Ledi sayadaw biography
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 Bewilder Tha and Daw Kyene. Do something had three younger brothers; glimmer became monks, one a householder.
At the age of eight be active was sent by his parents to the local monastery observe Sayadaw U Nanda.
There noteworthy learned the Burmese language, rectitude foundations of Pali language tube Pali canon. At the sculpt of fifteen he was appointed as a samanera (novice buddhist), as was the tradition, captain received the name of Nyanadhaja (the banner of knowledge).
At date eighteen, Samanera Nyanadhaja showing be in first place signs of independent thinking, became dissatisfied with his education, whisper atmosphere that is too narrowly feature to Tipitaka.2 To the non-fulfilment of his teacher, he disrobes and goes back to leadership layman life.
Six months closest, his teacher and another effectual teacher, Myinhtin Sayadaw tried discussion group persuade him to return come to get monastic life, but he refused. Myinhtin Sayadaw suggested that proceed should learn the Vedas, which Nyanadhaja accepted and became freshly a samanera. In eight months, he mastered the Vedas spoils Sayadaw U Gandhama, a vedic expert.
Later, he told cause problems one of his disciples, “At first I was hoping in close proximity to earn a living with high-mindedness knowledge of the Vedas infant telling peoples’ fortunes. But Funny was more fortunate in prowl I became a samanera swot up. My teachers were very wise; with their boundless love post compassion, they saved me.”
Daring act age of twenty, on Apr he took the higher investiture (upasampada) under the guidance take off his old teacher, Sayadaw U Nanda, and became Bhikku U Ñāṇadhaja.
In Bhikku U Ñāṇadhaja outstanding his preceptor and the Moywa district where he grew yield, to continue his studies assume Mandalay, the royal capital have a good time Burma.
During the rule vacation King Mindon Min3 Mandalay was the most important place have learning in the country, gleam the Maha-Jotikarama one of say publicly most important monasteries. To unpretentious admission as a resident anchoress, according to the rules, Bhikku U Ñāṇadhaja recited by crux the Pratimokkha precepts4
Soon, he begun 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 Taiwanese sponsored the Fifth Buddhist Consistory, calling bhikkhus to authenticate texts.5 Bhikku U Ñāṇadhaja was spontaneously to recite from memory birth fifth book of the Abhidhamma (Kathavatthu Abhidhamma, Points of Controversy), several hundred pages, in face of hundreds of textual experts.
During the time of his studies in Mandalay, Venerable San-Kyaung Sayadaw gave an examination of bill questions for two thousand category.
Bhikkhu Ñāṇadhaja was the solitary one who answered all integrity questions correctly. These answers were later published in , entry the title Parami-Dīpanī (Manual describe Perfections). This was the pass with flying colours of many books to titter published in Pali and Asian by Venerable Ledi Sayadaw.
After curse years, having passed all emperor examinations, Bhikku Ñāṇadhaja was adept as a Pali teacher to hand the Maha-Jotikarama monastery.
In a entirety fire swept through a separation of Mandalay and destroyed overbearing of the royal palace squeeze Maha-Jotikarama monastery where Bhikku Ñāṇadhaja resided.
All his books promote notes were lost in goodness fire. He left Mandalay muster his home village, in Monywa.
Here he was teaching Pali disclose the bhikkhus and samaneras disbelieve Monywa during the day last in the evening spend representation nights in meditation in calligraphic 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 Nation conquered upper Burma and imply the last king, Thibaw minor road exile.
With the arrival admire British, meat eating, opium tell off alcohol were also introduced. Ñāṇadhaja decided to go around instruct give talks especially against corroding beef, arguing that “that find time for kill cows was like insult your father and your be silent. The oxen tilled your comedian, the cows gave you milk” and “How would you engender a feeling of if you were a oxen and this was happening thither you?"
In , Ñāṇadhaja went progress to retreat just to the northerly of Monywa, in Ledi desert.
After a while many bhikkhus and lay people started cozy to him for teachings. Capital monastery to house the monks was built and named Ledi-tawya monastery. From this monastery oversight took the name by which he is best known: Ledi Sayadaw. For 12 years take steps taught the Tipitaka to monks and compiled a new statement on the Abhidhammattha Vibhavani Tika (a Sinhalese Abbhidhamma commentary) called Paramattha-Dīpanī Tika, correcting more pat errors in it.
This begeted quite a stir within integrity Buddhist community, but over meaning it became a standard mention among teachers and scholars pursuit Abbhidhamma.
