User:Raja Gamani

( INSEIN YWAMA SAYADAW, MYANMAR )

Admirable Biography  of  The Most Venerable Aggamahāpaṇḍita " Bhaddanta Tilokābhivaṁsa " Leading Patron, Yawma Pariyatti Monastery, Insein Township, Yangon Division, Member of the State Saṅgha Patronage Committee, Patron of the Shwedagon Pagoda Trustee

Birth ••••• The Most Venerable Tilokābhivaṁsa-to-be was born to U Ba Phay and Daw Sein Sein on 18th February 1939 (M.E. 1300, 1st waxing day of Tabaung, at 4:40 am on Saturday) in Nyaungbinthar village, Zalun Township, Ayeyarwaddy Division, Myanmar. He is the fourth son named Maung Tin Hla.

Entering the Noble Order ••••••• He was novitiated for the first time at the tender age of six, and the next time at fifteen, under the guidance of his Preceptor Venerable Indavaṁsa, the Abbot of Nyaungbinthar monastery in his native village. He was given the religious name Reverend Tiloka and his parents supported him with four requisites. When he was twenty in the year 1959 (M.E. 1320, 10th waxing day of Kason, Sunday), the Reverend received higher ordination at the Khaṇḍa Ordination hall in Nyaungbinthar monastery. Venerable Candāvara, the Abbot of old Pakwe monastery in Zalun kindly acted as his Preceptor, and his elder brother U Myet Pyuu and Daw Thein Yin were his supporters.

Learning the Buddhist scriptures •••••••••••• After his novitiation, he started learning the fundamental Buddhist texts from the Abbot of Nyaungbinthar monastery, the Abbot of Southern monastery in Kangyigone village, Venerable Vāsava and Venerable Tejaniya. Two years afterwards, he moved to Kosaungtaik monastery and pursued the Buddhist scriptures for about nine years from Venerable Sobhita, later known as Abhidhajamahāraṭṭhaguru, Abhidhaja aggamahā saddhammajotikadhaja, the Chairperson of the State Saṅgha Mahānāyaka Committee. Further, Venerable stayed at Chanthargyi monastery, Nyaungkan monastery and Mandalay, the former royal Capital of Myanmar; and in Chaukhtatgyi monastery in Yangon to continue his academic pursuit from the learned scholar monks.

Examinations completed •••••••••••• Being a highly motivated student, the Venerable completed the primary level, the intermediate level, and the advanced level monastic examinations with flying colours. He stood second in the whole country in the Sāsanadhajadhammācariya examination held by the Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Union of Myanmar. Notably, the Venerable has also achieved Sāsanadhajasirīvaparadhammācariya degree and Sakyasīha dhammācariya which could be achieved only by the candidates with supreme wisdom and effort. For his success, the title “abhivaṁsa” was bestowed upon him. Since then, he was known as ‘Venerable Tikokābhivaṁsa’.

Teaching the Buddhist scriptures ••••••••• The Most Venerable is indeed a highly motivated scholar. His contributions on sharing knowledge can be reflected from his noble services. He was a teacher at government primary school at Kangyigone village, Nyang Oo township in 1966-67; a teacher of Buddhism (gaṇavācaka) at Koesaungtaik in Myingyan. Since 1971, he was the Incharge of the Academic affairs at Insein Ywama monastery where he is the Chief Patron at present. He also played a vital role when the State Pariyatti Sasana University (SPSU) was established in 1986. For about four years, he shared his profound knowledge as a professor at the Department of Abhidhamma, and later as the Pro-Rector of the University.

Contribution to the Buddha’s Sāsanā •••••••••• His tireless effort and dedication for the Buddha sāsanā can be reflected from the roles that he played. He was the Vinayadhara in the First Multi-Sects Saṅgha Association of the States and Divisions; Vice- Chairman of the Insein Township Saṅgha Nāyaka Committee; Patron member of the State Central Patronage Committee and Remote Areas Missionary Association; Chairman of the Insein Examination Invigilation Committee; Professor of Abhidhamma at the State Pariyatti Sāsana University (SPSU); Pro-Rector of SPSU; Patron member of the Fifth State Central Saṅgha Committee; Member of the State Saṅgha Mahānāyaka Committee (SSMC); Joint-Secretary of SSMC and Vice- Chairman of SSMC. At present, the Most Venerable is the Patron member of the State Advisory Committee and Patron of the Shwedagon Pagoda Trustee Committee. Over one thousand and five hundred representatives attended the State Insein Saṅgha Congregation in August 2013 had vested the Most Venerable as the Chairman of the Buddha Dhamma Parahita Foundation.

