Gina Johnson
Webu Sayadaw was a Theravada Buddhist monk and vipassana master, born in 1896 in British Burma. He is best known for his emphasis on diligent practice over scholastic achievement. Sayadaw believed that effort was the key to success in meditation, and that sleep was a waste of time. He is said to have followed the practice of never lying down, not even to sleep, and spent his nights sitting and meditating to rid himself of sleepiness. This practice, known as anapanasati, involves focusing on the sensations of air coming in and out through the nose or upper lip area. While the specifics of how he meditated without sleep are not clear, it is believed that he achieved a high stage of development and was highly regarded for his meditation practices.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Meditation technique | Anapana sati |
| Meditation type | Vipassana |
| Sleeping habits | Webu Sayadaw believed that sleeping was a waste of time and rarely slept |
| Meditation centres | Webu Sayadaw divided his time among three meditation centres in a small area of northern Burma |
| Meditation period | Webu Sayadaw meditated for four years in solitude |
| Meditation as a practice | Webu Sayadaw emphasised the practice of meditation as the only way to bring the teachings of the Buddha to fulfilment |
| Meditation as a teaching tool | Webu Sayadaw instructed his disciples to focus on the reality of in-and-out breathing |
| Meditation as a way to achieve Nibbana | Webu Sayadaw believed that Anapana sati was a shortcut to Nibbana |
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What You'll Learn
Webu Sayadaw's meditation method is similar to the Mahasi method
Webu Sayadaw was a Burmese monk who was believed to have achieved the highest goal of the Buddha's teachings. He was a master of meditation, practising and teaching anapanasati, a type of meditation where the meditator focuses on the sensations of air coming in and out through the nose around the nose-tip or upper lip area. This is a form of Vipassana meditation, which is a practice of "bare insight".
Webu Sayadaw's method also involves focusing on the breath and the sensations of breathing. He taught that effort was the key to success in meditation and that sleeping was a waste of time. He is known for rarely sleeping and for his claim that "if you wish to sleep, go to that place where no sleep is necessary". This is similar to the Mahasi method, which also emphasises striving and a "dry" insight approach.
Both methods are based on the Satipatthana Sutta, which describes how one focuses attention on the breath. They also share a focus on the 3Cs (anicca, dukkha, anatta), which are central to the practice of Vipassana. In addition, both methods are known for their simplicity and accessibility. The Mahasi method was developed for laypeople who did not have the time to train in traditional meditation techniques, and Webu Sayadaw's method has been described as even more accessible.
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He taught Anapana meditation to Sayagyi
Webu Sayadaw was a monk who was believed to have achieved the highest goal of the Buddha's teachings. He taught that effort was the key to success and that sleeping was a waste of time. He was also known for his dedication to meditation, rarely sleeping or lying down.
Sayagyi U Ba Khin was taught Anapana meditation by Webu Sayadaw in his railway carriage. Sayagyi was seemingly the only prominent person taught by Webu Sayadaw. Anapana is the first step in the practice of Vipassana meditation. It involves the observation of natural, normal respiration as it comes in and goes out. It is an easy and scientific technique that helps develop concentration of the mind. The restless mind is drawn back to a particular object or base, bringing the mind under control. The breath is used as the object of meditation, with the meditator concentrating on the sensations of air coming in and out through the nose or upper lip area. This is known as Anapanasati, which means "mindfulness of breathing". It is a quintessential form of Buddhist meditation attributed to Gautama Buddha.
Webu Sayadaw described Anapanasati as:
> This is a shortcut to Nibbána, anyone can use it. It stands up to investigation and is in accordance with the teachings of the Buddha as conserved in the scriptures. It is the straight path to Nibbána.
After learning Anapana meditation, it is essential to practice for at least 10-15 minutes each morning and evening to gain the full benefits of the technique.
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He believed that sleeping was a waste of time
Webu Sayadaw was a Theravada Buddhist monk and a vipassana master. He was born in 1896 in Ingyinbin, a small village in British Burma. He was ordained as a novice at the age of nine and was given the name Shin Kumara. At the age of twenty, he was ordained as a full member of the Sangha, the Buddhist order of monks, and was thereafter addressed as U Kumara.
Webu Sayadaw believed that effort was the key to success, not only in worldly undertakings but also in meditation. He taught that sleeping was a waste of time and that one should strive for a state of mind where "no sleep is necessary". He is said to have practised this himself, claiming to sleep very little. On one occasion, one of his disciples recounted that on the occasion of his ordination under Webu Sayadaw, he had brought a mosquito net and a pillow, in addition to the monks' requisites. Webu Sayadaw asked him if these were part of the monks' requisites, to which the disciple answered no. The disciple then decided to give these "luxuries" back to his family.
