26, Oct 2008 — The Chairman of the ATBU has been awarded two honorary doctorate degrees in seven months, one from Mahamakut Buddhist University in Bangkok, Thailand and the other by Nalanda University, India.

Tue 19 Aug 2008 Sagaing, Myanmar — Sitagu Sayadaw sits on a raised platform, three visitors kneeling below him, and explains the source of his power as a Buddhist monk. "I don't have any guns but I have very strong weapons: love, kindness and compassion," he says, as two novice monks massage his feet.

We have learned with Dhamma-samvega that the beloved mother of Venerable Dr. Khammai Dhammasami has passed away peacefully a few days ago. Venerable Dr. Khammai Dhammasami is the General-secretary of ATBU, IABU and Abbot of Oxford Buddha Vihara in UK. He has been flying in and out of Myanmar often in recent months in order to take care of his mother who has been sick for a while.

The ATBU Executive Council is meeting on 15th January 2008 at the ATBU Secretariat, Mahamakut Buddhist University, Bangkok, for the second time since its inception to discuss the progress of the association. Seven of the nine Council members including the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Executive Secretary and Hon. Treasurer, are attending this meeting.

25 August 2007
Yangon

Sitagu International Buddhist Academy (SIBA), established by its current Chancellor, the Most Ven. Dr. Ashin Nyanissara, Chairman of the ATBU, has opened a branch in Yangon (Rangoon), the former Capital, on Saturday 25 August 2007. SIAB has its main campus in Sagaing, in the Upper Myanmar. This is the first branch outside Sagaing since its founding in 2000.

International Buddhist College begins offering its officially approved Ph. D. Program in Buddhist Studies in November, 2007. It is a bilingual program, offered in English and Chinese languages. Read more about it at http://www.ibc.ac.th/en/PhD

27 May 2007

The first meeting of the ATBU Executive Council was held at the Headquarter of the ATBU at Mahamakut Buddhist University (MBU), Bangkok in the evening of May 27th, during the 2007 United Nations Vesak Day (UNDV) celebrations last month. Seven of the nine Council members were present at the meeting, which was called by the Chairman to discuss where to register the association.

Santa Clara, CA (13 April) : The Chronicle of Higher Education, a weekly newspaper of higher education in the USA has recently featured a lengthy and an excellent article with color pictures about International Buddhist College (IBC), a member-institution of the ATBU.

Bangkok (23 March): After the ATBU conference Ven. Dr. Dhammasami became sick and hospitalized in Yangon. Later, he was referred to a hospital in Bangkok on 22 March direct from the Bangkok airport.

However, today doctor already discharged him from the hospital and requested him to take rest to fully recover from his illness and regain his strength.

International Theravada Buddhist Missionary University, Yangon and Sitagu International Buddhist Academy, Sagaing

        Saturday, 24 February 2007