Late Sayadaw Dr U Dhammapiya Myanmar , Mahasi Sasana Yeiktha [Back]
Late Dr. Dhammapiya Sayadaw was born in Myanmar (Burma). He became a novice monk (samanera) at the age of nine and a fully ordained monk (bhikkhu) of the Theravada Monastic Order at the age of twenty. In 1980, he received the degree, Sasanadhaja Dhammacariya in Pali scriptures. In the same year, he started practicing Vipassana meditation at Mahasi Sasana Yeiktha, Yangon (Rangoon), Myanamar (Burma).
In 1982, he became a permanent resident of Mahasi Meditation Center in Yangoon, Myanmar. During his stay at the Mahasi Meditation Center, he taught Vipassana meditation to monks, novice monks, nuns and yogis and conducted meditation retreats at various towns throughout Myanmar.
In 1986, he as assigned by Venerable Sayadaw U Panditabhivamsa (Panditarama Sayadaw) to reside at the Malaysian Buddhist Meditation Center (MBMC) in Penang, Malaysia. During his residency in Penang, he taught local and foreign yogis at MBMC and accompanied Sayadaw U Panditabhivamsa on teaching trips to Singapore, Thailand, Nepal, United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, Cananda and the United States.
In 1992, Venerable Dr. Dhammapiya Sayadaw was invited to be the abbot of Tathagata Meditation Center, San Jose, California, USA, where he taught Vipassana meditation and Buddhist Cultural training courses to the young adults at the center during the summer school holidays.
While residing at the center, he completed his BA (Comparative Religions) in 1997 and MA (Philosophy) in 1998 from San Jose State University, California .
In 1999, Vernerable Dr. Dhammapiya Sayadaw established the new meditation center, Mettananda Vihara Dhamma Yeiktha in Fremont, California. He continues to teach Vipassana (insight) and Metta (loving-kindness) meditation to beginners and experienced yogis and also conducts the basic Buddhist Cultural training courses for young adult students in Fremont. The same courses are similarly offered at his own monastery in Yangon, Ngar Gyan Pyan Sasana Yeiktha. Despite heavy commitment to missionary work, he completed his PhD (Philosophy) from California Institute, San Francisco, California in 2003.
Innumerable yogis in the United States, Myanmar and some other foreign counters have benefited from his selfless services. |