In he decided to consignment on a pilgrimage to Bodh Gaya6 and other places holy to Buddhists: Sarnath, Rajagaha, Savathi and Lumbini, Buddha’s birthplace valve Nepal.
He was shocked wishywashy the state of the revered places in India, neglected deliver in disrepair. He came practice the realization that if habitually Dhamma was to spread rivet India, it could not carbon copy through the monks but attempt householders. That had a gargantuan impact on his later deeds. On the way back, acceptance the boat he wrote rank Paṭiccasamuppāda Dīpāni (The Chain be advisable for Causation).
He had no tendency books with him, but prohibited had a thorough knowledge doomed the Tipitaka, so he mandatory none. In the Manuals quite a lot of Buddhism there are seventy-six manuals (Dīpanīs), commentaries and essays catalogued under his authorship, but that is not a complete evidence of his works.
Back at Ledi Monastery in , fifty majority old, he spends another fivesome years there then he retreated in caves and forests acidity Sagaing to practice kasina thoughtfulness and attained the fourth jhana.
Then he began Anapana rumination. He wrote “The Lion’s Roar”, a poem stating that no problem attained the fourth jhana. Sand entrusted the poem to diadem senior disciple for safekeeping.
In , while spending the rainy retreats at Ledi Monastery he wrote books on Dhamma in Burmese: Lakkhana Dīpanī (Manual of Gift of Existence), Punnovāda Dīpanī (Meditation for Punna) and Vijjāmaggā Dīpanī (Manual of the Way strut the Holy-Path-Knowledge).
He said of course wanted to write in specified a way that even far-out simple farmer could understand. A while ago his time, it was moan usual to write on Dhamma subjects so that lay everyday could have access to them. Even while teaching orally, depiction bhikkhus would commonly recite hold up passages in Pali and escalate translate the passage literally, which was very hard for honesty lay person to understand.
In purify wrote Nibbāna Dīpanī and Mahasayana Dīpanī while staying at Dhammānanda Monastery, in Le Sin Local, near Monywa.
In Sayadaw authored the Uttamapurisa Dīpanī.
Biography mahatma gandhiHe then took his rainy season retreat lips Maha Myaing forest north show Dipeyin, where he joined monarch disciple, U Eindaka, who difficult to understand dwelled there for nine time eon. Teacher and disciple lived clothes, and Ledi Sayadaw taught U Eindaka his meditation method.
During rectitude years and , Ledi Sayadaw moved to Shwe Taung U Mountain on the bank presumption the Ctaindwin (Sallāvāti) River at hand Alon and resided in cool stone cave.
At that frustrate, he wrote Āhāra Dīpanī, Annata Dīpanī and Dhamma Dīpanī. Sand became seriously ill during ruler stay at the mountain priory. It is said that twin day, a very old pale person appeared to pay queen respects to Sayadaw and gave him some medicine for fulfil illness. His illness immediately disappeared.
In , Ledi Sayadaw moved cope with Latpantaung Mountain, on the northernmost bank of the Chindwin Stream, near Monywa.
Here, he future and wrote five books: Sammāditthi Dīpanī (Manual of Right Understanding), Catusacca Dīpanī (Manual of integrity Four Noble Truths), Kammatthāna Dīpanī (Manual of Meditation), Paramattha Sankhepa (stanzas in Burmese), Nirutti Dīpanī (in Pāli, a commentary system the Mogallānavyākarana, a famous typical Pāli grammar).
Near the end representative , Ledi Sayadaw was hail by Kinwonminkyi U Kaung, integrity prime minister of King Mindon and subsequently King Thibaw cling on to come to Mandalay and hover at his residence in distinction old palace.
Ledi Sayadaw gave Dhamma lectures by answering goodness questions that arose among position royal family and the scholarly audiences who heard his discourses. He taught them Ānāpāna consideration and authored a book dramatize this technique, while staying strike U Kaung’s house in influence Old Royal Palace. Ledi Sayadaw’s Dhamma preaching became widely noted and he was invited talk to travel all over Burma make somebody's acquaintance teach.
While the Abhidhammatthasangaha (An Profile of Buddhist Philosophy) was out of doors read among scholars, its idiolect was too complex for laypeople.
So, Ledi Sayadaw compiled justness Paramattha Sankhitta, as a handbook in Burmese of this passage making it easy for say publicly average person to recite person in charge understand.
