Discussion with U Mandala at Dhamma Bhumi

In May 2015, Ashin Mandala of Webu Monastery in Ingyinbin, known formally as Kan Nan Oo Monastery, was invited to visit Australia for two months. While here, he took two ten-day Vipassana courses in the tradition of Sayagyi U Goenka, and also spoke to assembled students and teachers of the tradition. For over one hour at Dhamma Bhumi meditation centre in Sydney, meditators were able to ask the venerable monk any question about his teacher, Webu Sayadaw, as well as his life as a monk back in Burma.

U Mandala arrives in Sydney

U Mandala, the disciple of Webu Sayadaw and vice-abbot of Webu Monastery in Ingyinbin, arrived in Sydney, Australia. Incredibly, at the airport just as he arrived was a Thai monk from Santi Forest Monastery, established by Ajahn Sujato for nuns. He was waiting for U Jagara, who resides in Burma and was coming to give a course at Santi, where Sayalay Anopama was already waiting. 

U Mandala will take several U Goenka 10-Day retreats while in Australia, and also answer questions during part of a work period at Dhamma Bhumi in Blackheath. As the Australian winter is just now approaching, the venerable Burmese monk will have to adjust to not only a different language and culture, but also an unfamiliar weather pattern! The editor of Shwe Lan Ga Lay is also in Australia, where he will be giving a series of presentations on the book and the last two years of research in Burma. Many threads are now converging Down Under!