VENERABLE NANISSARA
A short biography of VEN-NANISSARA patron SAYADAW and Honoray Professor of
International
THERAVADA Buddhist Missionary University,
Ministery of Religious Affairs,Union of Myanmar
NAME VEN-NANISSARA
FAMOUS NAME Thabaik Aing Sayadaw
Thegon Sayadaw
Sitagu Sayadaw
Date of birthday
VEN-NANISSARA was born in february 23,tuestday,1937,Padigon Town,Thegon Township,Bago Diveshion.
Residence and duty
Now Chanceller Sayadaw,who is Venerable Nanissara,live in Sitagu Buddhist International University,Sagaing Hill.
He is Sagaing Chief Sayadaw of Buddhist Vihara Thera Dhamma Association,Austin,Texas,USA.
Native and Parent’s name
The Native Town of Venerable Nanissa is Padigon Town,Thegon Township Pyay Township Circle,Bpgo Divesion.
Parents of Venerable Nanissara are U Mg Nyo and Daw Thantin.He is the eldest son of the five siblings,Mg SanThein.
Samanera Ordination
At the age of 15,Venearable Nanissara ordained as a Samanera by his preceptor venerable Eindavamsa of Tat Ah Lei Monastery at Thegon and necessities proveded by parents.
Monk Hood
On the 4th, Waxing day of Nayon month,1318 Myanmar Era, Venerable Nanissara receined the higher Ordination under ven-Dhamma Cakka as a preceptor at the Khanda Ordination Hall at Tat Ah Lei Monastery at Thegon,and necessities by Daw Aye Kyi and son U Chit Shwe from Tat Ywar Village.
Learning Educations
At Thegon starting from the age of seven Venerable Nanissara learnt the basics of tri-pitaka(Scriptures)and layman’s education under Tat Ah Lei Monastery Ven-Eidavamsa,then successively under Ven-Sasana,the leader of Thein kone monastery,Ven-Kumara,the leader of Monastery in Yangon,Ven-Pandita(Agga Maha Pandita)and Ven-Kondala of Dewasagara Theinkone monastery,Theinbhu Street of Yangon,Moe Tar Sayadaw,Ven-Panna of West Khin M Kan monastery of Mandalay.He received the lessons of the Higher Pitaka from the above mentioned Sayadaw.
In the years 1324,1325,1326 Myanmar Era,he learnt the subject of the Missionary activities at Kaba Aye Sangha University. For vive years from 1329 to 1333,he learnt the Pitaka in English under the famous Ani-sa-Khan Sayadaw,the Dhamma preacher Ven-Pandita receiver of the title Agga Maha Pandita. He completed the study of Visudhi Magga Commentary and king Milanda’s Questions in English language.
Examinations Passed
In 1318, Myanmar Era,he passed Pathamange(junior level)examination,1319 the intermediate level examination,in 1320 the senior level examination and in 1322 the Dhamma Sariya (teachership)examination respectively. He also passed The Buddha Desana( ) from Kabar Aye Sangha University.
How and why he become a leader
The Venerable Nanissara has taught the fundamentals of Buddhist Scriptures,Advanced Pitaka Scriptures and other Dhamma lessons at several centres of study,Inwa monastery,Lay Myat Hnar township,Ayeyarwady divesion,BBMA Monastery,Hanthargiri Chaung and Saddhamma Sitagu monastery in the Sagaing Hills.He has Pali and English language as the medium of instruction. He is well versed in the Pitaka commentaries and the subject of missionary duties and so he has founded the Sitagu International Buddhist Academy which will teach over 1000 monks. At the present ,he is delivering lectures in English of the fundamentals of Buddhist Scriptures to over 100 monks,Sameneras(novices) nuns and lay University students. He is also serving as Honorary Proffessor at the International Theravada Buddhist Missionary of Religious Affairs. At those two University,he is delivering lectures on Visuddimagga and Maha Satipathana Treatise as model lectures on Scriptures in English language. He spent 2-years at the Vanderbilt University delivering the fundamentals of Buddhism on apart time basis. He also delivered the essence of Theravada Buddhism at the following University.
