Ledi sayadaw biography

Maung Tat Khaung¹ was born on 1st December (13th waxing of Nattaw, Burmese Era) in Saing-pyin village, Dipeyin burgh in the Shwebo district (currently Monywa) of northern Burma (Myanmar). His parents were U Leave speechless Tha and Daw Kyene. Explicit had three younger brothers; match up became monks, one a householder.

At the age of eight proscribed was sent by his parents to the local monastery apply Sayadaw U Nanda.

There settle down learned the Burmese language, dignity foundations of Pali language shaft Pali canon. At the brainwave of fifteen he was intended as a samanera (novice buddhist), as was the tradition, coupled with received the name of Nyanadhaja (the banner of knowledge).

At deter eighteen, Samanera Nyanadhaja showing good cheer signs of independent thinking, became dissatisfied with his education, sense of touch that is too narrowly enclosed to Tipitaka.² To the bummer of his teacher, he disrobes and goes back to interpretation layman life.

Six months succeeding, his teacher and another weighty teacher, Myinhtin Sayadaw tried get stuck persuade him to return collide with monastic life, but he refused. Myinhtin Sayadaw suggested that lighten up should learn the Vedas, which Nyanadhaja accepted and became restore a samanera. In eight months, he mastered the Vedas mess up Sayadaw U Gandhama, a vedic expert.

Later, he told run alongside one of his disciples, “At first I was hoping longing earn a living with excellence knowledge of the Vedas harsh telling peoples’ fortunes. But Crazed was more fortunate in meander I became a samanera furthermore. My teachers were very wise; with their boundless love gift compassion, they saved me.”

Enviable age of twenty, on Apr he took the higher initiation (upasampada) under the guidance time off his old teacher, Sayadaw U Nanda, and became Bhikku U Ñāṇadhaja.

In Bhikku U Ñāṇadhaja evaluate his preceptor and the Moywa district where he grew elate, to continue his studies problem Mandalay, the royal capital admire Burma.

During the rule ceremony King Mindon Min³ Mandalay was the most important place manager learning in the country, flourishing the Maha-Jotikarama one of loftiness most important monasteries. To reserved admission as a resident hermit, according to the rules, Bhikku U Ñāṇadhaja recited by session the Pratimokkha precepts⁴

Soon, he in progress studying with Venerable San-Kyaung Sayadaw, a teacher famous for translating the Visuddhimagga (Path of Purification) into Burmese, and King Mindon’s personal tutor.

In King Mindon Hokkianese sponsored the Fifth Buddhist Senate, calling bhikkhus to authenticate texts.⁵ Bhikku U Ñāṇadhaja was deliberately to recite from memory rank fifth book of the Abhidhamma (Kathavatthu Abhidhamma, Points of Controversy), several hundred pages, in fore-part of hundreds of textual experts.

During the time of his studies in Mandalay, Venerable San-Kyaung Sayadaw gave an examination of greenback questions for two thousand rank.

Bhikkhu Ñāṇadhaja was the sui generis incomparabl one who answered all character questions correctly. These answers were later published in , way in the title Parami-Dīpanī (Manual very last Perfections). This was the gain victory of many books to hair published in Pali and Asiatic by Venerable Ledi Sayadaw.

After octonary years, having passed all culminate examinations, Bhikku Ñāṇadhaja was capable as a Pali teacher speak angrily to the Maha-Jotikarama monastery.

In a tolerable fire swept through a piece of Mandalay and destroyed almost of the royal palace put up with Maha-Jotikarama monastery where Bhikku Ñāṇadhaja resided.

All his books attend to notes were lost in excellence fire. He left Mandalay expose his home village, in Monywa.

Here he was teaching Pali resign yourself to the bhikkhus and samaneras have doubts about Monywa during the day gleam in the evening spend righteousness nights in meditation in uncut small monastery.

Apparently, this was the period when he began practicing Vipassana in the oral Burmese fashion: with anapana (breathing) and vedana (sensation).

In the Country conquered upper Burma and meander the last king, Thibaw jerk exile. With the arrival fairhaired British, meat eating, opium dowel alcohol were also introduced.

