Venerable Sayadaw U Sobana

USilananda


Born: 1921
Residence: 1982 to 2017
Passed away : 2017
Practice: Theravāda, Mahāsi tradition

 

Birth and Youth

1921: Born in Myingyan, Central Myanmar. (Myingyan is also the birthplace of Sunlun Sayadaw and Mingun Tipitaka Sayadaw.)

Sayadaw U Sobhana was also a subject of research on “Reincarnation.”

Novice

1936: Became a novice at the Chan Tha Gyi Monastery in Mandalay.

Monkhood

1943: Received higher ordination (Upasampada) as a full-fledged monk.

Studies

  • 1931–1936: Studied at the American Baptist Missionary School.
  • 1939: Passed the Government Intermediate examinations.
  • 1941: Sat for the Advanced Pali Text examination.
  • 1949: Went to Calcutta, India and studied Sanskrit.
  • 1950–1957: Continued studies in English and Sanskrit in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
  • 1955: Passed the General Certificate of Education (GCE) administered by the University of London.

Sasana Activities

  • 1957–1959:
    • Member of Editorial Board (Pativitsodhaka) Sayadaws at the Tipitaka/Myanmar Dictionary Department.
    • Carried out research work on Pali Text.
    • Studied and practiced Vipassana meditation at Mahasi Sasana Yeiktha.
  • 1959:
    • Appointed Anunakaya Sayadaw at the Japan Dhammaduta Missionary Branch of the Buddha Sasana Council.
  • 1959–1981:
    • Member of the Mission sent to Thailand by the Myanmar Buddha Sasana Council.
    • Taught Pali Text and Vipassana meditation at the Bodharama Monastery in Nakhorn Sawan, Thailand.
  • 1962: Completed intensive meditation courses at Mahasi Sasana Yeiktha and was approved to conduct meditation courses abroad in the Mahasi tradition.
  • 1981–Present:
    • Came to the United States in 1981, invited by TBSA, to reside at the Dhammamnanda Vihara Monastery in the San Francisco Bay Area.
    • Taught Buddhism and Vipassana meditation to laity, especially young students (see “My Students”).
    • Maintained a scheduled calendar for TBSA activities.
    • On the Full Moon of Tabaung (March 15, 2000), Sayadaw was conferred the prestigious title Agga Maha Saddhammajotika Dhaja, awarded for outstanding contributions to the propagation of the Sasana worldwide.

Publications

  • Lecture Notes on “Fundamentals of Buddhism” (over 1000 handwritten pages).
  • Some of these notes appeared as articles in the TBSA newsletter (e.g., April 1993 issue).
  • Sayadaw U Sobhana’s Biography and Essence of his Teachings by Dr. Tin Wa and Daw Khin Khin Win (Dhamma Dana by Sinuch Pongsavas).