Historical Museum of Six Buddhist Councils opens at Kaba Aye   
( Thursday, 12 October, 2000 )

The ceremony to open the Historical Museum of the Six Buddhist Councils was held at the museum at Kaba Aye, Mayangon, at 9 am today. The museum was opened with the aim of uplifting the spirit to love and cherish the race and religion and the knowledge on the Six Buddhist Councils and conserving the historical artifacts of the Sixth Buddhist Council. Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt attended the ceremony and unveiled the velvet covering of the Stone Inscription of the museum.

Also present on the occasion were member of the State Peace and Development Council Chairman of Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Commander of Yangon Command Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than, ministers, deputy ministers, ambassadors of Thailand, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Laos and India, officials of the State Peace and Development Council Office, heads of department, advisers at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, staff of the Religious Affairs Department and Department for Promotion and Propagation of the Sasana and invited guests.

Director of RAD U Nyunt Maung acted as master of ceremonies. Director-General of RAD Dr Myo Myint read out a brief record to establish the museum. Dr Myo Myint said that three months and four days after the Parinibbana of the Lord Buddha, Ashin Maha Kassapa, Ashin Upali and Ashin Ananda organized the First Buddhist Synod in the cave congregation hall of Vebhara Hill in Rajagir for the purpose of perpetuation of the Teachings of Lord Buddha.

A hundred years later, Ashin Mahayasa and the Arahats organized the Second Buddhist Synod at Valikayon Kyaungdaw in Vesali. The Third Buddhist Synod took place at Asokayon Kyaungdaw in Pataliputta Palace in 235 Sasana Era as Ashin Maha Koggalika Puttatissa and other Arahats organized it.

In 450 Sasana Era, the Arahats and members of the Sangha congregated in Aloka Cave in Matula Town, Ceylon, and held the Fourth Buddhist Synod putting on record the scriptures. King Mindon of Myanmar placed the Three Pitakat Treatises on stone inscriptions in 2404 Sasana Era in Mandalay, and organized the missionary Sayadaws at the Myaynan Pyatthat of the palace where they recited the sacred treatises for six months. It was the Fifth Buddhist Synod in 2415 Sasana Era.

In 2498 Sasana Era, Sayadaws and members of the Sangha totalling 2,500 from five Theravada Buddhist countries gathered at Maha Pasana Cave, Kaba Aye, in Myanmar and organized the Sixth Buddhist Synod. At the Sixth Buddhist Synod, Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru Nyaungyan Sayadaw Bhaddanta Revata and Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru Masoeyein Sayadaw Bhaddanta Suriya presided over the congregation. Agga Maha Pandita Mahasi Sayadaw Bhaddanta So-bhana acted as Pucchaka Sayadaw, who asked questions, and Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru Abhidhaja Agga Maha Saddhammajotika Tipitakadhara Dhammabhandhagarika Mingun Sayadaw Bhaddanta Vicittasara Bhivamsa acted at the Vissajjaka Sayadaw, who answered the questions.

The answers were unanimously recited by Sangitikaraka Sangitibhanaka Sayadaws; the Sixth Buddhist Synod took two years and ended in 2500 Sasana Era. Director-General Dr Myo Myint said the Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council gave guidance on building of a historical museum on the Buddhist Synods to let the future generations know how the Sayadaws and members of the Sangha of the five Theravada countries unitedly organized it and feel a sense of gratitude.

The construction funds for the museum were obtained from the surplus funds for the crematorial rites of Chairman of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee Bago Myoma Sayadawgyi and Secretary of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee Thanlyin Minkyaung Sayadaw. Foundation was laid to start building the museum on 10 January last year.

In keeping with the guidance of the Secretary-1, officials collected historical objects and records from various monasteries all over the country, historians, and wellwishers of the foreign embassies to display them so as to revitalize the spirit of love for the race, language and Sasana and to help researchers gain more knowledge on religious history.

The museum displays 17 paintings, 32 documentary photos, 845 sculptures, 157 books and 92 historical objects. The Secretary-1 after unveiling the Stone Inscription sprinkled scented water on it. Vocalist Daw Ye Ye Thant read out the auspicious lyrical ode on the sacred events of the Six Great Buddhist Councils. Minister for Religious Affairs U Aung Khin and Managing Director of Myanma Industrial Construction Services, Ministry of Industry-2, U Ye Htun formally opened the museum.

Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt performed the ritual gold and silver showers to mark the successful completion of the auspicious ceremony. The Secretary-1 and party then visited the exhibits at the museum. The first floor of the museum displays the paintings, sculptures, charts and historical facts on the First Buddhist Council, the Second Buddhist Council, the Third Buddhist Council, the Fourth Buddhist Council and the Fifth Buddhist Council. Religious artifacts from India where the First to the Third Buddhist Councils were organized and Sri Lanka, where the Fourth Buddhist Council was organized, were also displayed there.

The exhibits of upper floor mainly display the Sixth Buddhist Council, including the small-scale model of the Maha Pasana Cave, the venue of the Council, records of the Council and construction of the Cave, Pitaka Treatises, books of the Pitaka Treatises, the Ovadacariya Sayadaws and Sayadaws of the Working Committee of the Sangha who took part in the Council, personal tools of the Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru Nyaungyan Sayadaw, Agga Maha Pandita Mahasi Sayadaw and Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru Abhidhaja Agga Maha Saddhammajotika Tipitakadara Dhamma Bhandakarika Mingon Sayadaw, leaflets commemorating the Council, seals of the Council and religious artifacts of Thailand, Cambodia and Laos, which had participated in the Council.

The Historical Museum of the Six Buddhist Councils opens daily from 10 am to 4 pm except on weekends and gazetted holidays. Admission fee is free. After the ceremony, the Secretary-1 inspected the progress in constructing of the Convocation Hall of State Pariyatti Sasana Tekkatho (Yangon) at Kaba Aye. Deputy Chief Engineer of Public Works U Aung Kyee Myint and Myanmar Architecture U Ohn Tin and officials briefed the Secretary-1 on points of the project.

The Secretary-1 gave suggestions. At International Theravada Buddhist Missionary University near the Buddha's Tooth Relic Pagoda, the Secretary-1 inspected progress in construction of Patharani Ordination Hall and greening of its compound, the University Administration Office, the library, the meditating hall, the hostels and the messing halls. Officials explained points about the respective sectors.