Banned by the Maha Nayaka Sangha Council

Banned by the Maha Nayaka Sangha Council

On 20 November 2011, the well-known Burmese monk U Zawana was banned by the Maha Nayaka Sangha Council from giving Dhamma talks for one year.

The venerable U Zawana had given a Dharma talk in Kyine Tone City without prior permission from the authorities and the Maha Nayaka Council.
Although the Maha Nayaka Sangha Council is headed by senior monks (most are between 60 and 80 years old), it is controlled by the government’s Ministry of Religion. All members of this council are chosen by the military regime.
With the Sangha Council, the military regime attempts to control all religious activities of Buddhist monks throughout the whole country with one State Central Working Committee of Sangha, one State Sangha Mahanayaka Committee, 49 State Division Sangha Nayaka Committees, 500 Township Sangha Nayaka Committees, and 5763 Ward Sangha Nayaka Committees.
Since the installation of these regime-controlled Sangha Councils, monasteries have been closed and unity among members of the Sangha has been diminished.
If a monk does not abide by the orders from the Maha Nayaka Sangha Council, he can be sent to jail. Criticism of the Maha Nayaka Council can even lead to the authorities closing a monastery.
When, after the 2007 Saffron Revolution, the military started closing monasteries throughout the whole country, the Maha Nayaka Council did not protect the monasteries. On the contrary, the Maha Nayaka Council executed direct orders from the military regime.
Just a few days ago, Abbot U Thumingala, 44, was summoned by Maha Nayaka Sangha Council and received a warning after holding a public event and giving a talk without prior permission from the authorities and the Township Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee.
In September, the abbot, who is known for his talks on developing good moral character, held a public meeting with charity groups to exchange experiences.
Abbot U Thumingala had invited delegates of different charity groups from across the country to attend the meeting. 2,500 charity workers including monks and people who do charity work in 10 states and regions, as well as interested observers, attended the meeting. U Thumingala was already banned from giving religious talks in 2008 and 2009.
In February 2010, U Panyarthiha, 48, was banned from giving Dhamma talks for one year. U Panyarthiha is known to be a very brave monk. He organized help for the victims of Cyclone Nargis. When the military regime closed the areas that where hit by the cyclone and kept the donated money for themselves, U Panyarthiha gave Dhamma talks about this situation and criticized it openly.
He is also known to talk about General Aung San, which is rare in his country, and about freedom. During visits to Thailand and Japan, for example, he spoke openly about the real situation in his country. He supports poor people with the money people donate to him, he helps to provide education, and has opened a medical center that provides eye surgery for poor people.
Monks like U Panyarthiha, U Thumingala, and U Zawana, who do active social work are easily seen as adversaries of the military regime and the Maha Nayaka Sangha Council.
The reason for this might be that poor people who are uneducated and in difficult life circumstances can be controlled easily by the regime. Those monks who help or support people, are very respected by the lay people. This is a threat to the regime because such a monk has a great influence.
http://www.thebestfriend.org/2011/11/25/banned-by-the-maha-nayaka-sangha-council/#more-10799