70th Tipitakadhara Tipitaka Kovida Selection Exam opens

December 26, 2017

An opening ceremony for the 70th Tipitakadhara Tipitaka Kovida Selection Examination was held yesterday morning in Vizaya Mingala Dhamma Thabin, Kaba Aye Hill, Yangon.

First, Ovadacariya (patron) chairman of Tipitakadhara Tipitaka Kovida selection group, Hlinethaya Township Sasana Gonyi monastery Sayadaw Abhidhaja Maharattha Guru Agga Maha Pandita Bhaddanta Pyinyatethara Bhivamsa gave the five precepts to the audience and then the audience listened to the sermons and recitation of paritta by the sayadaws and sanghas.

Next, State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee Chairman Mandalay Township, Bhamo monastery Sayadaw Abhidhaja Maharattha Guru Abhidhaja Agga Maha Saddhamma Jotika Dr. Bhaddanta Kumara Bhivamsa delivered a message.

The message of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee Chairman is shown separately.

Afterwards, Union Minister for Religious Affairs and Culture Thura U Aung Ko made a supplication about religious matters.

In his address, the Union Minister said Pariyatti Sasana (learning canonical texts) is like a main root of the trunk of the Sasana and for the trunk to prosper and have a long life, the roots need to be strong so various religious examinations including Tipitakadhara Tipitaka Kovida Selection Examination were held for the Pariyatti Sasana to thrive. It can be seen that Pariyatti monasteries play an important role in this by teaching the young monks about the spirit and essence of the Sasana so that they can in turn take on the responsibility of maintaining the Sasana.

Only when true Pariyatti Sasana thrive can the Paripatti sasana (the practice) thrive resulting in a Pativedha sasana (realizing of the truth). As long as these three sasanas exists, (Buddha) teachings will remain so sayadaws and sanghas of the past have maintained it by their teachings and practices while past governments and peoples provided support with the four main items of soon (food), robes (monk robes), monastery and medicines. The present government is also following the traditions of the past governments by encouraging and supporting the Sasana.

The 70th Tipitakadhara Tipitaka Kovida Selection Examination is the reciting and writing of the entire Tipitaka consisting of Vinaya Pitaka (collection of texts concerning the rules of conduct governing the daily affairs of the sangha), Sutta Pitaka (collection of suttas, or discourses, attributed to the Buddha) and Abhidhamma Pitaka (collection of texts underlying doctrinal principles presented in the Sutta Pitaka) so it is the examination to protect the Sasana.

From the time Tipitakadhara Tipitaka Kovida Selection Examinations were first held in Buddhist era 1310 to the 69th time, only 14 venerable monks had passed oral/written Tipitakadhara Tipitaka Kovida while only 7 venerable monks were able to recite it in its entirety. This shows that this is the most difficult examination not only in Myanmar but the entire world. Despite this examination being such a daunting one, it is heartening to see that many venerable monks were attempting without reduction in number as time goes by. This brings forth an enormous joy for the Sasana.

Buddhist Myanmar people’s culture was raised and developed through the teachings of Buddha and there is nothing in the society that diverts or stays apart from Buddhist culture. Thus, Sayadaws and Sanghas who are learned in Pariyatti Sasana are begged to guide and protect their followers and the new generation of youths, said the Union Minister.

Donors then presented donations that were accepted by Union Minister Thura U Aung Ko and Department of Religious Affairs Director-General U Myint Oo who in return presented certificates of honor to the donors.

After listening to the sermon of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka, Yangon Region, Thanlyin Minkyaung Pahtamapyan monastery Sayadaw Agga Maha Pandita Bhaddanta Sandima Bhivamsa, the devotees shared the merits of their good deeds.

The 70th Tipitakadhara Tipitaka Kovida Selection Examination will be held from 26 December 2017 to 27 January 2018 for 33 days. 210 venerable Sanghas are sitting for oral examinations while 170 venerable Sanghas are sitting for written examinations.

Myanmar News Agency

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar