The Most Venerable Pa-Auk Tawya Sayadaw Bhaddanta Āciṇṇa, also commonly referred to as “Pa-Auk Sayadaw” (“the Sayadaw”), is the Abbot and Principal Teacher of Pa-Auk Tawya Forest Monastery (Pa-Auk Tawya Meditation Centre), Mawlamyine, Mon State, Myanmar. “Sayadaw” is a Burmese honourable title meaning “respected teacher.”

The Sayadaw was born in 1934, in Leigh-Chaung Village, Hinthada Township, in the delta region about one hundred miles northwest of the capital, Yangon. In 1944, at age ten, he ordained as a novice monk (sāmaṇera) at a monastery in his village. During the next decade, he pursued the life of a typical scholar-novice, studying the Pali Texts (including Vinaya, Suttas and Abhidhamma) under various teachers. He passed the three Pali language examinations while still a novice.

In 1954, at age twenty, the Sayadaw received the higher ordination as a bhikkhu. He continued his studies of the Pali Texts under the guidance of learned elder monks. In 1956 he passed the prestigious Dhammacariya examination and was conferred the title of “Dhamma Teacher”.

During the next eight years, the Sayadaw continued his investigation into the Dhamma, travelling throughout Myanmar to learn from various well-known teachers. In 1964, during his tenth “rains retreat” (vassa), he turned his attention to intensifying his meditation practice and began to practise “forest dwelling.” Although he continued with his studies of the Pali Texts, he now sought out and gained instruction from the revered meditation teachers of those times.

For the next sixteen years, he made forest dwelling his primary practice. He spent these years in the southern part of Myanmar, in Mon State: three years in Mudon Township (just south of Mawlamyine) and thirteen years in Ye Township (approximately one hundred miles down the coast). During this period, he lived a very simple life, devoting his time to meditation and study of the Pali Texts

In 1981, the Sayadaw was requested to assume the abbotship of Pa-Auk Forest Monastery by Venerable Aggapanna, then the incumbent abbot before the latter’s passing five days later. The Most Venerable accepted the request and become the new abbot of the monastery. As such the Venerable Āciṇṇa becomes known as the Pa-Auk Tawya Sayadaw.

In 1997 the Sayadaw published his Magnum Opus, an enormous five-volume tome titled The Practice that Leads to Nibbana, explaining the entire course of teaching in detail and supported by copious quotations from the Pali Texts.

Pa-Auk Sayadaw is held in high esteem by the international community of meditation practitioners for his role as an accomplished Dhamma and Meditation teacher. On January 4, 1999, in public recognition of the Sayadaw’s achievements, the government of Myanmar bestowed upon him the title Agga MahāKammaṭṭhānācariya, which means ‘Most Highly Respected Meditation Teacher’.

The Sayadaw speaks fluent English and has lectured and led retreats outside of Myanmar since 1997 such as the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, China, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Vietnam.

In December of 2006, he travelled to Sri Lanka to undertake a long-term personal retreat, staying in seclusion and suspending his teaching schedule throughout 2007. His teaching schedule for 2008 includes a four-month retreat in the United States, July to October, held at the Forest Refuge in Barre, Massachusetts

The Sayadaw personally conducted a six-month intensive retreat at Pa-Auk Forest Monastery, Myanmar from January to June of 2010. After the retreat, Sayadaw entered his own personal retreat for three-month period in Himachal Pradesh, India. In year 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014, Sayadaw spent his Vassa (Rains Retreat) in USA.

In December 2013 to March 2014, the Sayadaw conducted a four-month intensive retreat at Pa-Auk Maymyo, Myanmar, for advanced meditators. And from August 2015 till present, the Sayadaw is teaching an intensive meditation retreat at Pa-Auk Tawya Meditation Centre, Maymyo.

The Sayadaw’s teachings have been published in several books which are highly regarded internationally. 

In brief, the system of meditation taught at Pa-Auk Forest Monastery is based on the instructions by the Lord Buddha as found in the Tipiṭaka (Three Baskets) and its Commentaries. The system comprises the threefold training of strict observance of precepts (sīla), developing concentration (samādhi), as a basis for attaining wisdom (paññā). This is further subdivided into the seven stages of purification which provide a step-by-step formula for systematically purifying one’s body (physical actions), speech and mind of defilements in order to realise Nibbāna (final liberation).