YANGON’S Buddhist Academy has issued its first degrees as a private institute. At a graduation ceremony on August 20, the Academy issued a B.A. (Indo-Aryan) degree to 41 monks for the study of Dhamma.

The ceremony, celebrated at the academy in Kyeemyindaing township, bestowed certificates and degrees on a total of 292 monks.

Academy Professor U Myint Swe said the institution was offering courses in Dhamma, Buddhist teachings, of international standard both for monks and for lay people unable to join the other Buddhist Dhamma universities.

“As the Buddha’s teaching, the Dhamma should be flourishing for the benefit of the people. We will help those who want to learn the Dhamma and help them take up their missionary work,” he said.

He said he had plans to open many private academies offering Buddhist literature all over Myanmar.

“Though we face a lot of difficulties in running the academy, we are very pleased to see the monks graduate and take up their missionary tasks. This is our success,” he said.

In 2007, the academy participated for the first time in an international group of private Buddhist institutions of learning that meets regularly in Thailand under the patronage of King Bhumibol of Thailand.

The Venerable U Pannasiha (Shwenyawar), secretary of the academy, said the syllabuses at the academy met international standard.

“We always take care of the syllabus so that students from our school can attend lectures at other Buddhist universities,” he said, adding that graduates are qualified to go on to any other international Buddhist university if they wish.
The Yangojn academywas established in 2004, 11 years after the first academy in Mandalay. The academies offer Buddhist literature free of charge in several languages, including Pali, Sanskrit, Sakata, and English.