At Dhammadayada, we embrace the profound meditation methods in accordance to Visuddhimagga as taught by the Most Venerable Pa-Auk Sayadaw. These methods emphasize meticulous attention to the breath (Ānāpāna meditation) and the development of deep absorption states of concentration known as the ‘Jhānas’ in order to cultivate Vipassana insights.
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Our Teachers
Those who guide us in the Buddha’s Teachings.
Our Spiritual Patron
The Most Venerable Pa-Auk Tawya Sayadaw Bhaddanta Āciṇṇa
(“the Sayadaw”), is the Abbot and principal teacher of Pa-Auk Forest Monastery, Mawlamyine, Myanmar. (Sayadaw is a Burmese honorific title meaning “respected teacher”).
Born in 1934, the Sayadaw was ordained as a novice monk (sāmaṇera) at age ten. He studied the Pāli Texts under various teachers and passed the three Pāli language examinations while still a novice. At age twenty, the Sayadaw received higher ordination as a bhikkhu. He continued his studies of Pāli Texts under learned elder monks, and passed the Dhammacariya examinations at age twenty two. This is the equivalent to BA in Buddhist Pali Studies and it confers the title of “Dhamma Teacher”.
In 1964, the Sayadaw intensified his meditation practice and began to practise “forest dwelling”. While he continued with his studies of the Pāli Texts and investigation into the Dhamma, he sought out and gained instructions from revered meditation teachers of those times.
In 1981, the Sayadaw became Abbot of Pa-Auk Forest Monastery, at the invitation of Venerable Aggapañña (the previous Abbot). Since 1983, both monastics and laity have been coming to study and practise meditation under the Sayadaw. Foreign meditators began to arrive at the Monastery in the early 1990’s.
The Sayadaw’s teachings have been published (in English ) in several books which are highly regarded internationally (see Books by The Most Venerable Pa-Auk Tawya Sayadaw)
In 1997 the Sayadaw published his magnum opus, a massive five-volume work titled The Practice that Leads to Nibbāna, explaining the entire course of teaching in detail.
The Sayadaw is both a highly esteemed Dhammācariya (Dhamma Teacher) and an accomplished Kammaṭṭhānācariya (Meditation Teacher). He speaks fluent English and has lectured and led retreats in Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Germany, UK and USA.
In public recognition of his achievements, the government of Myanmar bestowed upon him the title “Agga Mahā Kammaṭṭhānācariya“, which means “Most Highly Respected Meditation Teacher” in 1999. In 2009, the Sayadaw was bestowed the title of “Shwekyin Nikāya Rattaññūmahānāyaka” at the 17th Shwekyin Nikaya Saṅgha Conferencce in Myanmar.
Our Teachers
Bhante Kovida is a meditation teacher at Pa Auk Forest Monastery in Mawlamyine, Myanmar, teaching mostly foreign meditators.
Bhante has 19 vassas*. He ordained as a Novice at the age of 14 in 1990 and took higher ordination in 1996 at Mahavisutarama Monastery in Salin Township. Bhante studied Buddhist Scriptures at Mahavisutarama Monastery from 1990 to 1999 and at Ma-soe-yein Monastery – a renowned Buddhist monastery in Mandalay from 2000 to 2003. He passed the Dhammacariya Teachership examination and was awarded the title Sasanadhaja-Dhammacariya (Dhamma Teacher). Afterwards, he taught Buddhist Scriptures at Ma-soe-yein Monastery.
In 2006, Bhante Kovida went to Pa Auk Forest Monastery to practice meditation under the guidance of the Most Venerable Pa-Auk Sayadaw and other Sayadaws such as Sayadaw U Kańcana, Sayadaw U Revata etc. Since 2008, he has been appointed to teach meditation at the Monastery.
Bhante Kovida has extensive experience in teaching the Dhamma overseas. He conducted meditation retreats in Korea (2010), Latvia (2010), and Malaysia (2013). Besides retreats, he gave Dhamma talks in Singapore (2010), Malaysia (2011, 2013), China (2013), Indonesia (2013), Taiwan (2013) and Thailand (2015). *as of 2015
Our Teachers
The Venerable Janakābhivaṃsa was born in 1976 in Magway. He ordained as a novice monk (Sāmaṇera) at a monastery in Magway on 16 June 1991. He received the higher ordination as a bhikkhu on 20 June 1995 at Atulakari Sinmin Monastery, Phaya Gyi Taik in Mandalay, where he studied Buddhist Pāḷi studies.
The Venerable passed the “Sāsanadhaja Dhammācariya” examination held by the Department of Religious Affairs, Ministry of Religious Affairs, Government of the Union of Myanmar, and he was awarded the title of “Sāsanadhaja Dhammācariya” on 18 July 2002. He also passed the Pariyatti Sāsanahita Dhammācariya examination conducted by the Pariyatti Sāsanahita Association of Mandalay city in 2002, and the Venerable was awarded the title of “Bhaddanta Janakābhivaṃsa Pariyatti Sāsanahita Dhammācariya” (Abhivaṃsa degree) on 17 July, 2002. The Pariyatti Sāsanahita Dhammācariya examination is well recognised as the highest level of academic achievement in the Pāḷi language and the teachings of the Buddha. The “Abhivaṃsa” degree is equivalent to a Ph.D title in the Buddhist Pāḷi Studies. (Among the many who sits for the onerous examination across Myanmar each year, only 3 candidates on average would pass the examination and earn the title of “Abhivaṃsa”.)
The Venerable Janakābhivaṃsa went to Pa-Auk Tawya Forest Monastery (Main) in 2005 and learned and practised Samatha & Vipassanā meditation under the most Venerable Pa-Auk Tawya Sayadaw (Sayadawgyi). He had further trained during the six-month Intensive Meditation Retreat in 2010 and also during the four-month Intensive Meditation Retreat in 2013 under Sayadawgyi. The Venerable spent the 2015 vassa in Maymyo where Sayadawgyi is teaching an Intensive Meditation Retreat for advanced meditators. The Venerable has been the Resident Teacher of the Pa-Auk Meditation Centre in Singapore since 2014.
Meet Our Management Committee
Mr. Ram Chandra Basnet
President
Mrs. Kabita Dhakal Sharma
Treasurer
Mr. Biplav Raj Pokhrel
Secretary
Mr. Obhaso Sumit Shakya
Member
Mr. Tara KC
Member