as: His Eminence Candimabhibamsa, chairman of the State Sangha Mahanayaka Committee (Sangharaja); SIBA founder Ven. Sitagu Sayadaw Ashin Nyanissara; and SSBU founder Ven. Oxford Sayadaw Dr. K. Dhammasami.
SIBA is a Buddhist missionary university in Sagaing, Myanmar. Established in 1994, the academy focuses on teaching Buddhist literature and training monks and nuns.
SSBU, founded in 2014, is the first Buddhist university in Shan State, offering bachelor’s degrees, postgraduate diplomas, and master’s degree programs in Pali and Buddhist studies.
The delegation visited several Buddhist universities, including International Theravada Buddhist Missionary University and State Pariyatti Sasana University, to explore potential training collaborations. Additionally, they visited the Dhamma Joti Vipassana Centre to discuss the development of Vipassana meditation practices.
The visit concluded with a banquet hosted by the Indian ambassador to Myanmar, which was attended by notable members of the Indian diaspora in Myanmar. The event underscored the significance of cultural and scholarly connections in strengthening the ancient Buddhist ties between India and Myanmar.
See more
International Buddhist Confederation strengthens Buddhist ties with Myanmar through academic and cultural collaboration (ANI)
Union Minister for Information receives General Secretary of International Buddhist Confederation (The Global New Light of Myanmar)
India in Myanmar (Embassy of India, Yangon) (Facebook)
Related news reports from BDG
IBC Celebrates International Abhidhamma Day in New Delhi
Myanmar’s Military Government Unveils Giant Seated Buddha Statue
Protests Intensify for Buddhist Control of Mahabodhi Temple In Bodh Gaya
Delegates Highlight Non-Violence at Global Hindu-Buddhist Conference in Thailand
Indian Delegation Visits Russia to Establish Collaboration with Buddhist Organizations
Shan State Buddhist University in Myanmar Hosts International Conference to Mark 60th Birthday of Founder Ven. K. Dhammasami
Related features from BDG
International Buddhist Confederation: A united global Buddhism?
Venerable Lama Lobzang, the visionary of the International Buddhist Confederation
Dharma Drum Mountain’s Threefold Education: A Conversation with Ven. Yan He
Buddhism’s Retreat from India: A History Lesson in the Survival and Decline of the Dharma
