Shan Tipiṭaka Donation Ceremony
24th November 2025

KBZ International Meeting Hall, SSBU

 

On 24 November 2025, Shan State Buddhist University (SSBU) held the Shan Tipiṭaka Donation Ceremony at the KBZ International Meeting Hall in Taunggyi. The ceremony was hosted by Sayadaw Dr. Pannabhoga, Acting Dean of SSBU, with the participation of many senior monks of the university. This event marked a significant contribution to Buddhist scholarship in the Shan/Tai language and celebrated the preservation and transmission of the Buddha’s teachings in a regional linguistic tradition.

The central offering of the ceremony was the donation of four Nikāya volumes in the Shan language by Ven. Dr. Pannasiri Saipon, author of the English–Shan Dictionary. The donated texts comprise the Dīgha Nikāya, Majjhima Nikāya, Saṃyutta Nikāya, and Aṅguttara Nikāya, which together form the main body of the Sutta Piṭaka in the Pāli Canon.

Ven. Dr. Pannasiri Saipon personally undertook the translation of these four Nikāyas into Shan/Tai, completing this extensive scholarly work over a period of approximately two and a half years. His translation represents a major achievement in Buddhist literature, making the discourses of the Buddha accessible to Shan-speaking monastics, students, and lay readers in their mother tongue.

This donation strengthens SSBU’s role as a centre for Buddhist education in Shan State and beyond. By providing authoritative canonical texts in the local language, the donation supports both academic study and spiritual practice, enabling deeper engagement with the teachings through direct access to primary sources.

The Shan Tipiṭaka Donation Ceremony thus stands as an expression of gratitude, scholarship, and dedication to the Dhamma. It reflects a shared commitment to preserving the Buddha’s teachings and ensuring their continuity for future generations through careful translation and responsible stewardship of sacred texts.