THABARWA CENTER


Biography and Contributions of Venerable Dr. Ashin Ottamathara, Founder of Thabarwa Natural Meditation Center
*(Edited by Venerable Dr. Ashin Ottamathara Himself 2025-2- from 6 to 16.
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Venerable Dr. Ashin Ottamathara, the founder of Thabarwa Center, was born on **Sunday, October 26, 1969, at 9:10 PM**, in **Katha Town, Sagaing Region, Myanmar**. His parents are **U Tin Maung** (a mining engineer) and **Daw Khin Khin Myint**. He was born on the **full moon day of Thadingyut** in the Burmese year **1331**.
His childhood name was **Mg Aung Ko Ko**, and he is the eldest son in his family, with two younger brothers. (His mother and two younger brothers currently reside in the **United States**, while his father lives at the **Thanlyin Thabarwa Center**.)
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#### 1. **Student Life**
- Completed primary education at **Mogoke Basic Education High School No. 21**, **East Village School**, and **U Bo Ni School** (now Basic Education Primary School No. 2) in Katha.
- Attended middle and high school at **Basic Education High School No. 4** in Pazundaung, Yangon.
- Graduated with distinction in four subjects from **Basic Education High School No. 5** in Botahtaung, Yangon, in **1986**.
- Earned a **B.A. (English) Honors degree** from **Yangon University** in **1992**.
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#### 2. **Business Career**
- In **1992**, he started his own business, **"Aung Store,"** which expanded to three branches with over **100 employees**.
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#### 3. **Meditator Life**
- In late **1999**, he began practicing **Vipassana meditation** at the **Insein Monastery**.
- Before ordination, he attended multiple **5-day and 10-day meditation retreats** and integrated mindfulness into his daily life.
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#### 4. **Dhamma Donation Work**
- On **June 1, 2000**, he initiated the Dhamma donation project, **"From Ignorance to Wisdom,"** at **38th Street** in Yangon.
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#### 5. **Ordination for the Sake of the Dhamma**
- After dedicating his business and wealth to the Dhamma, he ordained as a monk on **October 21, 2002**, under the guidance of **Venerable U Nyayya Sagara Sayadaw** at the **Deva Sāgara Sima** in Yangon.
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#### 6. **Known as the "Tsunami Sayadaw"**
- In **December 2004**, he gained recognition as the **"Tsunami Sayadaw"** for creating and distributing videos combining real footage of the tsunami disaster with teachings on liberation from suffering.
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#### 7. **Establishment of Full-Time Thabarwa Centers**
- In **2007**, he founded the **45th Street Thabarwa Center**.
- In **2008**, he established the **Thanlyin Thabarwa Center** to care for the elderly, sick, and destitute.
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#### 8- Charity Village (Land Donation for the Homeless)
In 2012, due to political changes in Myanmar, the opening of economic doors led to a surge in land prices. This resulted in many becoming homeless and families struggling to make ends meet. Responding to their pleas for help, approximately 3,000 homes were allocated near the Thanlyin Natural Meditation Center, within a 15-foot area designated as the Charity Dhamma Village.
The Hondai Japan Company donated a three-story building, and with collective donations, a four-story building was also constructed. These buildings housed a monastic school that provided education. Over 1,000 students are currently receiving education there.
In 2014, in Min Gone Village, Hlegu Township, Yangon Region, the Hlegu-Min Gone Charity Dhamma Village was established. OK Myanmar Foundation built and donated a three-story building where a monastic education school was founded and opened.
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#### 9. **Comprehensive Merit Activities**
- Thabarwa Centers include **monastic schools**, **Dhamma study centers**, a **Thabarwa Buddhist College**, **animal shelters**, and **Dhamma hospitals**.
In response to the requests of local communities, over 100 branch meditation centers have been established in various towns. These centers accommodate both temporary and permanent meditators, as well as those in genuine distress. They continuously conduct activities such as:
- Teaching the Dhamma through various methods and by multiple instructors,
- Organizing group meditation sessions,
- Hosting meditation retreats.
These efforts are carried out without interruption to support and guide individuals on their spiritual paths.
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#### 10. **Establishment of Merit Banks**
- In **2015**, he founded the **Thabarwa Philanthropic Merit Bank** in Nam Sang, Shan State.
- In **2017**, he established the **Hmine Taung Bway Philanthropic Merit Bank** in Magway Region.
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#### 11. **Drug Rehabilitation Thabarwa Center**
- In **2017**, he established the **Tachileik Thabarwa Center** in eastern Shan State to help drug-addicted youth and refugees.
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#### 12- Rescue Thabarwa Meditation Centers
In 2020, the 112-Mile Rescue Thabarwa Center was established in Pyu Township, Bago Region, near the Yangon-Mandalay Expressway, in collaboration with local residents of Pyu Township.