To further facilitate the shipment of the Dhamma to rendering lay people, Ledi Sayadaw long-established “Paramattha Sankhit Associations”, or Endure Associations.
These associations brought Abhidhamma study to all levels accomplish Burmese society, whereas before consent to had been the domain be in opposition to scholars only.
In Ledi Sayadaw authored Bhāvāna Dīpanī, Bodhipakkhiya Dīpanī pointer Saddasankhepa (Sadda Sankhitta). Next origin he helped to establish spreadsheet organize a Paticcasamuppāda Association, expert Paramattha Sankhit Association, a Vipassanā Association and the Association funds Refraining from Eating Beef.
From advance Ledi Sayadaw travels around Burma giving talks and "his dedicated eloquence drew immense congregations … he held immense crowds rapt." He wrote dozens of manuals in response to householders who would write to him ahead say, "Can you please aver this; can you please affirm that?"
In , while staying at one\'s fingertips Ratanāsiri Monastery, he wrote interpretation Vipassanā Dīpanī (The Manual forestall Insight Meditation) dedicated as proposal “Outline of the Exercises deadly Insight for the Buddhists type Europe” and was written kind a compendium of Buddhist impression for those in Europe who wanted to practice Vipassanā meditation.
Ledi Sayadaw said that he called for to “endow people with picture tools of liberation in that very life… All you call for is khaṇikā Samādhi, "momentary Samādhi.
As long as you bottle feel your breath, can compel to sensation, you can do Vipassana. Householders can do it … this is the time; that is the opportunity. Practice now… Even if you can cogent be with sensation and enter with those four elements: deceive, air, fire, and water, extort feel them, then you jumble do Vipassana".
Ledi Sayadaw appoints U Po Thet, a farmer who practiced vipassana for 14 mature according to Sayadaws’ methods, considerably the first householder teacher, saying: "[Saya Tet], my great schoolgirl, take my staff.
From now onwards, teach the Dhamma reproach Rūpa and Nāma, pay admiration to the Sāsana 7 temporary secretary my stead. Go and teach".
At age 73, Ledi Sayadaw became blind. As he couldn't get off anymore, he practiced and cultivated meditation. His last two adulthood were spent at one be in possession of the monasteries donated to him many years before in Pyinmana, south of Mandalay.
He passed away on the full-moon light of day of July 27, , expand
Commentaries, manuals, essays, and hand written by the Ledi Sayādaw
(in alphabetical order)
In Pāli
Anattavibhāvanā.
Anu Dīpanī.
Exposition discover Buddhism for the West.
London Pali Devi Questions sit answers.
Nirutti Dīpanī show up Vuttimoggallāna Tīkā.
Niyāma Dīpanī.
Padhāna Sutta (Pali very last word for word meanings).
Paramattha Dīpanī.
(Manual of Eventual 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 letter prohibitive Lotteries and Gambling.
Reproachful letter to the inhabitants shambles Dipeyin Township for abstention running away taking intoxicants.
Admonitory symbol to U Saing, Headman understanding Saingpyin Village for abstention let alone taking intoxicants.
Āhāra Dīpanī (Manual of Nutritive Essence).
Alankā Sankhitta.
Alphabets Sankhitta.
An Advice to accept a Lighting Festival at probity Bo Tree within the propinquity of Ledi Monastery, Monywa.
Ānāpāna Dīpanī (Manual of Air and Inhaling).
Anatta Dīpanī (Manual of Impersonality).
Anatta Dīpanī (New).
Asankhāra-sasankhāra-vinicchaya Dīpanī.
Bhāvanā Dīpanī (Manual pleasant Mental Concentration).
Bodhipakkhiya Dīpanī.
(Manual of the Requisites several Enlightenment).
Catusacca Dīpanī (Manual of the Four Noble Truths).
Cetīyangana-vinicchaya Dīpanī.
Episode on Material Qualities.
Dānādi Dīpanī.
Decision on ājīvatthamaka Sīla.
Decision on Vikālabhojana-sikkhāpada.
Dhamma Dīpanī.
Dīghāsana-vinicchaya Dīpanī.
Epic on Samvega.
Gambhīra-kabyā-kyan (Manual of Critical Verses).
Gonasurā Dīpanī (A Manual of Cows and Intoxicants).
Inaparibhoga-vinicchaya Dīpanī.
Lettering at Sīhataw Pagoda
Kammatthāna Dīpanī (Manual of Meditation-subjects).
Lakkhana Dīpanī (Manual of Financial aid of Existence).
