Monks likely to reform state committee at Sangha conference

Monks likely to reform state committee at Sangha conference

By Aung Kyaw Min   |   Friday, 02 May 2014

Reform of the body that oversees all Buddhist monks in Myanmar will be the main focus of an upcoming conference that will bring together more than 2500 monks, organisers say.

The 5th All Orders Sangha meeting, the first of its kind in almost 19 years, will take place at Maha Pasana Cave at Yangon's Kabar Aye Pagoda from May 11-13.

The Sangha committee's vice chairman for Yangon Region, U Kunarlinkarya, told The Myanmar Times last week that reform of the terms of the committee would be at the top of the agenda.

In preparation for the event, organisers have sought suggestions on issues that should be addressed.

"We have received 20 suggestions from Yangon Region and also got suggestions from other parts of the country. Most are about changing the terms and procedures of the Sangha," he said.

"We are focused on reforming the terms of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee, the State Central Working Committee of the Sangha of All Orders and other Sangha bodies."

He said monks would also review a 2004 decision to extend the term of the State Central Working Committee of the Sangha of All Orders from five to 12 years. A system to introduce voting for 25 percent of positions was also put in place at the time and it is unclear whether this will be retained.

The suggestions submitted for discussion at the 5th All Orders Sangha Meeting will be screened by three committees: the Hosting and Preparing Committee from April 29 to May 5; a special meeting of the 47-member State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee from May 7 to 8; and a second special meeting of the 7th State Central Working Committee of the Sangha of All Orders on May 11.

A spokesperson for the Department of Religious Affairs said changes proposed by the State Sangha Committee to Sangha rules will also be considered but refused to give further details.

"The State Central Working Committee of Sangha of All Orders received suggestions sent from each state and region but we can't give the details about the suggestions," said deputy direction general U Zar Ni Win.

"The received suggestions will be considered by the [committees]," he said, adding that some suggestions had also been received from foreign monks.

While changes to the Sangha laws known as Vini Dhammakkhan and Vinisara will be considered, there will be no new laws enacted, he said.

The head of a township Sangha committee in Yangon Region, who asked not to be named, said monks in his township had sent several suggestions for the meeting but was unsure how they would be handled.

"Although we give suggestions, if they do not fit the committee's aims then they will probably be ignored," he said. "Anyway, we will be watched the outcome of the Sangha meeting."

Of the 2558 monks who will attend the conference, 448 are from Yangon Region, while Mandalay and Ayeyarwady regions will send 369 and 286 monks respectively. Chin State will send the smallest contingent, with 14, followed by Kayah State (21) and Kachin State (47). A number of prominent monks who are not senior members of the Sangha committee will also be invited to attend, including the Paradalthi Sayadaw from India.

Myanmar has nine Buddhist orders, the largest of which are the Thudhamma and Shwekyin sects. The first All Orders Sangha Meeting was convened in 1980, and subsequent meetings were held every five years to 1995.

Source: http://www.news.myanmaronlinecentre.com/2014/05/02/monks-likely-to-reform-state-committee-at-sangha-conference/