Biography of past & present resident Sayadaw @ Malaysian Buddhist Meditation Centre, Penang.

Biography of present & past resident Sayadaw __________________

Venerable Sayadaw

U Pannathami

Venerable Sayadaw U Pannathami is the meditation master of Malaysian Buddhist Meditation Centre.

In his early years, Sayadaw practiced meditation under illustrious masters, notably the late Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw and is currently a disciple of Sayadaw U Pandita.

Venerable Sayadaw who is a well-revered and highly respected Burmese meditation teacher, was born on 27th May 1948 in Kaw Hmu village, Yangon, Myanmar. He was ordained as a samanera at the age of 12 and became a bhikkhu at the age of 20.

Venerable Sayadaw had many years of experience guiding meditators, Easterners and Westerners alike, particularly in the practice of Insight (Vipassana) meditation. He had carried the torch of Dhamma to many countries: Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, Canada, USA and UK and is well respected for his skillful guidance, loving-kindness and compassion.




Venerable Sayadaw U Thuzana

Present MBMC Resident Sayadaw



The Venerable Sayadaw U Thuzana was born on 30th April 1954 in Indaw, Sagaing Division in upper Myanmar. Sayadaw started his meditation practice at the age of 12 with his father, U Aung Hla, at Mahasi Meditation Centre and other famous meditation centres in various towns in Myanmar.

His father, U Aung Hla is now a monk by the name of Bhikkhu U Eindaka, and is very devoted to the Triple Gems.

Venerable Sayadaw studied primary and middle school from 1962 to 1972. In 1973 he studied Agriculture in the Institute of Agriculture in the Mandalay Yezin University and graduated in 1978.

Venerable Sayadaw ordained as a higher bhikkhu in December 1978, having the Venerable U Supanneindabivamsa, Vice Chairman of the Shwe Ryin Nikaya, Pathama Gandaron Monastery, Sagaing Hill, Upper Myanmar, as his preceptor. From 1978 to 1991, he studied Pariyatti (Buddhist Scripture) in Patthama Gandaron Monastery. He also taught the Buddhist Scripture to Bhikkhus and Samaneras as an assistant teacher of his Preceptor.

He practised Vippasana Meditation in Mahasi Meditation Centre (Yangon) under the guidance of Shweyayshuging Sayadaw and Sayadaw U Panditabhivamsa in 1983. He also practised meditation in Taung Pulu Forest Centre (Meik thila).

In 1991, Venerable Sayadaw moved to Dhamma Swan Ye Mahasi Meditation Centre in Sagaing Hill and taught meditation to yogis as an assistant teacher there till 1993.

In 1993, he moved to Visudayon Shweponwin Monastery, Mandalay and studied for the Dhammacariya tests from famous Pariyatti Sayadaws in Mandalay. There, he became the Chief Abbot till 1999 under the guidance of the famous Hse Shin Sayada U Aggananabhivamsa. He also taught the bhikkhus Adhidhamma and other scriptures during his stay there.

In 1999, he moved to Panditarama Forest Meditation Centre (Pegu) and practiced meditation under the guidance of Sayadaw U Panditabhivamsa. He also taught meditation to local as well as foreign yogis as a Meditation Master there until 2002.

Beginning November 2002 until the present day, Sayadaw is the Meditation Master of the Malaysian Buddhist Meditation Centre, teaching meditation to foreign and local yogis.