Sitagu Sayadaw
Sitagu Sayadaw သီတဂူဆရာတော် | |
|---|---|
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| Title | Vice Sangha Rājā of Shwekyin Nikaya |
| Personal | |
| Born | 23 February 1937[1] |
| Religion | Buddhism |
| Nationality | Myanmar |
| School | Theravada |
| Education | Khin-ma-gan Pali University, Mandalay (M.A.) Sangha University, Yangon |
| Other names | Venerable Dr. Ashin Nyanissara U Nyanissara Thegon Sayadaw Thabeik Aine Sayadaw |
| Occupation | Buddhist monk |
| Senior posting | |
| Teacher | Anicakhan Sayadaw Ashin Pandita[2] |
| Based in | Sagaing Hills, Myanmar |
| Website | thesitagu |
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Bhante Dr. Ashin Nyanissara (Burmese: ဉာဏိဿရ) is best known as Sitagu Sayadaw (သီတဂူဆရာတော်). He is a meditation teacher and Buddhist scholar having written well over one hundred books.[citation needed]
Practicing socially engaged Buddhism, he is widely respected not only as one of the most prominent monks in Myanmar but also as a leading visionary for his numerous charitable humanitarian works.[citation needed]
These works began in 1977 and encompass religious, educational, medical and infrastructural activities. He is a global Buddhist diplomat and travels worldwide to promote his humanitarian efforts and for interfaith dialogue.[1]
Missionary and Charity works
Bhante Sitagu Sayadaw is known for his charismatic leadership and practices of socially-engaged Buddhism.[2] His organization has funded many social projects in Burma, including water pumps, construction of hospitals, including the Sitagu Ayudana Hospital in Sagaing[3] in 1985, and the Sitagu Buddhist Academy in 1998.[2]
Bhante Sitagu Sayadaw is lauded for his missionary and charity works, especially in the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis in 2008, which killed upwards of 100,000 in the country's delta regions.[4]
He is also interested in interfaith dialogue and currently sits on the Board of World Religious Leaders for the Elijah Interfaith Institute.[5]
Honorific Titles
The Myanmar government bestowed four honorific titles upon him:
1. In 1993 Bhante Sitagu Sayadaw was awarded the title Mahādhammakathika Bahujanahitadhara which means “great Dhamma preacher”.[2]
2. In 1995 he received the title Aggamahā Saddhammajotikadhaja means “great Dhamma preacher and benefactor of many men”.[2]
3. In 1997 he received another title Aggamahā Paṇḍita which means “very excellent wise man”.[2]
4. In 2004 he was awarded a title yet again for Aggamahā Ganthavacakapaṇḍita which means “great wise man in teaching and preaching”.[2]
Honorary Doctorates
Honorary doctorates received from Myanmar and International Universities:
1. In February 2003, the University of Yangon, Myanmar honored the Venerable with a Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.).
2. In April 2005, he was conferred a Honorary Doctorate Degree in Philosophy (Ph.D.) from Mahachulalongkorajavidyalaya University in Bangkok, Thailand.
3. In May 2008, he received a Honorary Degree of Doctor Philosophy (Ph.D.) from Mahamakut Buddhist University, Thailand.
4. In October 2008, he received a Honorary Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) from Nava Nalanda University, India.
5. In February 2015, he received a Honorary Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) from Pannasastra University, Cambodia.
References
- ^ a b "A Brief Biography of Dr. Ashin Nanissara". Sitagu Buddhist Vihara. Theravada Dhamma Society of America. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g Hiroko Kawanami (2009). "Charisma, Power(s), and the Arahant Ideal in Burmese-Myanmar Buddhism". Asian Ethnology. 68 (2). Nanzan University: 211–237.
- ^ "Eye Care Project ( Burma)". Australia Burma Community Development Network. 2 March 2009. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
- ^ Lintner, Bertil (2009). The resistance of the monks: Buddhism and activism in Burma. Human Rights Watch. p. 89. ISBN 9781564325440.
- ^ The Elijah Interfaith Institute - Buddhist Members of the Board of World Religious Leaders