Dhamma education in India:

Programme to ordain retired individuals

Priyanka KURUGALA

The Buddhasasana and Religious Affairs Ministry and the Buddhist Affairs Department plans to launch a programme to ordain retired individuals in the country to devote their time for Buddhist missionary work in India to mark the 2600 Sambuddhatva Jayanthi, a Buddhist Affairs Department source said.

The government has planned to launch this programme in collaboration with Mahabodhi Society in India. The Indian Maha Bodhi Society will fund this programme, the source said. The source said that there is a shortage of monks with a knowledge of English to teach the Dhamma in India. There is a great demand among Indians to learn the Dhamma.

"Therefore when the Ministry launches this programme it will give priority to retired English teachers or other retired officers. "Under this programme the selected individuals should be prepared to spend their lifetime in India and dedicate themselves to Buddhist missionary work after their ordination," the source said.

For further details contact, Buddhist Affairs Commissioner General, No 135, Srimath Anagarika Dharmapala Road, Colombo-07.