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The past 46 years ago, it is the six-years pass of the time to get the beginning of freedom from British Colony. Beginning the day (1316 ) full moon day of Kason, at the cave of Chattha Sangiti Hill of Kaba Aye, Yangon, the Sixth Council was being performed by supporting of former Prime minister U Nu, comprising Buddhist welllearned monks who are master of Priyatti and Patipatti (learning and practice).

Such kind of council only six times have occurred during 2500 years after the Buddha's Mahaparinibbana. In the ceremony, the famous learned Buddhist monks were in vited and attended. In this council, (, the writer of this article, have participated as a monk reciting Suttanta Pitaka Patheya Pali by heart and as an examiner of Chattha Sangiti and Chattha Sangiti Bhanaka. Among those participants, we could see our famous, and grateful Sayadaw Gri Chandramani from India, as a representative of India to the sixth council, and he resided at Kushinagar, U.P, India.

Since before I have known of his news that he is contributing Buddhism in India from the first in charge monk of Mingalasukha PA University. At the time when I met him, his age has been 80 years old. He was no short and no high in middle, and his skin was not white, not brown and steady figure: full of compassion in his face that I have recognized the type of his figure. According to our invitation, he came to visit our monastery and expressed that he has been very old now, so it will be very difficult to visit Burma (Myanmar) again.

The former Sayadaw ( abbot ) of Mingalasukha monastery, since his monk-aged 3 years (vassavasa), he has been to India and under the shelter of l-I Chandramani Mahathera had studied Hindi, Pali and Bengali languages in India.

Attending Sixth Buddhist Council of Burma

The Sayadaw, owing to invitation of the Government of the Union of Myanmar, came to attend this council instead of Indian Bhikkhu Samgha Organization, and he has addressed his speech in Hindi language on the occasion. Dr.Ambedkar, minister for law, and his followers also
participated in the Council on behalf of the Indian Government. Fortunately, Dr. Ambedkar had an opportunity to meet the Ven. Sayadaw and to hear an influential speech of the Mahathera, that increased his emotion embraced to Buddhism more and more, and at last he gave up his old creed and converted to Buddhism with more than six lakh peoples.

We have heard of that after some time Dr. Ambedkar and his followers amounting more than six lakhs were converted into Buddhism under Sayadaw's Guidance in India.

Another one person, who accompanied Sayadaw, was Dattharatha, a trader of Nepal. He venerated Sayadaw's dignities in precepts and wisdom very well; and at that time I have to apply to Sayadaw that he (Dattharatha) is full of veneration and would like to give up his life and possessions in taking refuge in the Triple Gems (Tri Ratana: Buddha, Dhamma, and Samgha-accompany that I have to apply to Sayadaw again and again).

The Meaningful Speech of Sayadaw

Sayadaw has demonstrated that O' my dear Dattharatha, if you would like other to follow the moral precepts; for example at first you should show your obeying precepts by yourself and you can teach other to obey the moral precepts; and he taught him again, my dear Dattharatha, if one person wants to promote Buddha's teachings, he should have capacity to give up wealth and even his part of body; for example however dry the sandal wood, it never gives up its sweet smell, like this he should be the person who has held the Buddha's doctrines up to his body dry up and such type of person only can teach other the Lord Buddha's doctrines. After his taking boost, he and Sayadaw arrived at Bhutan, Sikkim and Nepal to contribute Buddhism and they got very success in their work, that I have heard of from Sayadaw.

The Endurance of the Eight Worldly Conditions

Respected Sayadaw U Chandramani, since his child hood he was anxious to enter Buddha's teaching. According to invitation of the gentlemen Anagarika Dhammapala of Mahabhodhi Society of India and Co1.01 Cott, Sayadaw at his age 12 years old came to India and studied Pali, Sanskrit, Hindi and Bengali languages under Mahathera Mahadeva and Chandazawti thero at a brick public rest house erected by the Burmese King Mindon. Together, he and his teacher Mahadeva had to leave the house because they were expelled by force by Mahants. He had big suffering without any place to live at that time, but his strong devoted mind has taken over come many kinds of hard sufferings. By supporting of U Cha Zarr Rhee, a famous merchant of Arakan ( Rakhine ) and the gentlemen of Mahabhodhi Society, he had chance to learn under Mahavira Thero. His capacity and dignity became famous and he was appreciated even by Hindu Brahmans and called him "Guru Chandramani", "Baba Bhagavam".

To perfect other benefits is to win self -benefits.

During Sayadaw l..l Chandramani was carrying out his religious duties residing at Kushinagar monastery close to the Mahaparinibbana statue, one devotee named Dighadassi who had a religious mind, came to know Sayadaw; and Sayadaw got his support that one Englishman called Nikkhamasaye, Majestrict of Deoria District was introduced to Sayadaw in viewing deep into Sayadaw's future. He advised Sayadaw: Reverend Sayadaw, if you want to carry out the religious duties, you are needed the necessary expenditures in sufficiency, and so, for you it is in need of belonging to the lands around this area by registering those to your name. According to his applying, Sayadaw accepted the lands 50 Acres from the Deoria Majestrict Nikkhamasaye. From the benefits of those lands, Sayadaw started to erect the drinking wells, offering food to the poor, primary schools, junior high schools and high schools including Kushinagar Buddha Degree College.

The sweet smell of Sayadaw's moral dignities spreading out to the four directions.

Such respectable and outstanding Sayadaw l.l Chandramani was regarded by local people of India as "Guru, Baba Bhagavam," e t c. The grateful Sayadaw was born at the village named Pauk Pin Kwin close to Mrauk Oo, the ancient city of Arakan Kingdom from mother Daw Win Ye and father U Aung Kyaw on 6`h Kasone, 1237 Burmese Era ( 25. 5. 18 75 ) Tuesday. At his age 97 ( 77 Uassa vasa of Upasampada), in 1334 Burmese Era ( 8. 5. 1972 ) passed away under the natural way from which even Arhant and the Buddha cannot escape in the customary of the nature. Those events of his life were recognized by us in memory of late Sayadaw in our deep regards. At that time the Government of India and parliament had sent a regretletter (condolence) to his death.

According to impermanent nature of this body, every body some day comes to disappear, but sweet smelling of their moral qualities has remained in the world instead of him, running into the four directions.


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Source: The Light of Majjhimadesa - Volume (1) published by U Chandramani Foundation. 2001