Shinbyu ceremony held by King Zero. In preparation for full ordination as a monk, a boy must first become a novice (shinlaung) before the age of 20 (usually at 10) in a ceremony called Shinbyu.

On Tuesday, 5 April 2011, Ashin Kovida and Ashin Sopaka met with representatives of the Swiss government, to offer them the ABMA issued statement. Present on behalf of the government of Switzerland were Daniel Derzic – Regional Coodinator, Political Affairs Division, Asia, Pacific – and Maja Messmer – Deputy Regional Coordinator South East Asia and [...]

It’s the start of Thingyan, the Burmese new year. Thingyan means moving from one year to another. It signifies leaving one year behind and start a fresh in a new year. In Burma for centuries, people have washed away their sins and bad experiences with scented water during this period.

The Best Friend’s Shan State Earthquake Relief Project has now been in full-swing for 10 days, and we would like to give you an update on the project’s progress.

On Wednesday 6 April, Ashin Kovida and Ashin Sopaka visited the Sekundar Schule Remisberg – school in Kreuzlingen, Switzerland.

From 26th March, there was a five day gathering in Makesa village, at Nanti monastery, close to Mae Sot.

On 21 March 2011, Burmese monks Ashin Kovida and Ashin Sopaka offered a statement to the German government to ask for support for the Burmese people. The statement was first issued at the beginning of December 2010, by the ABMA – the All Burma Monks Alliance – the organization that organized the uprisings in Burma [...]