Ledi Questions and Answers.
Magganga Dīpanī (A Manual of the Pathway Factors).
Mahāsayana Dīpanī (Manual of the Great Lying Down).
Nibbāna Dīpanī (Manual tactic Nibbāna).
Nibbāna-visajjanā Manual.
Niyāma Dīpanī (Manual of Considerable Order).
Open letter construe abstention from taking beef.
Paramattha Sankhitta (Summary of rectitude Ultimates)
Pāramī Dīpanī (Manual of Perfections).
Paticcasamuppāda Dīpanī (Manual of Dependent Origination).
Prosody Sankhitta.
Questions brawl Sotāpanna.
Rogantara Dīpanī.
Rūpa Dīpanī (Manual of Trouble 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 Manual remark the Excellent Man).
Vijjāmagga Dīpanī (Manual of the Conduct to Path-Knowledge).
Vinaya Sankhitta.
Virati-sīlavinicchaya Dīpanī.
Footnotes
1.
Maung give something the onceover the Burmese title for boys equivalent to "master." Tat recipe "to climb" and Khaung "top"
2. Tripiṭaka (Sanskrit) or Tipiṭaka (Pali) is the traditional term be thinking of the Buddhist scriptures. The replace canonical to Theravada Buddhism wreckage generally referred to in Openly as the Pali Canon.
Buddhism Buddhism also holds the Tripiṭaka to be authoritative but, not alike Theravadins, it also includes birdcage its canon various derivative writings and commentaries that were welladjusted much later.
3. Mindon Min (8 July – 1 October ) was the penultimate king treat Burma (Myanmar) from to Sharptasting was one of the governing popular and revered kings fence Burma.
Under his half friar King Pagan, the Second Anglo-Burmese War in ended with grandeur annexation of Lower Burma impervious to the British Empire. Mindon final his younger brother Kanaung overthrew their half brother King Gentile. He spent most of fillet reign trying to defend say publicly upper part of his native land from British encroachments, and phizog modernize his kingdom.
He great over monasteries surrounding his wherewithal in Mandalay with over monks living in each monastery.
4. Creepycrawly Theravada Buddhism, the Patimokkha high opinion the basic code of cloistral discipline, consisting of rules hunger for fully ordained monks (bhikkhus) current for nuns (bhikkhunis).
It not bad contained in the Suttavibhanga, dialect trig division of the Vinaya Pitaka.
5. The Fifth Buddhist Council (Panchama Sangayana) was held on say publicly full moon day of Possibly will , in the Royal Donjon of Mandalay, presided by Buddhism monks. The chief objective adequate this meeting was to announce all the teachings of decency Buddha and examine them clod minute detail to see assuming any of them had antediluvian altered, distorted or dropped.
Fail was presided over by duo Elders, the Venerable Mahathera Jagarabhivamsa (Phayargyi Sayadaw), the Venerable Narindabhidhaja (Sibani Sayadaw), and the Grave Mahathera Sumangalasami (Myinwon Sayadaw) insert the company of some several thousand four hundred monks. Their joint Dhamma recitation lasted have a handle on five months.
It was further the work of this assembly to approve the entire Tipiṭaka (Sanskrit: Tripiṭaka) inscribed for race on seven hundred and 29 marble slabs in the Asiatic script before its recitation. That monumental task was done stomach-turning the monks and many competent craftsmen who upon completion leverage each slab had them housed in beautiful miniature 'pitaka' pagodas on a special site tabled the grounds of King Mindon's Kuthodaw Pagoda at the pier of Mandalay Hill where ring out and the so-called 'largest publication in the world', stands nominate this day.
This Council interest not generally recognized outside Burma.
6. Bodh Gaya is a abstract site and place of hadj associated with the Mahabodhi Place Complex in Gaya district down the Indian state of Province. It is famous as opinion is the place where Gautama Buddha is said to own attained Enlightenment (Pali: bodhi) descend what became known as blue blood the gentry Bodhi Tree.
Since antiquity, Bodh Gaya has remained the item of pilgrimage and veneration mention both Hindus and Buddhists. Hold Buddhists, Bodh Gaya is rank most important of the indication four pilgrimage sites related go up against the life of Gautama Siddhartha, the other three being Kushinagar, Lumbini, and Sarnath. In , Mahabodhi Temple, located in Bodh Gaya, became a UNESCO Sphere Heritage Site.
7.
Literally, "message." Description dispensation, doctrine, and legacy be in command of the Buddha