Dhamma Scholarship Program of Burma
For Novice Monks and Nuns
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2007 Objective: to support 200 students – 120 novice monks and 80 nuns
Burma is well known for being the strongest Theravada Buddhist tradition in the world. Burmese devotees have been generously supporting novice monks and nuns for centuries. Nowadays, however, more and more young novice monks and nuns studying in Burma have very little support. Most of them have left their families and village to study in cities with no reliable support. They cannot even afford to have text books and basic necessities. Sometimes, it's even difficult to get one set of robes.
Even famous Sayadaws today in Burma had similar experiences when they were young. For myself, when I was studying and had difficulty getting robes, a friend of mine offered me a set of used robes. It made me so happy that his generosity is still impressed on my memory today.
Recognizing this situation, in early 2005 we founded a scholarship program to sponsor young novice monks and nuns during their studies.
Please think about how you can help novice monks and nuns in need of text books and other necessities. Your generous support will be impressed on their memory for life and at the same time it will help prolong the Buddha's teachings.
Sayadaw U Zatila
Selection Criteria
- be at least 16 years old
- have good moral conduct
- be good at study
- take a 3-week intensive meditation retreat each year during their school holiday
Fund for each scholarship
Each scholarship winner will be provided with $50 (about 50,000 Kyats) to cover their yearly expenses as follows:
- Text books
- Two sets of robes
- One alms bowl
- A pair of shoes
- other necessities
Annual Meditation Retreat and Offering
The novice monks and nuns that are chosen will participate in a three-week meditation retreat from April 20 – May 11 every year in either upper Burma at Panditarama Pyin Oo Lwin or in lower Burma at Panditarama Hse Main Gon. Following the retreat, they will receive Vassa robes and other necessities. The left-over Navakamma will be offered to them as their personal use.
Donations
Most novice monks and nuns study for 8 to 10 years. You can support the foundation in general or you can support a particular novice monk or nun throughout their studies. You will receive the photo and biography of the novices monk or nun that you support. We guarantee that all funds will go to the students.
Option 1: 1 full year of support ($50 for one, $100 for two, $150 for three etc...)
Photograph and biography of each student you support will be sent to you
Option 2: Meal donation - $80 for breakfast, $140 for lunch or $30 for evening juice
Option 3: General Fund - any amount; to cover travel exams, administrative expenses etc...
Please send your donation to:
Tathagata Meditation Center
Attn: Dhamma Scholarship Program
1215 Lucretia Ave San Jose, CA 95122
Note: please make the check payable to TMC and write “Dhamma scholarship program” on the Memo line
More information
For more information please call TMC Sayadaw (408) 977-0300 .