Meditating in Burma
One month tourist visas are now available for Burma (now known
as Myanmar). There are five meditation centres in Rangoon (Yangon) that cater very
generously for foreign meditators, locally called yogis. They are mostly intensive Insight
(Vipassana) Meditation centres in the Mahasi Sayadaw tradition. If you wish to practice
for more than a month you will need to arrange a special meditation visa from the
meditation centre beforehand. All the centres listed below have an ongoing meditation
schedule, so you can go there at any time of the year. If you wish to practice with the
main teachers it is best to go there during the 'Rain's Retreat' (Vassa) between
July and October.
Meditation System: Intensive Satipatthana
Vipassana, as taught by the late Mahasi Sayadaw, emphasises the continuity of moment to
moment awareness of all physical and mental phenomena. The primary objects of mindfulness
are the physical elements (rising and falling of the abdomen during sitting, or lifting,
and placing of the feet during walking); mindfulness of non physical elements (mental
states, thoughts, perceptions, etc.) is also cultivated. The sequence of meditative
experience involves (1) recognition of the object in the field of awareness (2) the
deliberate mental noting of the object; and (3) the observation or experience of the
object through its duration. (This too, is the format for reporting during the
every-other-day interview with the meditation teacher). With diligent and continuous
practice, this formal processing of all our mental and physical experiences leads to
progressively deeper insights into the essential characteristics of all things:
impermanence, infelicity and unsubstantiality. An alternative schedule of sitting and
walking sessions (forty -five minutes to an hour) is scheduled some 13 to 14 hours a day,
with two meals before noon. Activities such as speaking, reading, writing and listening to
tapes, etc. are squarely discouraged. as impediments in the cultivation of continuous
awareness. Usually there is a daily, or occasional, Dhamma Talk by the Abbot known as the
Sayadaw.
Facilities: All the listed centres below
have excellent facilities for men and women meditators. Some single accommodation is
available. Boiled water is supplied. The hygiene is good. If you stay in Rangoon there is
no danger of malaria and the centres supply mosquitos net as well as bedding,etc. Food,
although oily, is of high quality with a great variety of dishes. Perhaps the only
negative is that the Rangoon meditation centres are noisy, although a few have established
forest mediation centres on the outskirts of Rangoon. There is no charge for the teachings
although a donation or dana for the upkeep of the centres are appreciated.
Climate: The Rainy
Season starts at the end of May and last until about October, with
an average rainfall of 80 to 120 inches. The cool season (when temperatures
drop to about 55° F at night) is from November to February. Hot,
dry weather prevails from October to April (when maximum daytime
temperatures reach 104° F).
Burmese Meditation Centres:
Dhamma Joti
Vipassana Centre
Wingaba
Yele Kyaung
Nga HtatGyi Pagoda Road,
Bahan Township, Yangon, Myanmar
Tel: (1) 549 290
Contact: Mr. Banwariji Goenka, Bandoola International Ltd
Office. No. 134, Shwebontha Street, Yangon, Myanmar
Tel: (1) 72467, 248 174, 248 175, Fax: 289 965
299, Bosundat Street, Yangoon, Myanmar
Tel: Res. [95] (01) 524 983; Off. 281 277
Email: BANDOOLAMYANMAR@mtp400.stems.com
Tradition:
Sayagi U Ba Khin
Chanmyay
Yeiktha Meditation Centre
55A Kaba Aye Pagoda Road
Kaba Aye P.O. Yangon (Rangoon) 11061
Tel: (01) 661479, Fax: 01- 667050
Email: chanmyay@mptmail.net.mm
Web site: www.chanmyay.org
Teacher: Ven. Sayadaw U Janaka
Tradition: Vipassana using the Mahasi Sayadaw method
HMAWBI -
Chanmyay Yeiktha Meditation Centre
No. 588, No. 3 Block, Hmawbi Township, Yangon, Myanmar
Tel: (01) 620-321
Email: chanmyay@mptmail.net.mm
Web site: www.chanmyay.org
Teacher: Ven. Sayadaw U Janaka
Tradition: Vipassana using the Mahasi Sayadaw method
International
Theravada Buddhist University
Dhammapala Hill, Mayangone P.O.
Yangon, Myanmar
Tel: 095-1-665673 / 095-1-660171
Fax: 095-1-665728 / 095-1-660789
Mahasi Sasana
Yeiktha Meditation Centre
Buddha Sasana Nuggaha Organisation
No 16, Sasana Yeiktha Road, Yangon, 11201Myanmar
Tel: 01 541971, 552501
Fax: 289960, 289961
Email: Webmaster@mahasi.com
Web site: www.mahasi.com
Tradition: Satipatthana Vipassana meditation
Mahavijayaransi
Vijjalaya & Mahaatularansi Dhamma Yeiktha
Kya-Swa Chanung (Valley)
Sagasaing Hills, Sagaing Township, Myanmar
Tel: 0011 95 72 21541
Fax: 0011 95 72 22034
Email: ulkyaswa@myanmar.com.mm
Teacher: Ven. Sayadaw U Lakkhana
Tradition:
Vipassana using the Mahasi Sayadaw method
Mann Ai Khur
Tai Temple
Dhamma Yeiktha Street, Lashio
Northern Shan State, Myanmar
Contacts: Zao Sra Pannavamsa, Zao Gandhama
Tel: 82-23618
Tradition: Theravada
Affiliation: Moe Kut, Mahasi
Teacher: Sao Gandhama
Panditarama
Meditation Centre
80 A, Thanlwin Road
Shwe Gon Dine P.O., Bahan
Yangon, Myanmar (Burma)
Tel: (951) 535448, 705525
Web site: web.ukonline.co.uk/buddhism/pandita.htm
Teacher: Ven. Sayadaw U Pandita
Tradition: Vipassana using the Mahasi Sayadaw method
Panditarama
Forest Meditation Centre (Shwe Taun Gon)
Tel.
0095-1-535448 and 0095-1-705525
Shwe Taun Gon Forest Meditation Center is about an hour by
road from
Yangon; specifically for Westerners. The kutis (cabins)
are spacious and there is a large two-story meditation hall.
(for men and women)
Pak Auk Forest
Monastery
c/- Major U Khan Sain (Rtd)
653 Lower Main Road
Mawlamyine, Mon State, Myanmar
Tel: 032
22132
Web site: www.paauk.org
Teacher:
Ven. Pa Auk Sayadaw
Rangoon
Contact:
U Thet Tin
30 Myananda Lane
Kyank Grove Quarter
Yankin Township, Yangon
Method:
Pak Auk method of meditation
Saddhamma
Ransi Meditation Centre
7 Zeyar Khemar Road,
Mayangone 7SHP. Yangon, Myanmar
Teacher: Ven. Sayadaw U Kundala
Tradition:
Vipassana / Mahasi Sayadaw method
Shwe Oo Min
Dhamma Sukha Yeiktha
'The International Centre'
Aung Myay Thar Yar Road
Gone Tala Poung village
Mingaladon township
Yangon, Myanmar
Tel. +95-1-
636402.
Email: headway@mptmail.net.mm
Tradition: Cittanupassana Vipassana Meditation Method
Teacher:
Ven. Sayadaw U Tejaniya
Shwe Oo Min
Dhamma Thukha Yeikta
The ‘Burmese Centre’
North Okkalapa, Yangon
Tel: 664807
Tradition: Cittanupassana Vipassana Meditation
