OUR COMMUNITY
Our Resident Nuns
Sayalay Santi
Pa Auk Tawya Vipassana Dhura Hermitage (Singapore)
- Resident Nun and Teacher
- 1970 Sayalay Santi was born in Singapore and graduated with BCom degree in Accounting & Finance from an Australian University, and was a certified public accountant.
- 2002-2008 She practiced under the guidance of Venerable Pa Auk Sayadaw and Ven. Revata at Pa Auk Tawya Meditation Centre (Main) mostly, and she translated for Ven. Revata’s interview. She also practiced under guidance of Ven. Agganna, Ven. Mangala, Sayalay Dipankara, and various other teachers.
- 2008-2012 She was ordained at Tusita Hermitage by Ven. Mangala. She practiced under the guidance of Ven. Mangala & Ven. Samitha. She shared Dhamma, assisted and guided fellow meditators in their practices, and translation for teachers in interviews and talks. She was a resident nun, and helped to manage the female community as a Sayalay Committee and supported the centre.
- 2009- 2017 She attended Malaysia, India, Singapore, USA, Pa Auk Maymyo intensive retreats led by the Pa Auk Sayadaw and practiced Samatha and Vipassana meditation under the strict guidance of Sayadaw. She translated for Pa Auk Sayadaw’s interviews, and was also instructed by Sayadaw to guide the fellow meditators in their practices. She also helped to translate for Ven. Revata’s, Ven. Ukkansa’s and Ven. Kumarabhivamsa’s interviews during retreats and at the Pa Auk Monastery.
- 2011 She guided vassa retreat at Dhammasantavana Temple, Taiwan. She co-organized and translated for Ven. Ariyadhamma Mahathera’s Taiwan retreat.
- 2012, 2014 She guided nuns and lay women during short-term ordination and retreats at Nandaka Vihara.
- 2017-Present With Pa Auk Sayadaw’s approval, established “Pa Auk Tawya Vipassana Dhura Hermitage (Singapore)” to practice, propagate and perpetuate the Buddha’s Teachings. She is invited as the resident nun and meditation teacher of the centre, and she organised Dhamma activities and guided retreats at the centre.
- 2018-2023 She organized and translated for retreats including Ven. Janeyyacara’s USA & Nepal retreats, Ven. Nanasiri’s, Ven. Santagavesaka’s and Ven Kovida’s Singapore retreat. (to update)
- 2018-Present Organise (to update)
- Meditation interviews – guided and translation
- Dhamma talks
- SV meditation retreats – online
- Ordinations retreats – Myanmar, India Nepal, Singapore
- Ordination & meditation retreats and (2018 Myanmar, 2019 India Nepal, 2023 Singapore)
- Pilgrimage trip
- One-day meditation retreats
- Conduct dhamma sharing (chi)
- Children Dhamma classes
- Since 2002 till now, Sayalay Santi continuously practice meditation and actively supports the Dhamma propagation in different countries, serving the Sangha, Nuns and layperson community in the monasteries, including translation for teachers in meditation interviews and Dhamma talks, assisted and guided fellow meditators in their meditation practices, shared Dhamma, organized meditation retreats, Dhamma activities and nun ordination programmes, and assisted in the management of meditation centres etc.
- She is fluent in English, Mandarin and Hokkien.
Sayalay Paññāsāra
Pa Auk Tawya Vipassana Dhura Hermitage (Singapore)
- Resident Nun
- 1981 Sayalay Paññāsāra was born in Singapore, finished her Secondary School education and started working.
- 2004 – 2008 She began her Dhamma learning journey of Theravada Buddhism searching for life meaning and purpose while still working. She also attended several meditation retreats organised by Pa auk and Na Uyana monastery.
- 2008 She was ordained at Dhammika Ashramaya, a branch monastery of Na-Uyana Forest Monastery for nuns and laywomen at Sri Lanka under the preceptorship of Most Venerable Ariyadhamma Mahathera and receive meditation guidance from Venerable Ariyananda.
- 2009 – 2016 She attended meditation retreats organised by Kuching Tusita Hermitage and became a resident nun there practicing meditation under the guidances of Sayadaw U Kanccana, Ven. Mangala, Ven. Buddharakkhita and Ven. Dhammagavesaka.
- She helped with some duties assigned by the Hermitage.
- 2016 – Present She is currently practicing meditation and learning Dhamma at Pa auk Maymyo monastery under the guidance of the most Venerable Pa Auk Sayadaw and Sayadaw U Kumarabhivamsa. She also serves as Sayalay Officer helping female community….
- 2019-Present She teaches Bodhi Dhamma school online
- 2023 Guided nuns in short-term nun ordination at PATVDH Singapore
- Sayalay officer duties is to ensure the daily routine tasks are done and helps make necessary arrangements for monastics or yogis should they need to see a doctor etc. Other duties include arranging new yogis for check in during meditation retreats, helping in ordination programs, giving Dhamma sharing to lay devotees, assisting children’s Dhamma class (chanting, lesson and meditation).
- Pa Auk F1 office duties, once a week, making necessary arrangements for monastics or yogis should they need to see a doctor etc. Other duties include arranging new yogis for check in during meditation retreats, helping in ordination programs, assisting Sayalay in charge on whatever task needs to be done.
Management Committee
We strive to serve with sincerity, selflessness, brahmavihara
Sayalay Santi
Sayalay Paññāsāra
Cynthia Leong
Janice Ong
Wong Ying Xin
Dr Ailica Lee Wan Xin
Dr Liu Li Hui
Susamahita Khor Ah Yew
Tan Jun You
Tham Khek Chiam