The Future of Monastic Education
Ashin Kovida advocated a modernized approach to monastic education in his recent podcast discussion. He perceives limitations in the traditional system, where monks often focus solely on Buddhist studies. He emphasizes the importance of incorporating broader subjects like math, English, Western philosophy, and psychology into the curriculum. By doing so, he believes that monks can better engage with the evolving world and understand Buddhist teachings through different frameworks. Ashin Kovida also encourages critical thinking and practical application of knowledge over rote memorization. His vision is to create a more well-rounded education that prepares monks to connect with a diverse and changing society, making Buddhism more relevant and meaningful to a wider audience while preserving its core values.
“We must not lose communication with the people. The people and the monks we are interdependent and interrelated.”
“U Pandita, Shwe Taung Gon Sāsana Yeiktha Sayadaw, he was not encouraged by the military. He was banned to travel abroad, because jhe supported the NLD and Aung San Suu Kyi.
Nowadays, the young monks, they understand they have to change the education system, but they don't know how to change it yet. They opened a so-called college, and a so-called university. But the development is only material, while the education system does not really develop. The curriculum is still the same.
Of course, many more young monks started learning foreign languages, English, which is unprecedented in Burma, now. They still need to change the curriculum, like studying the history of Western philosophy, approaching Western philosophy, the books, through Buddhist teachings, studying Buddhist teachings through Western philosophy, like that. Because we must not lose communication with the people. The people and the monks we are interdependent and interrelated.
Now, even the monks, I think they have difficulties for food, because many people now suffer. They have said before [from ancient times] [quoting phrase in Bamazaga or Pāli], in Burmese it is said, ‘Only when the lay people are well-to-do, will they be able to support the monks.’ Now, the people are oppressed by the military junta, the economy is destroyed by the military; so, they can't support the monks. So, the monks have the difficulties also. I hope the monks will change and the education systems, too.”