Monks attend the opening ceremony for the International Institute of Abhidhamma on August 25. Pic: Hein Latt Aung

THE higher teachings of the Buddha will be taught in English at the newly opened International Institute of Abhidhamma located at Sitagu Sasana Beikman monastery in Yangon’s North Dagon township.

The institute, which is a branch of Sitagu International Buddhist Academy in Sagaing near Mandalay, will be the “first of its kind in the world” in offering English-language lessons on the Abhidhamma, one of the three pitakas (baskets, or books) of the Buddhist canon, according to the institute’s official guidebook.

“The Abhidhamma is referred to as the higher-level teachings of the Buddha because these are higher, wider and deeper than other two pitakas,” the guidebook says. “Except for some limited learned monks and laypeople, the Abhidhamma still remains as a treasure trove omitted by both most Buddhists and non-Buddhists.”

It continues that the institute will strive to teach the Abhidhamma in English by offering basic courses, advanced studies of the original texts and cutting-edge research works.

“The purpose of this institute is for the propagation of Buddhism across the world,” said a spokesperson at the monastery, the Venerable Kitthibala. “Most monks know the teachings only in their mother tongue but they also need to know them in English as they have more communication with overseas countries.”

The opening ceremony of the institute was held on August 25 at the monastery, followed by the launch of the first diploma course on the Buddha’s dhamma (way of truth) the next day.

The Venerable Kitthibala said the course, which at the monastery is open only to monks and nuns, was the first in Yangon but had been available for six years at the academy in Sagaing, where anyone interested could pursue it.

The course is classified into basic, intermediate and advanced classes, with monks who have earned doctorate degrees from foreign institutes teaching the students.

The organisers said they plan to upgrade the institute to a university in the future. The rector of the International Theravada Buddhist Missionary University in Yangon, the Venerable Nandama-labhivamsa, will also act as the rector of the new institute.