The Sixth Buddhist Council (; ; ) was a general council of TheravÃÂda Buddhism, held in a specially built MahàPÃÂsÃÂá¹Âa Guhà(Great Cave) and pagoda complex at Kaba Aye Pagoda in Yangon, Burma. The council was attended by 2500 monastics from eight TheravÃÂdin Buddhist countries. The Council lasted from Vesak (VisÃÂkha) 1954 to Vesak 1956, its completion coinciding with the traditional 2500th anniversary of the Gautama Buddha's . In the tradition of past Buddhist councils, a major purpose of the Sixth Council was to preserve the Buddha's teachings and practices as understood in the Theravadin tradition.
Over the two-year period, monks (') from different countries recited from their existing redaction of the PÃÂli Canon and the associated post-canonical literature. As a result, the Council synthesized a new redaction of the Pali texts ultimately transcribed into several native scripts.
The Council was convened 83 years after the Burmese Fifth Buddhist council was held in Mandalay. The Council commenced proceedings on Vesak, 17 May 1954, in order to allow sufficient time to conclude its work on Vesak, 24 May 1956, the day marking the 2500-year celebration of Gautama Buddha's ParinibbÃÂna according to traditional Theravada dating.
The Sixth Council was sponsored by the Burmese Government led by Prime Minister U Nu. He authorized the construction of the Kaba Aye Pagoda and the MahÃÂpÃÂsÃÂá¹Âa Guhàor "Great Cave" in which the work of the council took place. This venue was designed to be like the cave in which the First Buddhist council was held.
As in the preceding councils, the Sixth Council's aim was to affirm and preserve the genuine Dhamma and Vinaya. The 2500 participating TheravÃÂdan Elders came from eight countries: Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, India, and Nepal.Notable participants included representatives from China, Indonesia, Germany, and theàChittagong Buddhist Associationà(from East Pakistan, now Bangladesh). Also in attendance were theàBengali Buddhist Associationàfrom India, delegates fromàMalayaà(modern-day Malaysia), and humanitarian and Buddhist representatives from the United States.A temple in Japan also sent delegates. The only Western monks to participate were German-born, Sri-Lanka-residing Nyanatiloka Thera, Nyanaponika Thera, Karl Tõnisson (known as Brother Vahindra) and Friedrich Lustig (known as Ashin Ananda).
Mahasi Sayadaw was appointed to ask the required questions about the Dhamma to Mingun Sayadaw, who answered them. Following the Sixth Council, Myanmar became a major source of internationalÃÂ Vipassana meditationÃÂ movements (notably through Mahasi Sayadaw) that spread to the World.The most prestigious religious recognition went toÃÂ Mingun Sayadaw, who was officially recognized as the first "Bearer of the Three Pitakas" for reciting all 16,000 pages of the canon from memory.In 1985, theÃÂ Guinness World RecordsÃÂ recorded Mingun Sayadaw as a record holder in the Human memory category.
"Prominent political figures in attendance included King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Prime Minister Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram of Thailand; King Norodom Sihanouk and Prime Minister Penn Nouth of Cambodia; Crown Prince Savang Vatthana and the Prime Minister of Laos; as well as ministerial representatives from Ceylon. During this diplomatic assembly, the University of Rangoon conferred an honorary doctorate upon King Sihanouk. Concurrently, the Burmese government bestowed the Order ofàAgga Maha Thiri ThudhammaâÂÂthe highest national honorâÂÂupon both King Bhumibol and Prime Minister Phibunsongkhram of Thailand.
In addition to the physical presence of international scholars and organizational delegates, the Council received high-level diplomatic support.ÃÂ Formal messages of commendationÃÂ were sent by world leaders, including Indian Prime MinisterÃÂ Jawaharlal Nehru, the Prime Minister of Sikkim, the King and Prime Minister of Nepal, the Prime Minister of Japan, and the Government of the Ryukyu Islands. Notably, a message fromÃÂ Queen Elizabeth IIÃÂ was delivered and read by the British Ambassador to Burma, Lord Paul Gore-Booth, Baron Gore-Booth.
