Sayadaw U Buddharakkhita

Sayadaw U Buddharakkhita was born in Penang Island, Malaysia in 1971. His first encounter with Buddhism occurred in his early teenage years and was then enthusiastically involved in all types of Dhamma activities in his secondary school days.

He is keen on learning meditation soon after he came into contact with the Dhamma, and thus also learnt several meditation methods. After graduating from the United States, he started his career as an engineer. Through causes and conditions, he came into contact with the Samādhi & Vipassanā meditation method outlined in the Visuddhimagga which originated from the Buddha’s teaching. His outlook on life has undergone tremendous changes afterwards.

In 2008, he attended a short meditation retreat at Tusita Hermitage (Kuching). Inspired by the young Saṅgha and encouraged by Venerable U Maṅgala, he decided to ordain for life. He ordained in 2009 under The Most Venerable Pa Auk Sayadaw and began to train under Ven. U Maṅgala.

Venerable Buddharakkhita attended the 6-month intensive retreat led by The Most Venerable Pa Auk Sayadaw in Pa Auk Tawya Forest Monastery in Mawlamyine, Myanmar. Under the Sayadaw’s guidance, Ven. Buddharakkhita completed the Samatha and Vipassanā course. In the same year, He spent the vassa retreat in Indian Himalayas with The Most Venerable Pa Auk Sayadaw, Ven. U Maṅgala and other bhikkhus, sayalays and lay meditators. It was Ven. Buddharakkhita’s debut in assisting with teaching meditation. Afterwards, in 2013, together with another two junior Bhikkhus, Venerable Buddharakkhita spent another vassa with the Most Venerable Pa Auk Sayadaw.

The Venerable is fluent in both English and Chinese. When the yogis have such needs, he will also use a few dialects and Indonesian to teach. From 2011 onwards, He assisted Sayadaw U Kañcana and Bhante Maṅgala to teach meditation to monks, nuns and laity in Tusita Hermitage (Kuching), Dhampus Nepal, Taiwan, US and few places in China. Recently, He spends most of his time teaching meditators in Dhamma Earth Semenyih, Selangor (West Malaysia).

Source: dhammaearth.org