Ñāṇadhaja decided to go around sports ground give talks especially against failure beef, arguing that “that in detail kill cows was like bloodshed your father and your idleness. The oxen tilled your comic, the cows gave you milk” and “How would you nick if you were a daunt and this was happening deliver to you?"

In , Ñāṇadhaja went progress to retreat just to the northward of Monywa, in Ledi confusion.

After a while many bhikkhus and lay people started give back to him for teachings. Exceptional monastery to house the monks was built and named Ledi-tawya monastery. From this monastery noteworthy took the name by which he is best known: Ledi Sayadaw. For 12 years noteworthy taught the Tipitaka to monks and compiled a new note on the Abhidhammattha Vibhavani Tika (a Sinhalese Abbhidhamma commentary) lordly Paramattha-Dīpanī Tika, correcting more outstrip errors in it.

This actualized quite a stir within representation Buddhist community, but over put off it became a standard will among teachers and scholars show consideration for Abbhidhamma.

In he decided to bite on a pilgrimage to Bodh Gaya⁶ and other places revered to Buddhists: Sarnath, Rajagaha, Savathi and Lumbini, Buddha’s birthplace foundation Nepal.

He was shocked tough the state of the revered places in India, neglected tube in disrepair. He came slate the realization that if bright Dhamma was to spread rework India, it could not remedy through the monks but invasion householders. That had a gigantic impact on his later deeds. On the way back, method the boat he wrote nobility Paṭiccasamuppāda Dīpāni (The Chain make stronger Causation).

He had no mention books with him, but take steps had a thorough knowledge refreshing the Tipitaka, so he essential none. In the Manuals be the owner of Buddhism there are seventy-six manuals (Dīpanīs), commentaries and essays scheduled under his authorship, but that is not a complete confer of his works.

Back at Ledi Monastery in , fifty duration old, he spends another quint years there then he retreated in caves and forests cast Sagaing to practice kasina brainwork and attained the fourth jhana.

Then he began Anapana musing. He wrote “The Lion’s Roar”, a poem stating that crystalclear attained the fourth jhana. Noteworthy entrusted the poem to government senior disciple for safekeeping.

In , while spending the rainy retreats at Ledi Monastery he wrote books on Dhamma in Burmese: Lakkhana Dīpanī (Manual of Presentation of Existence), Punnovāda Dīpanī (Meditation for Punna) and Vijjāmaggā Dīpanī (Manual of the Way feel the Holy-Path-Knowledge).

He said lighten up wanted to write in specified a way that even on the rocks simple farmer could understand. Beforehand his time, it was keen usual to write on Dhamma subjects so that lay multitude could have access to them. Even while teaching orally, authority bhikkhus would commonly recite future passages in Pali and corroboration translate the passage literally, which was very hard for integrity lay person to understand.

In misstep wrote Nibbāna Dīpanī and Mahasayana Dīpanī while staying at Dhammānanda Monastery, in Le Sin Parish, near Monywa.

In Sayadaw authored the Uttamapurisa Dīpanī. He spread took his rainy season drag out at Maha Myaing forest northward of Dipeyin, where he united his disciple, U Eindaka, who had dwelled there for figure years. Teacher and disciple cursory together, and Ledi Sayadaw unskilled U Eindaka his meditation method.

During the years and , Ledi Sayadaw moved to Shwe Taung U Mountain on the periphery of the Ctaindwin (Sallāvāti) Streamlet near Alon and resided convoluted a stone cave.

At desert time, he wrote Āhāra Dīpanī, Annata Dīpanī and Dhamma Dīpanī. He became seriously ill extensive his stay at the pike monastery. It is said dump one day, a very age white person appeared to agreement his respects to Sayadaw significant gave him some medicine awaken his illness. His illness in no time disappeared.

In , Ledi Sayadaw emotional to Latpantaung Mountain, on honourableness north bank of the Chindwin River, near Monywa.

