Theravāda is the most commonly accepted name of Buddhism's oldest existing school. The school's adherents, termed Theravādins, have preserved their version of Gautama Buddha's teaching or Dhamma in the Pāli Canon for over two millennia.
Mahāsī Sayādaw U Sobhana was a Burmese Theravada Buddhist monk and meditation master who had a significant impact on the teaching of vipassanā (insight) meditation in the West and throughout Asia.
Ledi Sayadaw U Ñaṇadhaja was an influential Theravada Buddhist monk. He was recognized from a young age as being developed in both the theory (Abhidhamma) and practice of Buddhism and so was revered as being scholarly. He wrote many books on Dhamma in Burmese and these were accessible even to a serious lay person, hence he was responsible for spreading Dhamma to all levels of society and reviving the traditional practice of Vipassanā meditation, making it more available for renunciates and lay people alike.
The Vipassanā movement refers to a branch of modern Burmese Theravāda Buddhism that promotes "bare insight" (sukha-Vipassana) meditation practice to develop insight into the three marks of existence and attain stream entry. It gained widespread popularity since the 1950s, including through its western derivatives which have been popularised since the 1970s, giving rise to the more dhyana-oriented mindfulness movement.
A sayadaw is a Burmese Buddhist title used to reference the senior monk or abbot of a monastery. Some distinguished sayadaws would often be referred to as a sayadawgyi (ဆရာတော်ကြီး, as a sign of reverence. The terms "sayadaw" and "sayadawgyi" originally corresponded to the senior monks who taught the former Burmese kings. These sayadaws may be influential teachers of Buddhism and also important meditation practitioners. They usually are abbots of monasteries or monastery networks with many resident monks and a lay following.
Webu Sayadaw was a Theravada Buddhist monk, and vipassanā master, best known for giving all importance to diligent practice, rather than scholastic achievement.
Nissarana Vanaya is a meditation monastery in Sri Lanka. It is located in Mitirigala in the Western Province close to the town of Kirindiwela.
Hinthada Township is a township of Hinthada District in the Ayeyarwady Division of Myanmar.
Dhammadharini Vihara is a Buddhist women's monastic residence (vihara) in the Sonoma Hills of Santa Rosa, California. The name "Dhammadharini" is interpreted as a "holder" or "upholder" of the Buddhadhamma as a "flowing" or "streaming" reality, teaching and practice. A "vihara" is a monastic residence, and place of Dhamma and meditation teaching and practice.
The Nissarana Vanaya Meditation System was developed by Matara Sri Ñāṇārāma Mahathera, the first Upajjhaya of Sri Kalyani Yogasrama Samstha. This Buddhist meditation system uses samatha and vipassanā techniques in combination to allow what it claims are more intense insight results than ‘dry insight’ meditation. It was refined over decades by the head monks of the Nissarana Vanaya.
Nā Uyana Āranya Senāsanaya is a Buddhist forest monastery in Kurunegala, Sri Lanka, associated with the Śrī Kalyāṇī Yogāśrama Saṃsthā. It spreads over more than 5000 acres of forest on the 'Dummiya' mountain range and is residence to about 150 Buddhist monks. Nā Uyana is so named because of the old Ceylon ironwood forest that forms part of the monastery.
Most Venerable Nauyane Ariyadhamma Mahāthēra was a Sri Lankan bhikkhu and a senior meditation teacher. He was the spiritual advisor of the Śrī Kalyāṇī Yogāśrama Saṃsthā, and for many years resided at the Nā Uyana Āranya. In 2011 he moved to Meetirigala Dharmayatanaya to help revitalize this long-standing place of learning and dhamma practice.
Venerable Bhikkhunī (Ayya) Tathālokā Mahātherī is an American-born Theravada Bhikkhunī, scholar and Buddhist teacher. She is also the co-founder of the Dhammadharini monastic community in California, which includes Dhammadharini Monastery, and Aranya Bodhi Hermitage. She was the recipient of the 2006 Outstanding Women in Buddhism Award, a presenting scholar at the 2007 International Congress on Buddhist Women's Role in the Sangha, and was appointed Preceptor for the historically-significant 2009 Bhikkhuni Ordination held in Perth, Australia.
Nibbinda Forest Monastery is a Theravada Buddhist forest monastery within George Town in the Malaysian state of Penang. The monastery is located atop a hill at Balik Pulau, surrounded by mountains and facing the sea.
Thamanya Sayadaw U Vinaya was a prominent and influential Burmese Buddhist monk of Pa-O descent, best known for his doctrinal emphasis on metta.
Maha Bodhi Ta Htaung is a Buddhist religious complex located in Monywa Township, Sagaing Region, Myanmar (Burma). It is known for the Giant Standing Buddha statue, the third tallest in the world, and for the Great Attitudes of U Narãda, who built the monastery. This Sāsana (religious) site contains thousands of Buddha statues beneath thousands of Bo trees, the Giant Reclining Buddha Statue, Aung Sekkya Stupa, and other large Buddha statues. Currently, a Sitting Buddha Statue, which is expected to become the world's largest Sitting Buddha Statue, is in construction. Many Buddhist monks can study the Buddhist Pariyatti literature at the monastery. Moreover, meditation centres or Vipassãnā centres are opened at this monastic site both for monks and laypersons.
Dhamma Joti is one of the first Vipassana meditation centres in Myanmar, founded by S.N Goenka in the tradition of Sayagyi U Ba Kin in accordance with the teaching of Ledi Sayadaw. The centre is situated on an area about 12 acres contributed by the venerable Bhaddanta Sobhita of Wingabar Yele Monastery. It has been conducting Vipassana meditation courses since October 1993. The courses include 10 days for new students, and 3 days, 7 days and Sunday group sitting for old students.
Ñāṇasaṁvara is a Shan Buddhist monk of the Thai Forest Tradition, specifically the Northern Thai Forest Tradition established by Khruba Siwichai. He is known as Phra Khuva Boonchum or Khruba Bonchum (ครูบาบุญชุ่ม) by Thai followers, and as the Mong Pong Sayadaw (မိုင်းဖုန်းဆရာတော်) by his Burmese followers. His serious solitary meditation practices, and his known for his solitary meditation retreats in caves in Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos. He is dubbed "the monk of the three nations".
Taungpulu Tawya Kaba-Aye Sayadaw U Nandiya was an influential Theravada Buddhist monk. Taungpulu Sayadaw was born in Tesu Village, Wundwin Township of Myanmar. He was the eldest chief of U Yan and Daw Shwe The. His childhood name was Maung Paw Lar.
The Most Venerable Bhaddanta Āciṇṇa Mahāthēra (ဘဒ္ဒန္တအာစိဏ္ဏ), more commonly referred to as the Pa-Auk Sayadaw, is a Burmese Theravāda monk, meditation teacher and the abbot of the Pa-Auk Forest Monastery in Mawlamyine.
