INSTRUCTING SAYADAWS

        Sayadaw U Pandita, a name frequently referred to by many was born to the family of U Pe and Daw Chit Su of Shwebosu Quarter at the Tadagale Village, Insein Township (now Greater Yangon) on the ninth waning day of Waso, 1283 BE (28 July 1921).

        He received his early Buddhist education from the age of seven under the tutelage of Sayadaw U Zagara at Dekkhina yone Monastery, Ohne Village where he passed the Pahtamagne and Pahtamalat (Primary and Middle Level) scriptural oral examinations.

        At the age of twelve he was initiated into the Buddhist Sangha as a samanera (novice) at Ohne Village, Kawa Township and learned the basic Pitaka and Abhidhammattha Sangaha. At eighteen, he passed the Pathamagyi (Higher Level) examination held at the Mahabodhi Monastery, Kyauktan Township, Pegu District.

        When he was twenty he received the Higher Ordination from Maha-bodhi Sayadaw of Kyauktan, Pegu District who acted as his Preceptor. After his third vassa, in 1948 (1309 BE), he studied the Pariyatti Dhamma at Kyaikkasan Shwekyin Monastery and passed the Pahtamagyi examination and the special Pariyatti examinations held by the Zediyankana Association. His studies of Buddhist scriptures, Higher Pali Texts, Atthagatha and the Tikas were blessed by the good guidance and tutelage of eminent Theras, notably, A shin Ananda Pandita (Varanasi Sayadaw), Ashin Vicittabhivamsa and Ashin Chandawsabhivamsa. He passed the Government and Zediyankana Teachership (Dhammacariya) examinations in the period between 1915 to 1952 (1313-1314 BE).

        1950 (1312 BE) was the year where the Sayadaw first practised Vipassana meditation under the instructions of the Most Venerable Aggamahapandita Mahasi Sayadaw. His immediateKammatthanacariya (meditation teacher) was Ashin Vicara. In 1312 BE he also started serving as a Dhamma teacher at the new Pattiyatti Shwegyin Kyaikkasan Monastery. In 1316 BE he was involved in the Sixth Sanghayana (Sixth Synod) as Pali Visodhaka (Reviser).

        Leaving behind the role of Dhamma teacher in 1317 BE (1955), he devoted himself fully to the practice of bhavana (meditation) and undertook responsibilities assigned by Mahasi Sayadaw at Sasana Yeiktha in Yangon. In January 1959 (1320 BE — on the twelfth waning of the month of Nattaw) he accompanied Mahasi Sayadaw to Sri Lanka. Staying back there for three years, he rendered service in opening new centres.

        Upon returning from Sri Lanka he acted as Kammatthanacariya at three centres — Yangon, Moulmein and Mandalay Mahasi Meditation Centres — for bhikkhus and parabbajikas (nuns) as well as lay yogis numbering in thousands. Hundreds of foreign yogis have benefited from his guidance during his tenure as Kammatthanacariya.

        After the demise of Mahasi Sayadaw in 1982, Sayadaw U Pandita was elected as Ovadacariya (Principle Preceptor) by the Buddha Sasana Nuggaha Organization of Yangon Sasana Yeiktha on 22 August.

        He made his first visit to the United States via United Kingdom in 1984 where he conducted a three-month meditation retreat followed by another six-week retreat in Penang, Malaysia. In 1985 he visited Nepal and Australia where he conducted six week and four week retreats respectively.

        His second visit to the States in May 1986 was made possible on the invitation of the Buddha Sasana Foundation of California. A total of seven-five yogis attended his retreat in Hawaii and another ninety-five in Yucca Valley, California. January1988 also saw Sayadaw U Pandita in Australia guiding a six-week retreat for fifty yogis.

        Sayadaw U Pandita, is an eminent meditation master of his own merit, succeeding the late Mahasi Sayadaw as head of the Mahasi Centre of Myanmar. Presently the Sayadaw conducts retreats in his new meditation centre, Panditaramawhich was established in 1990.

Nayaka Sayadaws

Resident Venerable Monks