Venerable Sayadaw Ashin Ottamathara is one of the world’s foremost meditation teachers from Myanmar. He was born on the full moon day of October 26, 1969 in Sagaing, and raised in Yangon. The eldest of three brothers, his parents are U Tin Maung, a former mining engineer, and Daw Khin Khin Myint, a former shop owner in one of Yangon’s popular markets.
As a young person Sayadaw had the strong desire to help the elderly and those in need but did not know how to help them. He liked to read, especially biographies, but books could not solve his feeling of ineffectiveness. He attended Yangon University and graduated in 1992 with an honors degree in English. He opened his own small convenience store which grew to have several locations and 200 staff members. Later, however, he encountered difficulties with the business. These troubles led him to join a meditation retreat as suggested by a friend.
Venerable started to practice vipassana insight meditation in the tradition of Mogok Sayadaw. Later he also joined a retreat of S.N. Goenka. He enjoyed the fruits of practice, comprehending the truth of non-self that the Buddha revealed for all beings. He followed the spiritual path for three years continuously, meditating alone at his apartment while gradually dismantling his business. Venerable dwelled deeply in fundamental Dhamma. He began to use his apartment as a dhamma distribution center for free dhamma books and CD’s of famous Burmese monks, which he edited for improved sound quality. This became the Wisdom Sharing Foundation known as “From Avijja to Vijja” (From Ignorance to Wisdom), with several distribution locations throughout Myanmar.
In 2002, on the full moon day of October, Venerable officially abandoned his layperson life to ordain as a monk. He was appointed by the Abbot of Devasagara Monastery in Yangon as a vipassana meditation teacher and began teaching to help others realize the ultimate truth of nature.
Venerable established the first Thabarwa Center in 2007 where those following him from teaching to teaching at private homes, hospitals and monasteries could have a place to stay, practice meditation and do good deeds freely. In his center he taught a growing number of monks, nuns, yogis, patients and anyone in need to cultivate the ability of doing good deeds without limits, for solving any problem of themselves and society.
This is the way Venerable applies the essence of Buddhism in practice. His centers are the embodiment of his teaching, where people can come to understand by their own practice. He accepts anyone to stay in Thabarwa Center free of charge until the end of their life. In this way everyone can participate in the good deeds of helping, sharing, non-harming and purification of mind. There are now over 5,000 residents staying in the main Thabarwa Center in Thanlyin, Myanmar.
In 2014 Sayadaw established the Dhamma Hospital where elderly and patients can live, receive free medical care, practice meditation and hear dhamma teaching together. Doctors, nurses and volunteers donate their time and skills to help those in need. There are now three multi-story Dhamma Hospitals in the main center and many small dhamma hospitals throughout Myanmar and Thailand. When Covid swept through Myanmar in 2021 and doctors and hospitals were refusing patients, Sayadaw converted the six story Dhamma Hospital to be the Covid Hospital, transporting patients from their homes with center ambulance cars and volunteers. Over 1,500 Covid patients arrived at Thabarwa Center where Sayadaw gave dhamma teaching for them regularly. About 1,000 patients recovered and went back home, and 500 passed away at the center.
Sayadaw has opened over 100 Thabarwa Centers around the world, as well as several Goodwill Villages where homeless families can receive homes. Other Thabarwa projects include schools for children, orphanages, refuges for pregnant women, single mothers and their babies, and animal sanctuaries. In 2022 he began working for peace in Myanmar as the country suffered from civil war. As a monk and meditation teacher Sayadaw will continue to use his understanding for the benefit of all living beings.
As a young person Sayadaw had the strong desire to help the elderly and those in need but did not know how to help them. He liked to read, especially biographies, but books could not solve his feeling of ineffectiveness. He attended Yangon University and graduated in 1992 with an honors degree in English. He opened his own small convenience store which grew to have several locations and 200 staff members. Later, however, he encountered difficulties with the business. These troubles led him to join a meditation retreat as suggested by a friend.
Venerable started to practice vipassana insight meditation in the tradition of Mogok Sayadaw. Later he also joined a retreat of S.N. Goenka. He enjoyed the fruits of practice, comprehending the truth of non-self that the Buddha revealed for all beings. He followed the spiritual path for three years continuously, meditating alone at his apartment while gradually dismantling his business. Venerable dwelled deeply in fundamental Dhamma. He began to use his apartment as a dhamma distribution center for free dhamma books and CD’s of famous Burmese monks, which he edited for improved sound quality. This became the Wisdom Sharing Foundation known as “From Avijja to Vijja” (From Ignorance to Wisdom), with several distribution locations throughout Myanmar.
In 2002, on the full moon day of October, Venerable officially abandoned his layperson life to ordain as a monk. He was appointed by the Abbot of Devasagara Monastery in Yangon as a vipassana meditation teacher and began teaching to help others realize the ultimate truth of nature.
Venerable established the first Thabarwa Center in 2007 where those following him from teaching to teaching at private homes, hospitals and monasteries could have a place to stay, practice meditation and do good deeds freely. In his center he taught a growing number of monks, nuns, yogis, patients and anyone in need to cultivate the ability of doing good deeds without limits, for solving any problem of themselves and society.
This is the way Venerable applies the essence of Buddhism in practice. His centers are the embodiment of his teaching, where people can come to understand by their own practice. He accepts anyone to stay in Thabarwa Center free of charge until the end of their life. In this way everyone can participate in the good deeds of helping, sharing, non-harming and purification of mind. There are now over 5,000 residents staying in the main Thabarwa Center in Thanlyin, Myanmar.
In 2014 Sayadaw established the Dhamma Hospital where elderly and patients can live, receive free medical care, practice meditation and hear dhamma teaching together. Doctors, nurses and volunteers donate their time and skills to help those in need. There are now three multi-story Dhamma Hospitals in the main center and many small dhamma hospitals throughout Myanmar and Thailand. When Covid swept through Myanmar in 2021 and doctors and hospitals were refusing patients, Sayadaw converted the six story Dhamma Hospital to be the Covid Hospital, transporting patients from their homes with center ambulance cars and volunteers. Over 1,500 Covid patients arrived at Thabarwa Center where Sayadaw gave dhamma teaching for them regularly. About 1,000 patients recovered and went back home, and 500 passed away at the center.
Sayadaw has opened over 100 Thabarwa Centers around the world, as well as several Goodwill Villages where homeless families can receive homes. Other Thabarwa projects include schools for children, orphanages, refuges for pregnant women, single mothers and their babies, and animal sanctuaries. In 2022 he began working for peace in Myanmar as the country suffered from civil war. As a monk and meditation teacher Sayadaw will continue to use his understanding for the benefit of all living beings.