Webu Sayadaw's meditation method was called anapana sati, which involves focusing on the sensations of air coming in and out through the nose around the nose-tip or upper lip area. He taught that by practising this technique to a very deep level of concentration, one could develop vipassana, or insight into the essential characteristics of all experience: anicca (impermanence), anatta (egolessness), and dukkha (unsatisfactoriness).
Webu Sayadaw was highly regarded for his meditation practice and was believed to have achieved the highest goal of the Buddha's teachings. He was known for his dedication to diligent practice rather than scholastic achievement and emphasised meditation as the only way to bring the teachings of the Buddha to fulfilment.
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He was a master of Vipassana meditation
Webu Sayadaw was a master of Vipassana meditation. He was a monk who was born in 1896 in Ingyinbin, a small village near Shwebo in upper Burma. At the age of nine, he was ordained as a novice and given the name Shin Kumara. Unlike other boys who would return home after a short time, he decided to stay at the monastery to receive a religious education.
In the seventh year after his full ordination at the age of twenty, he left the monastery to practice what he had learned about meditation. He spent four years in solitude, after which he returned to his native village of Ingyinbin to teach the technique of meditation he had adopted. Webu Sayadaw believed that effort was the key to success in meditation and that sleeping was a waste of time. He is said to have followed the practice of never lying down, not even to sleep, which is one of the thirteen practices called the dhutanga that monks living in solitude may take up to combat laziness and indulgence.
Webu Sayadaw's technique of meditation is called anapana sati, which requires one to be aware of the breath coming in and out, as well as the spot where the stream of air touches. He taught that by working with this practice to a deep level of concentration, one is able to develop Vipassana (insight) into the essential characteristics of all experience: anicca (impermanence), anatta (egolessness), and dukkha (unsatisfactoriness). This technique is said to be a shortcut to Nibbana, the end of suffering, which can be reached without the need to study the scriptures.
Webu Sayadaw was invited to visit Rangoon in 1953, where he gave a discourse and taught meditation. He also made regular annual visits to towns in southern Burma to teach Dhamma until his death in 1977. He was believed to have achieved the highest goal of the Buddha's teachings and was considered a saintly person.
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He spent four years in solitude after leaving the monastery
Webu Sayadaw was a monk who was believed to have achieved the highest goal of the Buddha's teachings. He was born in 1896 in Ingyinbin, a small village in upper Burma. At the age of nine, he was ordained as a novice and given the name Shin Kumara. Unlike other boys, he decided to stay at the monastery to receive a religious education. After his full ordination at the age of twenty, he left the monastery to practice what he had learned about meditation.
Webu Sayadaw spent four years in solitude after leaving the monastery, practicing the technique of Ānāpānasati, or awareness of the in-breath and out-breath. He believed that by working with this practice and developing deep concentration, one could gain insight into the essential characteristics of all experiences: anicca (impermanence), anatta (egolessness), and dukkha (unsatisfactoriness). This technique is one of forty mentioned in the scriptures for developing concentration and is said to be a shortcut to Nibbāna, or enlightenment.
During his four years in solitude, Webu Sayadaw is said to have followed the practice of never lying down, even to sleep. This is one of the thirteen practices called the dhutanga, which monks may take up to combat laziness and indulgence. By spending the nights sitting and meditating, he aimed to rid himself of sleepiness and considered sleep a waste of time. This belief is reflected in one of his quotes: "If you wish to sleep, go to that place where no sleep is necessary."
After his time in solitude, Webu Sayadaw returned to his native village of Ingyinbin, where he began to teach others the technique of meditation he had adopted. He became known as a master of Vipassana meditation, emphasizing diligent practice over scholastic achievement. He taught that effort was key to success, not only in worldly undertakings but also in meditation. This approach attracted the attention of prominent figures such as Sayagyi U Ba Khin, who invited him to visit Rangoon during a time of conflict, believing that his presence would have a calming effect on the disturbances.
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Frequently asked questions
Webu Sayadaw is said to have followed the practice of never lying down, not even to sleep, all his life. He taught that effort was the key to success in meditation and that sleeping was a waste of time.
Webu Sayadaw's meditation technique is called anapana sati and requires one to be aware that one is breathing in while breathing in, and breathing out while breathing out.
The goal of Webu Sayadaw's meditation technique is to bring the teachings of the Buddha to fulfillment and to attain Nibbana.
