Sitagu Sayadaw

Sitagu Sayadaw
သီတဂူဆရာတော်
Religion Buddhism
School Theravada
Education Khin-ma-gan Pali University, Mandalay (M.A.)
Sangha University, Yangon
Other names Venerable Dr. Ashin Nyanissara
U Nyanissara
Thegon Sayadaw
Thabeik Aine Sayadaw
Personal
Nationality Myanmar
Born (1937-02-23) 23 February 1937[1]
Thegon Township, Bago Division, Myanmar
Senior posting
Based in Sagaing Hills, Myanmar
Title Vice Sangha Rājā of Shwekyin Nikaya
Religious career
Teacher Anicakhan Sayadaw Ashin Pandita[2]
Website thesitagu.org

Ashin Nyanissara (Burmese: ဉာဏိဿရ) best known as Sitagu Sayadaw (သီတဂူဆရာတော်), is a meditation teacher and prolific Buddhist scholar. He is also founder and head of the Sitagu Buddhist Academies.

His work as a teacher began in 1977 and encompasses religious, educational, medical and infrastructural activities. He travels worldwide to promote his humanitarian efforts and for interfaith dialogue.[1] He became "Shwegyin Nikaya Uppaokkahta" which translates as "Joint Leading Head of Shwegyin Nikarya (Shwegyin Sanga Organization) of Myanmar" in 2012.

Missionary and Charity works

Sitagu Buddhist Academy

Bhante Sitagu Sayadaw is known for his charismatic leadership and practices of socially-engaged Buddhism.[2] His organization has funded many social projects in Burma, including water pumps, construction of hospitals such as the Sitagu Ayudana Hospital in Sagaing[3] in 1985, and the Sitagu Buddhist Academy in 1998.[2]

Bhante Sitagu Sayadaw has been lauded for his missionary and charity works, especially in the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis in 2008, which killed upwards of 100,000 in the country's delta regions.[4]

He is also interested in interfaith dialogue and currently sits on the Board of World Religious Leaders for the Elijah Interfaith Institute.[5]

Honorific Titles

The Myanmar government bestowed four honorific titles upon him:

1. In 1993 Bhante Sitagu Sayadaw was awarded the title Mahādhammakathika Bahujanahitadhara which means "great Dhamma preacher".[2]
2. In 1995 he received the title Aggamahā Saddhammajotikadhaja means "great Dhamma preacher and benefactor of many men".[2]
3. In 1997 he received another title Aggamahā Paṇḍita which means "very excellent wise man".[2]
4. In 2004 he was awarded a title yet again for Aggamahā Ganthavacakapaṇḍita which means "great wise man in teaching and preaching".[2]
5. In 2017 he was received the Supreme Buddhist Title"Abhidhajamahārahthaaguru" which means"the Honourable, Excellent and Great Teacher of Country and the State".

Honorary Doctorates

Honorary doctorates received from Myanmar and International Universities:

1. In February 2003, the University of Yangon, Myanmar honored the Venerable with a Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.).

2. In April 2005, he was conferred an honorary degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) from Mahachulalongkorajavidyalaya University in Bangkok, Thailand.

3. In May 2008, he received an honorary degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) from Mahamakut Buddhist University, Thailand.

4. In October 2008, he received an honorary degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) from Nava Nalanda University, India.

5. In February 2015, he received an honorary degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) from Pannasastra University, Cambodia.

Criticism

He has associated in recent years with the Buddhist nationalist group Patriotic Association of Myanmar.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 "A Brief Biography of Dr. Ashin Nanissara". Sitagu Buddhist Vihara. Theravada Dhamma Society of America. Archived from the original on 17 October 2011. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Hiroko Kawanami (2009). "Charisma, Power(s), and the Arahant Ideal in Burmese-Myanmar Buddhism". Asian Ethnology. Nanzan University. 68 (2): 211–237.
  3. ↑ "Eye Care Project ( Burma)". Australia Burma Community Development Network. 2 March 2009. Archived from the original on 2 March 2012. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
  4. ↑ Lintner, Bertil (2009). The resistance of the monks: Buddhism and activism in Burma. Human Rights Watch. p. 89. ISBN 9781564325440.
  5. ↑ The Elijah Interfaith Institute - Buddhist Members of the Board of World Religious Leaders
  6. ↑ "Ma Ba Tha meet to resolve questions over Sitagu Sayadaw role". The Myanmar Times. Retrieved 2017-11-23.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.