Venerable Sayadaw U Pannathami

Venerable Sayadaw U Pannathami was born in Kawmhu, Myanmar, on May 27, 1948. He was initiated as a novice in 1960 at the age of 12 years. He received bhikkhu ordination in 1968 at the age of 20 years. He passed the Dhammateacher (Dhammacariya) examinations in 1973 and later on also passed the Abhivamsa examinations. He graduated with Sasanadhaja Dhammacariya and in his early years, Sayadaw had practiced meditation under illustrious masters, notably the late Most Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw as well as Ven. Sayadaw U Panditabhivamsa. Sayadaw has many years of experience guiding meditators, easterners and westerners alike, particularly in the practice of Insight (Vipassana) Meditation From 1978 to 1983 he stayed at the Mahasi Meditation Center, Yangon, Myanmar. Then he was sent to Sri Lanka where he stayed at the Burmese Vihara in Kandy for over two years (1983-1985). Next he was posted as a meditation teacher at the Malaysian Buddhist Meditation Center, Penang, Malaysia in 1985. He stayed for one year and then moved to the London Buddhist Vihara in England where he stayed for six years (1986-1991). For ten years (1991-2000) he was the resident monk and meditation teacher at the Blue Mountain Meditation Center in Australia. He then taught at the Vipassana Meditation Center in Sydney for two years (1996-1998). Since January 2000 the Ven. Sayadaw U Pannathami is the abbot and founder of Panditarama Sydney Meditation Center, Sydney, Australia. In November 2001 he founded the Panditarama Melbourne Meditation Center. The Ven. Sayadaw U Pannathami has conducted meditation retreats and has been guiding meditators since 1985.