What Buddhism Is
This page introduces Buddhism through accessible teachings from revered Myanmar masters like Sayagyi U Ba Khin and Webu Sayadaw. It covers meditation practices, the Noble Eightfold Path, and practical advice for achieving inner peace, tailored for anyone seeking a deep understanding of Buddhist wisdom.
Introduction to Buddhist Meditation in the Tradition of Sayagyi U Ba Khin
Welcome to an authentic introduction to what Buddhism is, drawn from the profound wisdom of Myanmar's greatest meditation teachers, Sayagyi U Ba Khin and Ven. Webu Sayadaw. These texts offer clear guidance on Buddhist meditation, the Noble Eightfold Path, and path to inner peace and Nibbana. Whether you're new to Buddhism or seeking practical insights into moral conduct (sila), meditation and impermanence (anicca), explore these life-changing teachings for true liberation from suffering.
These writings present the Buddha's teachings not as complicated philosophy, but as a living practice accessible to anyone, regardless of religious background. Through simple explanations of ethical living and meditation, these teachings illuminate the path to inner peace, wisdom, and freedom from suffering.
The texts focus on the real benefits of meditation—moral conduct, the development of a clear mind, and understanding the nature within and without—while remaining true to the Buddha's original teachings. They demonstrate how Buddhism can address modern problems, offering "a deep pool of quiet in the midst of all that is happening today."
Included are also writings of the Venerable Webu Sayadaw, a revered Buddhist monk believed to have achieved the highest goals of the Buddha's teachings. He encouraged Sayagyi U Ba Khin to teach Vipassana meditation to lay people.
Sayagyi U Ba Khin was a remarkable man who showed that deep spiritual achievement could go hand-in-hand with worldly success. He served as first Accountant General after Myanmar's independence and held other important government positions, all while maintaining an intensive meditation practice.
In 1952, he founded the International Meditation Centre in Yangon, where he taught true Buddhist meditation to both local students and visitors from around the world. What made him special was his practical, down-to-earth approach. Instead of just talking about Buddhism, he taught 10-day meditation courses where he emphasized direct experience through systematic practice of morality, concentration, and wisdom.
After Sayagyi U Ba Khin's passing, his teaching was continued and spread worldwide by his most accomplished student and longtime assistant—Mother Sayamagyi (Daw Mya Thwin) and her husband Sayagyi U Chit Tin. They established five meditation centres around the globe. These centers preserve Sayagyi U Ba Khins method of teaching the Buddha's path through direct, personal understanding of life's fundamental truths: that everything changes, that clinging causes suffering, and that there is no permanent self to cling to.
Sayagyi U Ba Khin (1899-1971)
Webu Sayadaw (1896-1977) was one of Myanmar's most revered Buddhist monks, renowned for his extraordinary meditation practice and reputation as a fully enlightened being. Born in Ingyinbin village, he became a novice monk at age nine and studied Pāli scriptures until age twenty-seven at Masoyein Monastery in Mandalay. In 1923, Webu Sayadaw decided to abandon scholarly studies and spend four years in complete solitude to focus entirely on the practice of meditation.
Webu Sayadaw specialised in Ānāpānasati (mindfulness of breathing), declaring it "a shortcut to Nibbāna" and "the straight path to Nibbāna." His approach was simple yet profound: maintain awareness of breathing in, breathing out, and where the breath touches the nostrils, developing deep concentration to gain Vipassanā (insight) into impermanence, non-self, and suffering.
The relationship between Webu Sayadaw and U Ba Khin proved crucial for the international spread of Vipassanā meditation. Their first meeting occurred in 1941, and Webu Sayadaw encouraged Sayagyi U Ba Khin to teach meditation to laypeople. This endorsement from such a highly respected monk helped establish Sayagyi U Ba Khin's credibility as a meditation teacher, despite his lay status.
In 1953, Webu Sayadaw accepted an invitation from Sayagyi U Ba Khin to visit the International Meditation Centre in Yangon—his first major journey outside upper Burma. Webu Sayadaw continued to support Sayagyi U Ba Khin's work throughout his life.
Webu Sayadaw (1896-1977)
Discover the Transformative Power of Vipassana Meditation
At the heart of Buddhism is the practice of Vipassana Meditation, as taught by Sayagyi U Ba Khin. The most effective way to learn this profound technique is through participation in a 10-day meditation course led by a qualified and experienced teacher.
This life-changing experience offers the opportunity to deepen the understanding of oneself and the surrounding world. All contact details and information about upcoming courses can be found at: www.ubakhin-vipassana-meditation.org
Please note that this page is not officially affiliated with the International Meditation Centers in the tradition of Sayagyi U Ba Khin. Any errors or inaccuracies found here are solely the responsibility of the website’s author.