The SSBU 1st Alumni Conference (English Session)

Theravāda Buddhist Meditation—Texts, Living Traditions, and Contemporary Scientific Research

Marking the Tenth Anniversary of Shan State Buddhist University

On 3 July 2026, Shan State Buddhist University (SSBU) commenced the First Alumni Conference as part of the University's tenth anniversary observance. Conducting three sections: English, Shan, and Myanmar language sessions, the conference brought together SSBU alumni, members of the academic community, Buddhist monastics, researchers, and students to examine Theravāda Buddhist meditation from textual, practical, historical, and scientific perspectives.

The conference theme, "Theravāda Buddhist Meditation: Texts, Living Traditions, and Contemporary Scientific Research," reflected the University's continuing commitment to the study and practice of Buddhism through dialogue between classical sources, living traditions, and contemporary scholarship. Participants attended both in person at the KBZ International Meeting Hall and online through Zoom, enabling wider participation from presenters and audiences in different countries.

Opening Ceremony

The conference began with an opening ceremony at the Dhamma Hall. Following the arrival of participants, the programme opened with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp and the recitation of Namo Tassa, paying homage to the Triple Gem under the leadership of the Most Venerable Professor Dr. K. Dhammasāmi, Founder and Rector of SSBU, together with invited Mahātheras.

The Rector then delivered the opening address, reflecting on the significance of the University's first alumni conference during its tenth anniversary year. This was followed by a keynote address from the Most Venerable Vicittābhipāla, Pro-Rector of SSBU, who highlighted the importance of sustained engagement with Buddhist learning, meditation practice, and scholarly inquiry. After the opening ceremony, participants proceeded to their respective language sessions.

English Academic Sessions

The English Session comprised four paper presentation sessions throughout the day, covering a broad range of topics related to Buddhist meditation, doctrinal interpretation, contemplative traditions, historical development, and interdisciplinary research.

The morning began with presentations examining Ānāpānasati meditation through canonical sources, contemporary practice, and scientific research, followed by a study of Brahmavihāra-bhāvanā that explored both its soteriological aims and evidence relating to health and well-being. A presentation on Tibetan debate practice provided participants with an opportunity to consider another Buddhist pedagogical tradition within a broader Buddhist context.

The second morning session continued with an exploration of the concept of the sutavā ariyasāvako and its significance for meditation in the Theravāda tradition. Further presentations discussed recent developments in neuroscience alongside the Buddha's contemplative teachings on mindfulness, as well as an analytical study of the Mogok Vipassanā tradition that examined both its practical methods and doctrinal foundations.

Following the morning presentations, certificates of appreciation were presented to the speakers, moderators, and masters of ceremonies before participants gathered for a group photograph.

Contemporary Perspectives on Living Traditions

The afternoon programme highlighted the diversity of meditation traditions and their application in different cultural and contemporary settings.

Presentations explored bodily experience in Theinngu meditation as a multisensory contemplative practice, the Vipassanā tradition transmitted through Sayāgyi U Ba Khin and S. N. Goenka, and the benefits of mindfulness meditation in addressing stress among young people. Another paper examined the development of a Theravāda Buddhist community in Serbia, illustrating how Buddhist traditions continue to adapt while maintaining continuity in new cultural environments.

The final session broadened the scope of discussion by considering Buddhānusmṛti in early Mahāyāna Buddhism and its relationship to continuing contemplative practice. Historical research on Ashin Narindābhidhaja and the development of Theravāda Buddhism in nineteenth-century Assam provided an important regional perspective on Buddhist history. The concluding presentation examined the practical application of the Mahāsi Vipassanā method during the early stages of the cognitive process (citta-vīthi), bringing together classical Abhidhamma theory and meditation practice.

A Forum for Scholarly Exchange

The first day of the conference demonstrated the breadth of contemporary research on Buddhist meditation while maintaining close engagement with the Pāli Canon, commentarial literature, living meditation traditions, and emerging interdisciplinary approaches. The programme reflected the diverse academic and cultural backgrounds of the presenters, including scholars and practitioners from universities and Buddhist institutions across Asia, Europe, and beyond, with several papers delivered online.

As the inaugural alumni conference of Shan State Buddhist University, the event also highlighted the continuing contributions of SSBU graduates to Buddhist scholarship, education, and contemplative practice. Through presentations grounded in both textual study and lived experience, the conference provided a meaningful forum for academic dialogue and mutual learning among monastic and lay participants, contributing to the University's ongoing mission of fostering the study, practice, and understanding of the Buddha's teachings.