Ashin Asabhacara, Abbot

Born of parents Mr. U Aung Tun and Mrs. Daw Ngai in Burma (Myanmar) on Sunday, January 10, 1954. Studied monastic education at age 7 and ordained as a novice monk in November, 1968. Assumed Buddhist monastic name of Ashin Asabhacara. Received higher ordination and became a Buddhist monk on February 20, 1974.

Admitted to the Sasana Mandaing Pali University at Pegu (Lower Burma) in 1974 and graduated in 1977 with highest honors, standing first in Burma. Was awarded Sasanadaza Dhammacariya (Masters) degree in Buddhism by the Government of Burma.

Studied insight meditation for 3 months from April 1979 at the Mahasi Meditation Center in Rangoon (Yangon).

Taught Buddhism to members of the Sangha (Brotherhood of Buddhist monks) at Pegu and Phyu for 4 years, 1978 to 1981.

Served as assistant meditation teacher at the Mahasi meditation center in Yangon (Rangoon) for the period 1984 to 1988.

Moved to Nepal in July 1988 and assumed charge of the International Buddhist Meditation Center at Kathmandu. Taught insight meditation to about 2000 Nepalese Buddhists and approximately 200 international meditation students during the 10 years stay there till 1999. Also taught Buddhism and Buddhist way of meditation to about 150 Nepalese Buddhists on weekends. The Sayadaw taught Vipassana Meditation to Malaysian Yogis in KL, Malaysia.

Assisted Venerable Sayadaw U Panditabhivamsa at his meditation retreat for American Yogis (meditators) held at the Green Valley Meditation Center near Eugene, Oregon from May to July 1996.

Supervised the construction of Panditarama Lumbini International Vipassana Meditation Center at the birthplace of the Buddha until its completion in
February 1999.

Established Dhamma Ratana Sasana Yeiktha at Thinghangyun Township,Yangon, Myanmar in December 2000
and conducts at the Center Meditation retreats occasionally.

At the request of the Burma-America Buddhist Association, moved to Silver Spring, MD in May 1999 and assumed charge as Abbot of the Mangalarama Vihara (Temple). Insight meditation lessons are being conducted to Burmese as well as non-Burmese devotees on weekends and a regular Vipassana Meditation Retreats.

Languages: Burmese, English, Pali and Nepalese.

Ashin Dhmmasami (Assistant Monk)

Born on November 9, 1963 in Bago village, Indaw township, Sagaing division from father U Maung Tin and mother Daw Mael Thone.

Ordained as a novice (samanera) on April 8 (Thursday), 1976 at Bago Monastery by Venerable U Vimala, given the name “Shin Dhammasami” meaning “Holder of the Dhamma”. At age 20, May 2 (Monday), 1983, ordained as a full-fledged monk and became Ashin Dhammasami.

During 1978-1983 at the Maha Thu Baw Dhar Yone monastery in Sagaing and 1983-1994 at Ma Soe Yein (new) monastery in Mandalay, studied ecclesiastical (Pali Tipitaka, Pariyatti) education. Earned theSasanadaza Dhammacariya Certificate in 1994.

Practice of Vipassana (Patipatti)or Insight meditation at the Saddhammaransi Sasana Yeiktha (Meditation Center) in 1989 and Panditarama Shwe Taung Gon Sasana Yeiktha (Meditation Center) in 1994-1999.

Since 2001, he has been preaching and serving religious propagation duties at the Mingalarama monastery in Silver Spring, Maryland.