Myanmar

Bhadant Gyaneshwar Mahasthivir

India, international, literature, News 9 November 2021

Bhadant Gyaneshwar Mahasthivir: Celebrating the life of a Burmese Monk dedicated to the cause of Buddhism in India

Bhadant Gyaneshwar Mahasthivir Kushinagar is celebrating the life and achievements of Bhadant Gyaneshwar Mahasthivir, the Monk in Chief of Mahaparinirvan main temple, who completed his 85th birthday on November 10th. Kushinagar: a prominent place for the Buddhists As we all know, Kushinagar is one of the foremost prominent places for Buddhists all over the world as Buddha delivered his last sermon here and met his ‘Mahaparinirvana’.  Recently, Kushinagar is also linked with the international aviation circuit as a new airport has just been inaugurated here a couple of weeks back. Who is Bhadant Gyaneshwar? Bhadant Gyaneshwar is the most revered Buddhist monk living in Kushinagar and is President of Kushinagar Bhikshu Sangh since February 21st, 2005 after the ‘Parinirvana’ i.e. passing away of Bhadant Aniruddha Mahathera of Lumbini. History of Kushinagar Bhikshu Sangh The Kushinagar Bhikshu Sangh was initiated by Bhadant Chandra Mani Mahathera on December 18th, 1952 and he remained president of it till May 8th, 1972. Afterwards Bhaddant Utikheindariya Mahathera and Achutananda Mahathera became the president. That way, Bhaddant Gyaneshwar Mahathera is the sixth President of Kushinagar Bhikshu Sangha. Life of Bhadant Gyaneshwar Bhadant Gyaneswhar was born as Aaon Jaa Wey (childhood name) on November 10th, 1936 in a village named Zibenji in the district of Akyab, in Arakans province of Myanmar, on the coastal region, where Buddhism once thrived and now part of Rakhine state, which has got famed for the conflict of Rohingyas versus the natives of the region who feel that demographic changes might affect the supremacy of the locals if the Rohingyas are not thrown out or controlled. Of course, the crisis is of the recent years and not that period when Bhadant was growing.  On April 12th, 1949, he got ordained as Shramaner when his Guru named him as Jannisar which got interpreted in Hindi as Gyaneshwar. He learnt Pali and got admission at the University in Rangoon, now known as Yangon, the capital city of Myanmar, where he learnt Pali literature. On June 3rd, 1956 he became a Bhikkhu after six years of studies in Buddhism at the University. Burma, now Myanmar…

COVID-19 News

Health, international, News, United States 6 August 2021

Myanmar: COVID-19 third wave has hit like a ‘tsunami’, warns WFP

Funding gaps hamper WFP’s lifesaving operations as hunger deepens in Myanmar YANGON – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today warned that its lifesaving operations in Myanmar are being held back by a major funding shortfall, with over 70 per cent of its funding needs over the coming six months still unmet. A massive wave of COVID-19 hits Myanmar A massive wave of COVID-19 infections currently surging throughout the country is compounding hunger, as families struggle amid job losses, rising food and fuel prices, political unrest, violence and displacement. Hunger spreading further and deeper In April, WFP estimated that the number of people facing hunger could more than double to 6.2 million in the next six months, up from 2.8 million prior to February. Subsequent monitoring surveys carried out by WFP have shown that since February, more and more families are being pushed to the edge, struggling to put even the most basic food on the table. “We have seen hunger spreading further and deeper in Myanmar. Nearly 90 per cent of households living in slum-like settlements around Yangon say they have to borrow money to buy food; incomes have been badly affected for many,” said WFP Myanmar Country Director Stephen Anderson. Starting in May, WFP launched a new urban food response, targeting 2 million people in Yangon and Mandalay, Myanmar’s two biggest cities. The majority of people to receive assistance are mothers, children, people with disabilities and the elderly. To date, 650,000 people have been assisted in urban areas. More than 220,000 people have fled violence since February, and are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. WFP has reached 17,500 newly-displaced people and is working to assist more in August. In total, 1.25 million people in Myanmar have received WFP food, cash and nutrition assistance in 2021 across urban and rural areas. However, with US$86 million more required over the next six months, it is uncertain how far these operations can go. Myanmar is facing its most difficult moment “The people of Myanmar are facing their most difficult moment in living memory. It is critically important for us…