U Nārada


U Nārada, also Mingun Jetawun Sayādaw or Mingun Jetavana Sayādaw, was a Burmese monk in the Theravada tradition credited with being one of the key figures in the revival of Vipassana meditation.
His prominent students, particularly Mahasi Sayadaw, helped popularise what is now known as the "New Burmese Method" or the "Mahasi method." Sayadaw is a Burmese term of respect when addressing major Buddhist monks and means "great master".

History

Monk Kun Zetawan Sayadaw was born in Kangyi Kone village, 5 Myanmar poles north of Sagaing, west of Min Kone, to his father U Nyo and mother Daw Paing, on Saturday, January 16, 1869, at 6:00 PM. His younger brother Maung Tha Byaw was the second of four children.
At the age of 8, he began his studies under the abbot of Sau Kei Monastery in Kangyi Kone. Due to his exceptional intelligence, he was able to understand basic scriptures even as a novice. At 14, he received the blessing of the abbot and was ordained as a novice monk with the title ""Shinnarada"". He completed the study of the Five Vinaya texts within approximately four months. During this period, his father died, and about seven months later, his mother and grandmother also died. As a result, Shinnarada left the monastic community at the age of 17 to live with and care for his younger siblings.
At the age of 20, he was ordained as a monk by U Lakkhana at the Mangye Su Towray Monastery, continuing under the name ""Shinnarada"". He studied scriptures and literature first under U Lakkhana, then under Sayadaw U Rajinda, the head monk of the three sects of Mingun Taungpawgyi Monastery. His studies took him to Moe Kaung Monastery in Mandalay, Dakkhinawun Monastery, and Mya Taung Monastery.
After spending some time at the Weluwan Monastery in Shwe Taung under Sayadaw U Rajinda, he returned to live with his teacher and undertook religious service. Later, he re-entered monastic life again and received Sayadaw U Rajinda's blessings to begin teaching. He moved to Letpadan to teach, and after about a year, took residence under Sayadaw Alay Towra Mingun to deepen his meditation practice.
From the age of 37, he engaged in three years of intensive meditative discipline. At 40, he moved to Myo Hla to further promote this path, and then to Thaton where he established the Mingun Jetawan Monastery. After over a decade in Thaton, he returned to the original Mingun Gu Lay Chaung Monastery, but later went back to Thaton at the request of his disciples. He remained there for the rest of his life, dedicating himself to Dhamma teaching.
Monk Kun Sayadaw died on the 10th day of the waning moon of Tabaung in 1316 ME, at the age of 86. In addition to his teachings, he authored and compiled 23 books.

Creation of the New Burmese Method

Nyanaponika Thera, himself a student of Mahasi Sayadaw, describes the manner in which U Nārada developed the New Burmese Method:

Books compiled by him

  1. Petakopa Veda Atthakathapatha.
  2. Petakopa Veda Nistha First, Second, Third Volumes.
  3. Sajjeta Vidhi Vissajjana.
  4. Asha Vidhi Vissajjana.
  5. Visuddhi Magga Atthakatha Nistha New.
  6. Forty Forests Opened.
  7. Milinda Panya Atthakathapatha.
  8. Nibbana Katha
  9. Nibbana Guide Discourse.
  10. Nibbana Treatise.
  11. Satipatthana Treatise.
  12. Satipaisa Yekhao Vinicsayasamuha.
  13. Kathina Vinicsayasa.
  14. Kathina Nistha.
  15. Phala Sama Pata.
  16. Maha Salayatana Sutta Nistha.
  17. Mula Pariyaya Sutta Nistha.
  18. Padapadaraha Vinicya.
  19. Patinyata Karana Vinicya.
  20. Theinchant.
  21. The Great Book of Vipassana Insight.
  22. On the Essence of the Mind.
  23. On the Way of the Atirit.
Mingun Sayadaw is also called Myohla Monk and Mula Mingun Jetavan Sayadaw, and his disciples call him Arahant.