An artists impression of the finished site.

EXPECT a religious experience at the world’s first International Institute of Abhidhamma to be constructed in Mingalardon township, the president of the institute’s management committee, U Mya Than, said on July 19.

He said work to clear the site – alongside the No 3 Highway in Mingalardon township – began in the first week of June.

“We’ve almost finished clearing the 3-acre site and will start building the campus, plus two student hostels, soon.

“The institute will measure 80,000 square feet and there will be separate hostels within the compound for men and women,” he said.

“We hope that about 150 international students can be accepted to the school in 2010, assuming that both of the hostels are built, as we expect them to be,” he said.

U Mya Than said the project is expected to cost about K2 billion, of which K40 million has already been donated by well-wishers. “A well-wisher also donated the land for the campus, while the institute will be shaped using a design penned and donated by architect U Myint Wai,” he said.

However, he remained unsure of exactly when work would be finished, adding that completion depended on donations.

“The campus cannot be accomplished by IIA alone and it needs the helping hand of all well-wishers and dhamma friends to build this institute and contribute to the higher teachings of Buddha, in English, in the world,” he said.

He said that Theravada countries acknowledge Myanmar as the most advanced country in the field of teaching Abhidhamma. The suggestion to build the institution in Myanmar was first tabled at the international Conference of Theravada universities from all over the world at Mount Popa in March, 2007.

As a result of this conference the institute was formed on June 30, 2007, and immediately started translating Abhidhamma literature and teaching courses in both English and Myanmar languages.

The institute will conduct its first certificated courses in Abhidhamma in English in October 2008 and is schedule to extend its training programs all the way up to a doctorate degree.

U Mya Than said the institute invites all dhamma friends, well-wishers and authorities who want to donate money, literature, equipment of services to contact the institute at Sadhukari community hall at No 295-297, Bo Aung Kyaw Street, Kyauktada township. The institute’s telephone number is 254 102 and the email address is secretarial@Abhidamma_ Intl_Institute.org.