Ven. Mogok Sayadaw
He was born Maung Hla Baw to Daw Shwe Ake and U Aung Tun in a small village close to Amarapura in Mandalay Province, Burma on 27 December 1899. Hla Baw began his education at 4, and enrolled as a samanera (novice monk) at age 9 under Sayadaw (Chief Abbot) U Jagara. He later left for the Mingala Makuna Monastery at Amarapura to continue his religious studies. In 1921, he was ordained as a bhikkhu (monk) in the Burmese Theravada Buddhist tradition with the dhamma name of Vimala . As his monkhood was sponsored by the residents of Mogok, a town well known for rubies and gems, Ven. Vimala became known as Mogok Sayadaw. In 1924, Ven. Vimala became the Chief Abbot of Pikara Monastery. He began to give sermons focusing on the Abhidhamma (the Ultimate Reality), and to teaching vipassana (insight) meditation.
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Ven. Tharmanya Sayadaw - U Vinaya (1910- 2003 )
Abhidhaja Agga Maha Saddhamma Jotika Badanta Vinaya
The Sayadaw was born of U Taung O and Daw Ohn at Kawtkyaik PaO Village in Hpa-an Township on 6th Waxing of First Waso 1272 ME (Wednesday).
He was novitiated by Kyangin Monastery Sayadaw Bhaddanta Acara in Mawlamyine in 1285 ME with the sponsorship of his parents. At 7am on 15th Waning of Kason 1292 ME (Friday), he was ordained by Sayadaw Bhaddanta Acara at Khanda Ordination Hall of Yadana Bon Myint Monstery in Mawlamyine with the sponsorship of his parents.
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Ven. Mahasi Sayadaw
Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw was born in the year 1904 at Seikkhun, a large prosperous village of pleasing appearance lying about seven miles to the west of historic Shwebo town in Upper Burma. His parents, peasant proprietors by occupation, were U Kan Taw and Daw Oke. At the age of six the Sayadaw was sent to receive his early monastic education under U Adicca, presiding monk of Pyinmana monastery at Seikkhun. Six years later, he was initiated into the monastic Order as a samara under the same teacher and given the novice?s name of Shin Sobhana, (which means Auspicious), a name that befitted his stalwart, impressive features and his dignified, serene behavior. He proved to be an apt and bright pupil, making quick, remarkable progress in his scriptural studies.
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Ven. Ledi Sayadaw
The Venerable Ledi Sayadaw was born in 1846 in Saing-pyin village, Dipeyin township, in the Shwebo district (currently Monywa district) of northern Burma. His childhood name was Maung Tet Khaung. (Maung is the Burmese title for boys and young men, equivalent to master. Tet means climbing upward and Khaung means roof or summit.) It proved to be an appropriate name, since young Maung Tet Khaung, indeed, climbed to the summit in all his endeavors. In his village he attended the traditional monastery school where the bhikkhus (monks) taught children to read and write in Burmese as well as recite Pali text. Because of these ubiquitous monastery schools, Burma has traditionally maintained a very high rate of literacy
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Ven. Webu Sayadaw
Ven. Webu Sayadaw was one of the most highly respected monks of the last century in Burma. (Sayadaw is a title used for monks. It means "respected teacher monk.") He was notable in giving all importance to diligent practice rather than to scholastic achievement. Webu Sayadaw was born in the village of Ingyinpin in upper Burma on 17 February 1896. He underwent the usual monk's training in the Pali scriptures from the age of nine, when he became a novice, until he was twenty-seven.
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Ven. Taungpulu Sayadaw
The most Venerable Taungpulu Tawya Kaba-Aye Sayadaw was born to his cultivator family of Tezu Village, Wundwin Township, in the former Meiktila District of Upper Burma. He was the eldest chief of U Yan and Daw Shwe The and was born on Saturday the 3rd Waning day of Tabaung 1258 B.E. Maung Paw Lar was the name given by his parents. At the age of seven he was admitted as a school boy to the Yewun Monastery of nearby Yewun Village, whore the presiding Sayadaw was U Teja. He studied not only the basic Buddhist education but also some fine arts and painting. He also studied basic Pali grammar and the Abhidhamma Sangaha.
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Ven. SunLun Sayadaw
The late Sun Lun Sayadaw was born at Sun Lun village in Myingyan district. In the first part of his life, he worked as public servant in a government office. In his second period of life, his meager salary could not meet his family need and so he resigned from government service and worked as a cultivator. Fortune favored him and he prospered. He was bent on a religious life. He donated lights at the pagoda where he made his solemn wish to be able to devote himself to a religious life. Meanwhile, prophetic saying were afloat regarding the resurgence of religious activity in the land. These sayings were taken as good omens for him to turn to religion. He practised hard in meditation. In twelve months, he had progressed so much that he made up his mind to leave household life and become a Bhikkhu. He first joined the Order of Bhikkhus as novice . After eight days as a S?maÓera, he won Arahatta-phala with a Taint-free mind, a Senior Disciple and a True Son of the Buddha.
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Mogok Sayadaw- Tharmanya Sayadaw
- Mahasi Sayadaw
- Ledi Sayadaw
- Webu Sayadaw
- Taungpulu Sayadaw
- SunLun Sayadaw
