There are several monasteries in Yangon and a few others in Myanmar that welcome foreigners to meditation courses. The most well knows is likely the Mahasi Meditation centre founded by one of Myanmar’s greatest teachers, the late Mahasi Sayadaw. See the end of this post for contact details or this link: http://www.mahasi.org.mm/
Other’s include: the Mogok Meditation Centre located at located at No.82, Natmouk Road, Bahan Township, https://www.dhamma.org/en/schedules/schmakuta and the Chan Myae Yaiktha (“Peaceful Hermitage”) on Kaba Aye Pagoda Road http://chanmyay.org/, Pandaitayama Shwe Taung Gone in Thanlwin Golden Valley, Yangon http://www.panditarama.net/, the Myanmar Vipassan Meditation Centre in Wingabar area of Yangon (close to Shwedagon) https://www.dhamma.org/en-US/index and the Pa Auk Forest Monastery near Mawlawyine in Southeast Myanmar with Pa Auk Sawadaw, http://www.paaukforestmonastery.org/.
They normally welcome both male and female meditation practitioners, and provide food and lodging. Choose your visit to coincide with a pagoda festival:
Ananda Pagoda Festival
Date : (end Jan, early Feb)
Full Moon day of Pyatho to 15th Waning of Pyatho
Location : Bagan
Duration : 15 days
Kyaik Khauk Pagoda Festival
Date : (middle of Feb)
Begins 8th Waxing to Full Moon Day of Tabodwe
Location : Thanlyin, near Yangon
Duration : 8 days
Maha Muni Pagoda Festival (Mandalay)
Date : (end of February)
14th Waxing and Full Moon Day of Tabodwe
Location : Mandalay Division
Duration : 2 days
Pindaya Shwe Oo Min Festival
Date : (end of March)
11th Waxing to Full Moon Day of Tabaung
Location : Pindaya, Southern Shan State
Duration : 5 days
Shwedagon Pagoda Festival (Tabaung Pwe)
Date: (end of March)
Location: Yangon
Duration: 7 days
Note: this is the most famous pagoda in Myanmar and a pilgrimage for many Buddhists.
Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival
Date : (beginning the 14th of October in 2015 – 31st)
1st Waxing to 3rd Waning Day of Thadingyut
Location : Inle Lake, Southern Shan State
Duration : 18 days
Kyaik-hti-yo ‘Golden Rock’ Pagoda Festival (Nine Thousand Lamps)
Date : Normally the evening of December 31
Location : Kyaik-hti-yo ‘Garden Rock’ Pagoda, Mon State
Duration : 1 evening
Mahāsī Sāsana Yeiktha
No. 16 Sāsana Yeiktha Road, Bahan Township, Yangon, Myanmar.
Tel: 545918,541971 Fax: 545918 Email: mahasi-ygn@mptmail.net.mm, mahasi.meditationcenter@gmail.com
We welcome contributions about your travel or meditation experiences that are interesting, impactful and useful – and photos, and insights into what some of these places are doing to help the people of Myanmar.