In mid-2022, the Rikkhakhone Rescue Nature Meditation Center was opened in Shwe Koke Ko Myaing Village, Myawaddy Township, in collaboration with local residents.
In 2023, the 203-Mile Buddha Garden and Rescue Thabarwa Center were established in Naypyidaw.
On May 15, 2024, a full-time Thabarwa Meditation Center was opened in Bodh Gaya, India. This center welcomes meditators from various countries, providing them with temporary and long-term accommodations to support their meditation practice.
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#### **13. Dhamma Hospitals**
Dhamma hospitals utilize the power of *samatha* (tranquility) and *vipassana* (insight) meditation, combined with the merit-driven efforts of doctors, nurses, medicines, and medical knowledge, to provide healthcare services. These Thabarwa Dhamma hospitals are primarily focused on holistic healing.
### At Thanlyin Thabarwa Meditation Center:
- **2015**: Shine Hope (Rainbow) 4-story Dhamma Hospital.
- **2016**: Konkhora Foundation donated and constructed the Konkhora 6-story Dhamma Hospital.
- **2021**: Yarkyaw 4-story Dhamma Hospital.
### In Yangon City:
- **2022**: In Lanmadaw Township, Thayet Taw Monastery Compound, Bogyoke Road, Ratana singha Thabarwa Meditation Center.
(Currently, with the collective efforts of donors, daily food donations are being distributed to the public.)
- **2023**: Bogyoke Road Dhamma Hospital and Nursing Assistant Training Center.
- **2023**: Kyaikasan Dhamma Hospital and Merit Bank.
(Currently, with the collective efforts of donors, daily food donations are being distributed to the public.)
### At the Thailand-Myanmar Border in Myawaddy:
- **2022**: Asia Road Dhamma Hospital.
(In March 2024, due to political conflict, the hospital had to relocate. In April 2024, the No. 2 Friendship Bridge Myawaddy Dhamma Hospital was opened. Currently, over 150 elderly patients and others are being cared for.)
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#### 14. **Historic COVID-19 Dhamma Hospital**
- During the **third wave of COVID-19 in 2021**, the ** Khong kho Yar Dhamma Hospital** was converted into a COVID-19 treatment center, caring for over **1,500 patients** from across the country. (Sadly, **500 patients** passed away during that time.)
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#### 15. **International missionary work,
Thabarwa branch meditation centers have been opened in various foreign countries such as the United States, Italy, Taiwan, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, and India. Monks travel around the world to teach and demonstrate the Dhamma.
In both domestic and international missionary visits, in addition to delivering Dhamma talks and teachings, activities include morning alms rounds, Dhamma Q&A sessions, visiting the homes of the sick and hospitals to offer Dhamma teachings and loving-kindness meditation, and sharing metta (loving-kindness). Beyond these missionary activities, efforts were also emphasized during 2021-22 to reduce the use of plastic bags and promote environmental conservation.
At the end of 2022, the TCTF organization was established to address the health and social challenges faced by Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand. This initiative connected with the Myawaddy Dhamma Hospital and the Thanlyin Main Dhamma Hospital. Additionally, the "Mae Ku Rescue Thabarwa Center" was opened in Mae Sot, Thailand. To this day, the center continues to provide ongoing assistance in health, social, and educational support for migrant workers.
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#### 16. Peace Initiatives
Due to the political changes in Myanmar in 2021, the resulting domestic instability, difficulties, and crises have been addressed as much as possible to ease the situation. Since March 2021, efforts have been made to meet and collaborate with political and military leaders, both former and current, from various sectors. Meetings have been held in cities such as Mae Sot, Yangon, and Naypyidaw whenever opportunities arose, to collectively seek solutions and provide assistance. These efforts have been carried out continuously, adapting to the prevailing circumstances.
Additionally, for global peace, collaborative efforts will continue with all relevant individuals and organizations as opportunities arise.
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#### 17. **Three-Month Rainy Season Retreats (Vassa)**
In 2023, a three-month rainy season retreat (Vassa) was held in Phap Van Pagoda, Hanoi, Vietnam.
In 2024, the International Thabarwa Center was established in Bodh Gaya, India, and three-month rainy season retreats were successfully organized one after another in Cambodia, Thailand (Magadha) , Laos monasteries and Thabarwa center.
At the end of 2024, as a special guest, participation was made in the Tipitaka Chanting Ceremony, organized by the International Tipitaka Chanting Council. Additionally, as a leading monk representing Myanmar, participation was made in the Peace Walk Festival.
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#### 18. **Recognitions and Honors**
In recognition of the Venerable Monk's selfless and tireless efforts to serve the greater good deeds in accordance with the path of the Buddha, the following honors and titles have been bestowed:

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