The Sixth Buddhist Council

The Sixth Buddhist Council was a general council of Theravāda Buddhism, convened in a specially constructed Mahā Pāsāṇa Guhā (Great Cave) and pagoda complex at the Kaba Aye Pagoda in Yangon, Burma. The Council was attended by approximately 2,500 monastics from eight Theravāda Buddhist countries.

The Council was held from Vesak (Visākha) 1954 to Vesak 1956, with its completion coinciding with the traditional 2,500th anniversary of the Parinibbāna of the Gautama Buddha. In keeping with the tradition of earlier Buddhist councils, a principal objective of the Sixth Council was to preserve and reaffirm the Buddha’s teachings and practices as understood within the Theravāda tradition.

To commemorate this historic religious event, a set of six postage stamps was issued. The 35 pyas stamp was first released on 7 May 1954, marking the opening of the Council, while the remaining five denominations were issued later on 15 November 1954.

The stamp designs were prepared by prominent Burmese artists:

• U Ngwe Gaing — 35 pyas and 50 pyas
• U Ba Kyi — 10 pyas and 2 kyats
• U Ba Moe — 15 pyas and 1 kyat

All stamps in the set were printed by the India Security Press.

Design Features of the Stamps

• 10 pyas — Depicts the Mahā Pāsāṇa Guhā together with members of the Sangha from Cambodia.
• 15 pyas — Shows the Kuthodaw Pagoda and Buddhist monks (Sangha).
• 35 pyas — Features the Mahā Pāsāṇa Guhā and the Kaba Aye Pagoda.
• 50 pyas — Illustrates the Mahā Pāsāṇa Guhā, the Sangha of Thailand, and the Wat Arun.
• 1 kyat — Depicts the Mahā Pāsāṇa Guhā and the Sangha of Ceylon (Sri Lanka).
• 2 kyats — Shows the Mahā Pāsāṇa Guhā and the Sangha of Laos.

Quantities Issued

The number of sheets printed for each denomination was as follows:

• 10 pyas: 2,500 sheets
• 15 pyas: 12,000 sheets
• 35 pyas: 2,500 sheets
• 50 pyas: 1,500 sheets
• 1 kyat: 1,000 sheets
• 2 kyats: 500 sheets

These comparatively small print quantities, particularly for the higher denominations, contribute to the philatelic interest and relative scarcity of certain values within the set.