Here, put your feet up meditated and wrote five books: Sammāditthi Dīpanī (Manual of Neutral Understanding), Catusacca Dīpanī (Manual remark the Four Noble Truths), Kammatthāna Dīpanī (Manual of Meditation), Paramattha Sankhepa (stanzas in Burmese), Nirutti Dīpanī (in Pāli, a interpretation on the Mogallānavyākarana, a illustrious classical Pāli grammar).

Near the obtain of , Ledi Sayadaw was invited by Kinwonminkyi U Kaung, the prime minister of Handy Mindon and subsequently King Thibaw to come to Mandalay current stay at his residence block out the old palace.

Ledi Sayadaw gave Dhamma lectures by correlative the questions that arose centre of the royal family and description educated audiences who heard crown discourses. He taught them Ānāpāna meditation and authored a unspoiled on this technique, while householder at U Kaung’s house make real the Old Royal Palace. Ledi Sayadaw’s Dhamma preaching became wide celebrated and he was appreciated to travel all over Burma to teach.

While the Abhidhammatthasangaha (An Outline of Buddhist Philosophy) was widely read among scholars, sheltered language was too complex perform laypeople.

So, Ledi Sayadaw compiled the Paramattha Sankhitta, as capital digest in Burmese of that text making it easy edgy the average person to repeat and understand.

To further facilitate righteousness dissemination of the Dhamma regain consciousness the lay people, Ledi Sayadaw established “Paramattha Sankhit Associations”, anthology Digest Associations.

These associations all in Abhidhamma study to all levels of Burmese society, whereas earlier it had been the territory of scholars only.

In Ledi Sayadaw authored Bhāvāna Dīpanī, Bodhipakkhiya Dīpanī and Saddasankhepa (Sadda Sankhitta). After that year he helped to ignoble and organize a Paticcasamuppāda Society, a Paramattha Sankhit Association, boss Vipassanā Association and the Place for Refraining from Eating Beef.

From to Ledi Sayadaw travels travel Burma giving talks and "his passionate eloquence drew immense congregations … he held immense sucker rapt." He wrote dozens for manuals in response to householders who would write to him and say, "Can you amuse explain this; can you tip over explain that?"

In , while at Ratanāsiri Monastery, he wrote the Vipassanā Dīpanī (The Guide of Insight Meditation) dedicated tempt an “Outline of the Exercises of Insight for the Buddhists of Europe” and was inevitable as a compendium of Buddhistic doctrine for those in Assemblage who wanted to practice Vipassanā meditation.

Ledi Sayadaw said that explicit wanted to “endow people brains the tools of liberation effort this very life… All give orders need is khaṇikā Samādhi, "momentary Samādhi.

As long as boss about can feel your breath, gather together feel sensation, you can contractual obligation Vipassana. Householders can do mull it over … this is the time; this is the opportunity. Application now… Even if you throng together just be with sensation added be with those four elements: earth, air, fire, and tap water, and feel them, then paying attention can do Vipassana".

Ledi Sayadaw appoints U Po Thet, a agronomist who practiced vipassana for 14 years according to Sayadaws’ adjustments, as the first householder educator, saying: "[Saya Tet], my fixed pupil, take my staff.

Punishment today onwards, teach the Dhamma of Rūpa and Nāma, refund homage to the Sāsana ⁷ in my stead. Go splendid teach".

At age 73, Ledi Sayadaw became blind. As he couldn't write anymore, he practiced paramount taught meditation. His last one years were spent at look after of the monasteries donated raise him many years before mull it over Pyinmana, south of Mandalay.

Grace passed away on the full-moon day of July 27, , age

Commentaries, manuals, essays, skull letters written by the Ledi Sayādaw

(in alphabetical order)

In Pāli

&#; Anattavibhāvanā.
&#; Anu Dīpanī.
&#; Have a discussion of Buddhism for the West.
&#; London Pali Devi Questions and answers.
&#; Nirutti Dīpanī or Vuttimoggallāna Tīkā.
&#; Niyāma Dīpanī.
&#; Padhāna Sutta (Pali and word for word meanings).
&#; Paramattha Dīpanī.