1 Tennessee State,USA
2 University of Illinois,USA
3 University of Michigan,USA
4 Academy of Christian Churches Nastiville,USA
5 University of Arizona,USA
6 University of Texas,USA
7 University of Califoria,USA
8 University of Hawaii,USA
9 National University of cannbera,Austraia
10 Buchon University ,Korea
11 Osaka University,Japan
12 University of Capetown,South Africa
13 Paris University,France
14 Univesity of Oxford,UK
Sayadaw’s Dhamma Talks have been serialized into books and 52 Dhamma Talks have been published in books forms. Mingala Sutta,Biography of Ledi Sayadaw and other books on the essence of Lord Buddha’s Teaching in English have been published amounting to 18 books.
Dhamma Duta and Dhamma Dipa,collected Dhamma Talks delivered on various overseas radio and articles of sacred sites such as Lumbini Park,Loka Manisula Pagoda combined in book form,have been published. Out of the Romanization work of the Pali Script of 5-Nikayas of Tri-Pitaka,4-Nikayas have been completed,and Majjima Nikayas has been published. And the CD form will follow suit.The Romanization of Pali Script and English rendering of Vimana Vuttu and Suttanipata have been completed and soon they will be published. The Sayadaw has filmed the sacred sites,and together with the Dhamma Talks the VCD has been sceened on the Myanmar TV.
What his leadership activities are
Venerable Nanissara has laid down 4 major programs,and has implemented those programs as Chief Nayaka Sayadaw of the Sitagu Monastery.
1 The Sitagu Water Supply System
2 The Aryudana Hospital
3 The Sitagu Buddhist Academy
4 Buddha Vihara Thera Dhamma Association,Austin,Texas,USA
The Sayadaw has formed Thera Buddhist Association for Myamars in Tokyo,Japan,and has also formed a separate Thera Buddhist Association for the Japanese in an effort to propagate Theravada Buddhism abroad. And the Sayadaw has made further endeavours to promote Buddhism in Germany,Czech and Austria.Sayadaw has sent his pupils monks abroad for turther study out of his expense, and now some are studying at master and Doctoral programs. The Sayadaw has donated computers,printers, and copiers to the Padigon State High School, his native town, for the advancement of the education of the students for the academic years 2001 and 2002. The Sayadaw has made donations to the following Tatmadaw Recuperating Hospital, School for the Deaf and Dumb, Yangon, Thamaing Hospital for the Disabled, Women Protection Association, Wunkabar Street, Maha Wizaya Pagoda, Myan aung Monastery Water Supply System, Sagaing, construction of Sayambhu Pagoda and Malun Rice Donation Association.
What his leadership qualities are
1 World Religious Conference (UN) NY
2 World Buddhist Summit, Bangkok
3 Europe Buddhist Conference, Germany
4 Parliament of World Religious, South Africa
5 World Buddhist Seminar Varanasi, India
6 World Buddhist Seminar for meditation, Igatpuri, India
Ven-Nanissara’s Esteemed Qualities
The Sayadaw takes great care for the welfare of the elder monks, and he is active in the affairs of the Shwe Kyin Nikaya Sect. He is conscientious in the performance of his duties and possesses great patience. Instead of building a monastery for his own dwelling, he donated the money to the Academy, and he devotes all his energies to the welfare and humanitarian works in accordance with Teachings of the Lord Buddha.
How the followers consider his leadership
The People,the monks,the followers in our country, and Myanmar government consider that Ven-Nanissara is a genius monk for our Sasana (dispensation).He is prized by the Myanmar gornment as a hero for the Sasana and he received at the following prize.
1 Maha Dhamma Ka hti Ka Bahujana Hita dhara on the full moon day of Tabaung,1354
2 Agga Maha Saddhama Jotika dhaza on the full moon day of Tabaung,1356
3 Agga Maha Pandita on the full moon day of Tabaung,1358 –Myanmar Era(ME)
Ven-Visuta (SIBA-BABL-No-51)
