Sayadaw U Sobhana
Birth and Youth
1921: born in Myingyan, Central Myanmar in 1921.
(Myingyan is
also the birth place of Sunlun Sayadaw and Mingun Tipitaka Sayadaw.)
Sayadaw U Sobhana
was a subject of a research on "Reincarnation"
Novice
1936: became a novice at the Chan Tha Gyi Monastery in Mandalay.
Monkhood
1943: became a full-fledged monk in the higher ordination (upasampada).
Studies
1931- 1936: studied at the American Baptist Missionary School
1939: passed the Government Intermediate examinations.
1941: sat for the Advanced Pali Text examination.
1949: went to Calcutta, India and studied Sanskrit.
1950 - 1957: continued studies in English and Sanskrit in Colombo,
Sri Lanka
1955: passed General Certificate of Education (GCE) administered by
University of London.
Sasana activities
1957 - 1959:
-
member of Editorial Board (Pativitsodhaka) Sayadaws at the Tipitaka/Myanmar
Dictionary Department
-
carried out research work on Pali Text
-
studied and practice vipassana meditation at Mahasi Sasana Yeiktha
1959:
-
Anunakaya Sayadaw at the Japan Dhammaduta Missionary Branch of the Buddha
Sasana Council.
1959 to 1981:
-
member of the Mission sent to Thailand by the Myanmar Buddha Sasana Council
-
taught Pali Text and Vipasana meditation at the Bodharama Monastery in
Nakhorn Sawan in Thailand
1962:
-
intensive meditation courses at Mahasi Sasana Yeiktha (approved
to conduct meditation courses abroad in the Mahasi tradition)
1981 to present:
-
came to the United States in 1981 per invitation of TBSA to reside at the
Dhammamnanda Vihara Monastery in the San Francsico Bay Area
-
taught Buddhism and Vipassana meditation to laity especially to young students
(See "My Students")
-
scheduled calendar for the TBSA activities
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On the Full Moon of Tabaung (March 15, 2000), Sayadaw was conferred on
the prestigious title “Agga Maha Saddhammajotika Dhaja”.
(The title is given to people for their outstanding contributions to
the propagation of sasana throughout the world.)
Publications
-
Lecture Notes on "Fundamentals of Buddhism" (1000+ handwritten pages)
-
Some of the notes appeared as articles in the TBSA newsletter (e.g. April
1993 issue)
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"Sayadaw U Sobhana's Biography and Essence of his Teachings" by Dr. Tin
Wa and Daw Khin Khin Win
(Dhamma Dana by Sinuch Pongsavas)