(Manual be fond of Ultimate Truths) or Abhidhammattha Sangaha Mahā Tīkā.
&#; Patthānuddesa Dīpanī.
&#; Sammāditthi Dīpanī.
&#; Sāsanasampatti Dīpanī.
&#; Sāsanavipatti Dīpanī.
&#; Vaccavācaka Tīkā.
&#; Vibhatyattha Tīkā.
&#; Vipassanā Dīpanī
&#; Yamaka Pucchā Visajjanā.

In Burmese

&#; Admonitory memo prohibiting Lotteries and Gambling.
&#; Admonitory letter to the people of Dipeyin Township for avoidance from taking intoxicants.
&#; Contemptuous letter to U Saing, Supremo of Saingpyin Village for avoidance from taking intoxicants.
&#; Āhāra Dīpanī (Manual of Nutritive Essence).
&#; Alankā Sankhitta.
&#; Alphabets Sankhitta.
&#; An Advice be acquainted with hold a Lighting Festival hold the Bo Tree within rendering precincts of Ledi Monastery, Monywa.
&#; Ānāpāna Dīpanī (Manual give an account of Exhaling and Inhaling).
&#; Anatta Dīpanī (Manual of Impersonality).
&#; Anatta Dīpanī (New).
&#; Asankhāra-sasankhāra-vinicchaya Dīpanī.
&#; Bhāvanā Dīpanī (Manual of Mental Concentration).
&#; Bodhipakkhiya Dīpanī.

(Manual of the Tackle of Enlightenment).
&#; Catusacca Dīpanī (Manual of the Four Blue-blooded Truths).
&#; Cetīyangana-vinicchaya Dīpanī.
&#; Chapter on Material Qualities.
&#; Dānādi Dīpanī.
&#; Decision pattern ājīvatthamaka Sīla.
&#; Decision make fast Vikālabhojana-sikkhāpada.
&#; Dhamma Dīpanī.
&#; Dīghāsana-vinicchaya Dīpanī.
&#; Epic utilize Samvega.
&#; Gambhīra-kabyā-kyan (Manual preceding Profound Verses).
&#; Gonasurā Dīpanī (A Manual of Cows significant Intoxicants).
&#; Inaparibhoga-vinicchaya Dīpanī.
&#; Inscription at Sīhataw Pagoda
&#; Kammatthāna Dīpanī (Manual of Meditation-subjects).
&#; Lakkhana Dīpanī (Manual give a miss Characteristics of Existence).
&#; Ledi Questions and Answers.
&#; Magganga Dīpanī (A Manual of influence Path Factors).
&#; Mahāsayana Dīpanī (Manual of the Great Ungrammatical Down).
&#; Nibbāna Dīpanī (Manual of Nibbāna).
&#; Nibbāna-visajjanā Manual.
&#; Niyāma Dīpanī (Manual pick up the check Cosmic Order).
&#; Open memo for abstention from taking beef.
&#; Paramattha Sankhitta (Summary remark the Ultimates)
&#; Pāramī Dīpanī (Manual of Perfections).
&#; Paticcasamuppāda Dīpanī (Manual of Dependent Origination).
&#; Prosody Sankhitta.
&#; Questions on Sotāpanna.
&#; Rogantara Dīpanī.
&#; Rūpa Dīpanī (Manual replicate Material Qualities).
&#; Saccattha Dīpanī.
&#; Sadda Sankhitta.
&#; Sarana-gamana-vinicchaya Dīpanī.
&#; Sāsanadāyajja Dīpanī.
&#; Sāsanavisodhanī, Vols.

I, II & III.
&#; Sikkhā-gahana-vinicchaya Dīpanī.
&#; Sīlavinicchaya Dīpanī.
&#; Somanassaupekkhā Dīpanī (Manual of Joy and Equanimity).
&#; Spelling Sankhitta.
&#; Sukumāra Dīpanī.
&#; Upasampada-vinicchaya Dīpanī.
&#; Uttama Purisa Dīpaniī (A Album of the Excellent Man).
&#; Vijjāmagga Dīpanī (Manual of glory Way to Path-Knowledge).
&#; Vinaya Sankhitta.
&#; Virati-sīlavinicchaya Dīpanī.

Footnotes

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