Ashin Thittila
Ashin Thittila was a distinguished Burmese Theravada Buddhist monk, scholar, and meditation teacher. He is renowned for being a pioneer in Buddhist missionary work abroad, notably spending extended periods in England. His contributions include translating key Abhidhamma texts into English and lecturing widely on Buddhist philosophy and meditation across multiple continents.
Key Facts
- ›He was a prominent Burmese Theravada Buddhist monk, scholar, and meditation teacher.
- ›He was the first Burmese monk to undertake extensive Buddhist missionary work in foreign countries, particularly in England.
- ›Ashin Thittila was the first to translate the Vibhaṅga, a part of the Abhidhamma Pitaka, from Pali to English.
- ›He served as a lecturer on Abhidhamma at the University of Yangon.
- ›He authored several books and delivered numerous lectures on Buddhist philosophy and meditation in both English and Burmese.
- ›He received significant Buddhist honorific titles, including Agga Maha Pandita, Abhidhajamahāraṭṭhaguru, and Abhidhajaaggamahāsaddhammajotika.
Important Relationships
- Dr. Hla Pe
- Dr. Steward
- Christmas Humphreys
- Sayadaw U Okkantha
- Charles Duroiselle
- Polwatte Buddhadatta Thera
- U Shwe Zan Aung
- Bikkhu Narada
- the Path of the Buddha
- the Book of Analysis
- A Buddhist's Companion: An Exposition and Selected Quotations of Ashin Thittila
- Essential Themes of Buddhist Lectures Given By Ashin Thittila
- Dhammapada For Part of Myanmar Translation
- Badigon Village, Pyawbwe Township, Myanmar
- Mandalay, Myanmar
- Mawlamyine, Myanmar
- Yangon, Myanmar
- Shantiniketan University, India
- Adyar Library, Theosophical Society Adyar, India
- London, England
- Reading, England
- Sorbonne University, Paris, France
- United States
- Canada
- Australia
- Japan
Sayadaw U Kavinda, Sayadaw Ashin Adiccavamsa
English, Burmese, Pali
Samanera, Bhikkhu
About Ashin Thittila
Ashin Thittila, also known by his Pali name Seṭṭhilābhivaṃsa and commonly as U Thittila, was a highly influential Burmese Theravada Buddhist monk, scholar, and meditation teacher. He is particularly noted for being a pioneer in international Buddhist missionary work, spending a significant portion of his life abroad disseminating Buddhist teachings.
Biography and Education
Born Mg Khin in 1896 in Badigon village, Pyawbwe Township, Myanmar, he was drawn to Buddhist scriptures from a young age, studying under Abbot Sayadaw U Kavinda. He entered the monkhood as a novice at fifteen and received full ordination in 1916. Ashin Thittila pursued rigorous academic studies, achieving distinction in monastic examinations and earning the honorific title "abhivamsa" after passing the Sakyasīha examination. He also pursued secular education, learning English despite conservative monastic views against it.
International Engagement and Scholarship
Ashin Thittila's commitment to scholarship and the spread of Dhamma led him abroad. He traveled to India to study Sanskrit and English, later spending time in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and Madras (Chennai). He worked as a librarian at the Adyar Library of the Theosophical Society and the Buddhist Society in London, which provided him opportunities to refine his English and learn library science. He was elected president of the South India Buddhist Associations. His extensive travels took him to England in 1938, where he began delivering talks on Dhamma. Despite the challenges of World War II, during which he remained in England and even participated in BBC Burmese broadcasts, he resumed his missionary activities thereafter.
Missionary Work and Teaching
Ashin Thittila is widely recognized as the first Burmese monk to undertake extensive Buddhist missionary work in a foreign land, living in England for fourteen consecutive years. He became a significant figure in English Buddhism, giving numerous talks and being supported by a monastery established in London for him. Upon his return to Myanmar in 1952, he lectured on Abhidhamma studies at the University of Yangon for eight years. He was also instrumental in translating the Vibhaṅga, the second part of the Abhidhamma Pitaka, from Pali to English, a work published in 1969.
Legacy and Later Life
Ashin Thittila continued to travel and lecture globally, visiting the United States, Canada, Australia, and Japan, observing Zen Buddhism and teaching meditation techniques like Samatha and Vipassanā. He taught courses on Pali language, Nikāya texts, and Abhidhamma, and is considered by some to be the first teacher of Abhidhamma in the West. He received several prestigious Buddhist honorific titles, including Agga Maha Pandita and Abhidhajamahāraṭṭhaguru. Ashin Thittila passed away on January 3, 1997, at the age of 100, leaving a significant legacy as a dedicated scholar, teacher, and international Buddhist emissary.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was Ashin Thittila born?
Ashin Thittila was born in 1896 in Badigon village, Pyawbwe Township, Myanmar. His parents were farmers named U Aye and Daw Htwe.
What was Ashin Thittila's most significant contribution to Buddhist scholarship?
His most significant scholarly contribution was being the first to translate the Vibhaṅga, the second part of the Abhidhamma Pitaka, from Pali into English. He also lectured extensively on Abhidhamma.
How long did Ashin Thittila live in England?
Ashin Thittila lived in England for a total of 14 consecutive years, including during World War II and after the war when he resumed his missionary work.
What kind of missionary work did Ashin Thittila undertake?
He was a pioneer in international Buddhist missionary work among Burmese monks. He delivered numerous talks and lectures on Dhamma and Buddhist philosophy in England, the United States, Canada, Australia, and various Asian and European countries.
When did Ashin Thittila pass away?
Ashin Thittila died on January 3, 1997, at the age of 100.
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