TheàSixth Buddhist Councilà(Chaá¹Âá¹Âha Saá¹ gÃÂyana), held from 1954 to 1956 in Yangon, Myanmar, represented a landmark event in modern Theravada history. Convened to coincide with the 2,500th anniversary of the Buddha'sàParinibbÃÂna, its primary objective was theàsystematic purificationàand standardization of the Pali Canon (Tipitaka).
The most significant academic achievement of the Council was the production of theàChaá¹Âá¹Âha Saá¹ gÃÂyana editionàof the Buddhist scriptures. Over 2,500 monks from various Theravada nationsâÂÂincluding Sri Lanka, Thailand, Laos, and CambodiaâÂÂrigorously cross-referenced the Burmese texts against international versions and ancient palm-leaf manuscripts. This process eliminated centuries of scribal errors and inconsistencies, resulting in an authoritative 40-volume set of theàTipitaka, complemented by its commentaries (Atthakatha) and sub-commentaries (Tika).
The Council served as a catalyst forÃÂ transnational Buddhist unity. By inviting high-ranking monks and scholars, it bridged regional doctrinal gaps and fostered a collective identity among Theravada practitioners.
By the time this council met all the participating countries had had the Pali Tipiá¹Âaka rendered into their native scripts, with the exception of India. During the two years that the Council met, the Tipiá¹Âaka and its allied literature in all scripts were painstakingly examined with their differences noted down, the necessary corrections made, and collated. Not much difference was found in the content of any of the texts. Finally, after the Council had officially approved the texts, all of the books of the Tipiá¹Âaka and their commentaries were prepared for printing on modern presses. This notable achievement was made possible through the dedicated efforts of the 2500 monks and numerous lay people. Their work came to an end with the rise of the full moon on the evening of 24 May 1956, the 2500th anniversary of the Buddha's ParinibbÃÂna according to the traditional Theravada dating.
Following the Sixth Council, Myanmar became a major source of internationalÃÂ Vipassana meditationÃÂ movements that spread to the World .The most prestigious religious recognition went toÃÂ Mingun Sayadaw, who was officially recognized as the first "Bearer of the Three Pitakas" for reciting all 16,000 pages of the canon from memory.In 1985, theÃÂ Guinness World RecordsÃÂ recorded Mingun Sayadaw as a record holder in the Human memory category.
This council's work was the unique achievement of representatives from the entire Buddhist world. After the scriptures had been examined thoroughly several times, they were put into print, covering 52 treatises in 40 volumes. At the end of this Council, all the participating countries had the Tipiá¹Âaka rendered into their native scripts except India. The version of the Tipitaka which it undertook to produce has been recognized as being true to the pristine teachings of the Buddha and the most authoritative rendering of them to date.
Since the year 1999, the Dhamma Society Fund in Thailand has been revising the 1958 Sixth Council Edition with other editions to remove all printing and editorial errors. https://web.archive.org/web/20090221182753/http://www.dhammasociety.org/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/dhammasociety/sets/72157600325639159/ This romanized version in 40 volumes, known as the World Tipitaka Edition, was completed in 2005. The 40-volume Tipitaka Studies Reference appeared in 2007.
The Dhamma Society Fund is currently printing the World Tipitaka Edition in Roman Script based on the B.E. 2500 Great International Tipitaka Council Resolution (1958 Sixth Buddhist Council) with sponsorship from the Royal Matriarch of Thailand, Tipitaka patrons and leaders of business community, for distribution as a gift of Dhamma worldwide, with a priority for the libraries and institutes around the world which had received the Siam-script Tipitaka as a royal gift from King Chulalongkorn of Siam over a century ago.
https://www.bbc.com/burmese/articles/cg39jdn3w2jo
https://www.vridhamma.org/History-and-Spread-of-Vipassana
https://www.dagonuniversity.edu.mm/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/May-Pwint-Khaing-1.pdf