The 2nd Bi-Annual International Conference
The Association of Theravada Buddhist Universities (ATBU)
held at Sitagu International Buddhist Academy
Sagaing Hills, Myanmar
4-8 March 2009/ 2552

Program

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Tuesday 3rd March 2009
- Arrival of International participants in Yangon (Those who arrived earlier are offered lunch at Shwe Shan Kan restaurant.)
- Stay overnight at Chatriun Hotel (formerly Nikko Hotel) in Yangon

Wednesday 4th March 2009
Lunch at Shwe Shan Kan Restaurant
International participants fly to Mandalay and registration at Mandalay Hill Resort in Mandalay
6:30PM Meeting of the Executive Council at Yonaka Seminar Hall, SIBA, in Saging

Thursday 5th March 2009
7:30AM Arrival of 15 selected foreign VIPs, MBU delegates and invitees from Myanmar in the Shanti Convocation Hall
8:00 Opening of the Shanti Convocation Hall
8:10 Arrival of H.E Prime Minister of Myanmar in the Shanti Convocation Hall
8:15 Arrival of the Most Ven. Abhidhaja Maharatthaguru Bhaddanta Kumara, Chairman of the State Sangha Mahanayaka Committee of Myanmar and the Most Ven. Abhidhaja Maharatthaguru Bhaddanta Agghiya, Head of the Shwe-kyin Nikaya of Myanmar in the Shanti Convocation Hall
8: 20-9:30 Convocation Ceremony of Sitagu International Theravada Buddhist Academy
Paying homage to the Triple Gems
Convocation Speech by the Most Venerable Chairman of the State Sangha Mahanayaka Council of Myanmar
Conferment of Degrees
Congratulatory Speech by the Head of the Shwe-kyin Nikaya of Myanmar
Congratulatory Speech by Minister of Religious Affairs of Myanmar
9:30-10.15 The Conferment Ceremony of an Hon. Doctorate Degree by Mahamakut Buddhist University, Thailand on the Most Ven. Dr. Ashin Nyanissara, Chancellor of SIBA and Chairman of ATBU
Launching of publications
10: 45 Luncheon
12: 45PM Arrival of all foreign and local participants in the Shanti Convocation Hall for the opening ceremony of the 2nd Bi-Annual Conference of the ATBU
12: 55 Arrival of all participants by the Shanti Convocation Hall of the Most Venerable Chairman of the State Sangha Mahanayaka Committee of Myanmar and the Most Venerable Head of the Shwe-kyin Nikaya of Myanmar
01:00 - Welcome Speech by the Most Venerable Chancellor of SIBA & Chairman of ATBU
Opening Speech by the Most Venerable Chairman of the State Sangha Mahanayaka Committee of Myanmar
Congratulatory Speech by the Most Venerable Head of the Shwe-kyin Nikaya of Myanmar
Special Speech by Ven. Phra Theppariyattiwimol, Rector of MBU & Vice Chairman of ATBU
Keynote Speech (English): “Theravada Buddhism: Its Identity” by Senior Professor Oliver Abeynayake, PhD (Lancaster), formerly Director of Research at Buddhist & Pali University of Sri Lanka
Keynote Speech (Pali): “Sri Kalyâúî Yogassama Saèsâ Sammatâya Ârañña Patipadâya Samâraùbhaù” by the Most Ven. N_Uyan Ariyadhamma, leader of a Sri Lanka forest nikaya
Lunching of some research works by the ATBU Member-Universities
03-03:30 Break
03:30-05:00 Four Panel Discussions (to be held concurrently. See a separate program for details.)
05:00 Dinner break for lay participants & soft drinks for the Sangha
05:30-07:00 A visit to the Saung Oo Ponnya Shin Pagoda on the Sagaing Hills
07:00 Special Lecture: Language of the Buddha by Ven. Prof. Satyapala Bhikshu, Head, Dept. of Pali and Buddhist Studies, University of Delhi, India
Video presentation on Engaged Buddhism (a. Welcome to Sagaing Hills by Ven. Sopaka of SIBA; b. IBC Mission presentations by Ven. Weiwu; c. Sitagu Ayudana Hospital by Ven. Pannyasiha).

Friday 6th March 2009
8:15AM Arrival of all participants in the Shanti Convocation Hall
8: 20 Chanting by International Sangha/ religious songs
8:30-10:30 Panel discussions (cont.)
10:30AM Luncheon
12: 30-2:30PM Panel discussions (cont.)
02: 30-03:00PM Break
03:00-05:00PM Panel discussions (cont.)
05:00PM Dinner break for lay participants & soft drinks for the Sangha
05:30-07:00PM A visit to Kaung-hmu-daw Pagoda on the Sagaing Hills
07:00-09: 00 Special Lecture: Vipassana a Unique Contribution of Buddhism by Dr. R. Panth, Vice Chancellor, Nalanda University, India.
Video presentation of Engaged Buddhism (a. Ven. Sanghasena, Ladakh, Kashmir, India; b. Sitagu Water Distribution by Ven. Issariya of SIBA)
Cultural presentation (tentative)

Saturday 7th March 2009
8:15AM Arrival of all participants in the Shanti Convocation Hall
8: 20AM Chanting by International Sangha/ religious songs
8: 30-10: 30AM Panel discussions (cont.)
10:30AM Luncheon
12: 30-02:30PM Panel discussions (cont.)
02: 30-03:00 Break
03-05:00PM Panel discussions (cont.)
05:00PM Dinner break for lay participants & soft drinks for the Sangha
05:30-07:00PM A visit to Bargara Monastery and Maha Gandhayon Monastery, Amarapura
07:00-09: 00 Special lecture: “Applied Abhidhamma in Daily Life” (the Most Ven. Prof. Dr. Nandamalabhivamsa, Rector of SIBA)
Video presentation on Engaged Buddhism (a. Ven. Dr. Anil Sugandho, MBU; b. Mural Paintings in Theravada Buddhism from King Mongkut Institute of Technology, Thailand)
Cultural presentation (tentative)

Sunday 8th March 2009
8: 15 Arrival of all participants in the Shanti Convocation Hall
8: 20 Chanting by international Sangha/ religious songs
8: 30-10:00 The Assembly of the ATBU
10-10:30 Closing ceremony
Afternoon Sightseeing in Mandalay (Maha Myatmuni & Kuthodaw Pagoda)

Monday 9th March 2009
05:00AM Great donations of robes and alms to 1,000 monks and 1, 000 nuns to mark the 72nd Birthday of the Most Venerable Sitagu Sayadaw Dr. Ashin Nyanissara, Chancellor of SIBA & Chairman of ATBU
Afternoon: Sagaing to Bagan / Pagan (Note. Some return to Yangon)

Attached MS word file below is Academic Pannel timetable.