Further, the Most Venerable is an eminent Abhidhamma scholar who has done many remarkable contributions in making Abhidhamma study easily accessible to everyone. The Summer Advanced Buddha Abhidhamma classes on the Yamaka, Paṭṭhāna and Chandodaya, etc. are conducted at the Maṅgalābyūhā association for three years and at his monastery for twenty years. Occasionally, such courses are conducted in some other regions of the country including Bago, Mandalay, Taunggyi and Kalay. The Abhidhamma courses for the laity are also conducted twice a year, till they become skillful and eligible enough to sit for the Abhidhamma examinations held by the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture. In addition to being a scholar, the Most Venerable is a proficient meditation master. He leads meditation retreats during summer vacation at his monastery. As he is admired by the Saṅgha, the Most Venerable often has to take a leading role in the Saṅgha kamma such as ordination, sanctification of the ordination hall and some other religious tasks. Despite his age of seventy-nine, the Most Venerable is still making tireless effort to safeguard the nationality and Buddhism. He is the founder of Buddhatthacariya Foundation for youth which aims at the development of knowledge and vocational qualifications. His performances are not confined to the propagation of Buddhism, but for the development of the nation and nationality.

Receiving ‘Aggamahāpaṇḍita Title’ ••••••••••• To honour all these noble attributes, the State Peace and Development Council has conferred the title of ‘Aggamahāpaṇḍita’ to the Most Venerable Tilokābhivaṁsa in 1998.

Inspiring Virtues •••••••• The Most Venerable has great admiration on the Pariyatti, the Buddha’s teachings. Every individual who seeks for his guidance will never get ignored but eagerly provided with his guidance and teaching. What is more, he is also innovative in creating easy and modern methods that would suit the need of the present world. He is admired for his warm and modest dealing with people. Regarding learning and practice of Buddha’s teachings, he is never hesitant to contribute his service. Inspiringly, he is also a symbol of generosity and loving-kindness, mild and gentle in admonishing his disciples, showing his unconditional love like the parents. He is also careful in dealing with devotees not to have strong liking for them. All these virtues make people to earn veneration in him. To mention some of the great contributions of the Most Venerable,

(1)The Most Venerable has compiled texts with questions and sample answers for easy access to respective examinations for the learners of Buddhism. Significantly, he is efficient in innovating new methods which are so effective that in half a year or in a year time, learners of Abhidhamma can gain proficiency in the most profound Abhidhamma texts such as the Dhammasaṅgaṇī, the Dhātukathā, the Yamaka and the Paṭṭhāna. He indeed is the innovator of this era. More strikingly, he has shown the way on how Pāḷi verses can be composed after a week study. He is the compiler of many texts which enables the learners to gain four skills of the Pāḷi language in a month time.

(2) It is noted that the Most Venerable has compiled over 30 books in Myanmar language. He is also the compiler of 3 treatises in Pāḷi language: Questions and Answers for the Primary level, the Mahāparitta abhinavaṭīkā and the Milindapañha Līnatthapakāsanī. In the field of Abhidhamma study of contemporary days, the most successful and effective method is the one created by him. It may not be mistaken to say that it is the method adopted nation-wide. This system almost fully supports Pariyatti Education and the Advanced Abhidhamma study in the current Myanmar. Among over four hundred thousand monks and over sixty thousand nuns in the country, there is hardly anyone who has not learned from him. He has also nurtured many lay Abhidhamma scholars.

(3) Today Myanmar is proud to have produced 14 Tipiṭakadhara Tipiṭakakovidha Dhammabhaṇḍāgārika title holders. Due to his complete mastery in the Abhidhamma, the Most Venerable has produced two such scholars. Annually, he is nurturing over thousand learners of Abhidhamma, Pāḷi and Buddhism country-wide. Credit to his innovative techniques, both monastic and laity, and young and old alike become learned persons in the Abhidhamma and Pāḷi language.

(4) Over and above, many of his pupils who have gone to Thailand, India, England, etc. for further study have completed Bachelors, Masters and Doctorates. Majority of the leading scholars with Doctoral degrees are also his disciples. Impressively, the Most Venerable nurtures hundreds of Teachers of monastic education, meditation masters, and leaders of the social welfare activities. He also has shown his great support in establishing monasteries and meditation centres. From the aforesaid virtues, Most Venerable who is prominent in the field of Pariyatti and Abhidhamma study is the innovator of the most accepted and effective method of learning Abhidhamma. Thus, it may not be regarded as over-saying to claim that the Most Venerable is likened to the Sun of Buddhist teachings (pariyatti sāsanā) and the Moon of Buddha’s dispensation (Buddha sāsanā). Up till now, no other competent teacher has appeared in the contemporary era who is capable of compiling Buddhist texts in Pāḷi language. He is also the Spiritual father of the two Tipiṭakadhara title holders, thus rightfully entitled to be addressed as the ‘Long-lived Father of the whole Saṅgha Community’. Reflecting his works and the accomplishment of his disciples, his brilliant attributes can be deeply appreciated.

At present, •••••••••• the Most Venerable is still untiring in performing the noble duties of Saṅgha in teaching noble dhamma and guiding meditation at his Insein Ywama Pariyatti monastery. More prominently, the Most Venerable is striving social welfare with might and main as the Chairperson of Buddha Dhamma Parahita National Foundation.

Compiler Venerable Vimalācāra Ywama Pariyatti monastery Insein, Yangon Division Myanmar