1.1 location and area
The monastery, a branch of Pa Auk Tawya Group, is located in the Kalaw Township, Southern Shan State, Myanmar. It sits on about 100 acres of land, approximately 1400 meters above sea level. Its two closet urban centers are Aungban (11 km to the east) and Taunggyi (the state capital, about 39 kms to the west).
1.2 its founding
In 2014, a faithful and generous devotee, U Myint Soe and his family (wife Daw Aye Aye Aung, son Maung Hein Htet Aung and daughter Ma Theint Thinzar Soe) of No. 77-E, Shinsawpu Road, Sanchaung Township, Yangon began looking for a suitable piece of land to offer to the Venerable Sayadaw U Revata. Fortunately, Kamma brough them to this location where our present monastery sits.
Sayadaw had checked out the land with them before any further action was taken. The land possesses all the key characteristics suitable for the founding of a forest meditation monastery:
- a gentle, sloping terrain,
- a pleasant & cool climate,
- good sources of clean, non-polluted underground water,
- secluded enough to be classified as a forest monastery and
- a tranquil atmosphere.
That being so, U Myint Soe & family happily and readily acquired the 1st piece of land (24 acres). Shortly after, additional, adjacent pieces of land were acquired. Now it totals about 100 acres. The land was then formally offered to Sayadaw U Revata to found a forest monastery-com-meditation center. They even financially & personally saw to the development of the required facilities.
In the process of developing the Monastery-cum-Meditation Center, many other local & international donors & well-wishes came forward to press forward on this Project.
Very quickly & soon after the land had been acquired, offered and accepted a special kuti for the Most Venerable Pa Auk Sayadaw, 5 standard-sized kutis and a small refectory were built. Though built quickly much thought & planning were first put in place for a long term “Master Plan” for the Center. Thus, all subsequent & upcoming buildings and facilities are and will be set up in accord with that Master Plan.
1.3 The Mission of the center
Venerable Sayadaw U Revata’s Mission & Vision for the Center includes but not fully circumscribed by these objectives:
- Teach, train & guide bhikkhus in the True Culture of the Buddhasasana so that there will be new generations of the Sangha who can wisely & diligently sustain the Buddha’s Dhamma Vinaya correctly for a long time.
- Teach, train & guide bhikkhus & lay persons in the cultivation, practice & development of the Dhamma Vinaya in accordance with the original Teachings of our Lord Buddha.
- Establish the Center as a beacon of True Dhamma as now enunciated & espoused by the Most Venerable Pa Auk Sayadaw in accordance with the original Teachings of our Lord Buddha.
1.4. Resource Boundaries
Given the Centre’s resources (as is true for all other centers) by way of a Teacher, finance, land size, kutis, relevant structures & facilities, the Centre has to mindfully limit the number of resident bhikkhus, yogis (lay meditators), other residential staff & volunteers. Thus, within these limitations & considerations, approval for residential stays are given to those deemed:
⁃ eager, dedicated & willing to diligently adhere to the Monastery Rules & Discipline and its Practice Schedule.
⁃ willing & able to respectfully adhere strictly to the Vinaya (for bhikkhus) & Sīla (for yogis).
⁃ amenable to living harmoniously & respectfully with all others in the Monastery.
⁃ willing & able to conduct themselves humbly & respectfully to the Teacher & all other Elders.
⁃ (and as the living conditions may be relatively difficult & demanding, as is also the Practice Schedule), physically healthy & mentally alert.
PA AUK TAWYA (HEHO) 