About the Visuddhimagga Dhamma Lann Vipassana Organization

Leading Patron of the Visuddhimagga Dhamma Road groups and recipient of the Maha Saddhamma Jotikadhaja title, Sayagyi Dr. Soe Lwin was born in 1958 to father U Than Aung and mother Daw Win May. He passed the matriculation examination in 1975 from No. (9) Basic Education High School (formerly St. Peter's) in Mandalay.           He attended the University of Medicine (Mandalay) during the 1976–82 academic years and obtained his medical degree (M.B.,B.S.). He opened a private clinic and practiced medicine.           Sayagyi served at the Jivita Sangha Hospital in Nan Shay, Mandalay, established by Mingun Sayadawgyi, in 1989–90. In 1991, he married Daw Shwe Yee Hla and they have a daughter, Ma Htoo Yee Lwin. After marriage, Sayagyi Dr. Soe Lwin lived in Yangon and Mandalay. Now he resides with his family in Aungmyaythazan Township, Nan Shay, 19th Street, Mandalay.           Sayagyi began studying Dhamma literature starting from 1990-91. He studied the teachings of Mingun Sayadaw, Sunlun Sayadaw, Webu Sayadaw, Mogok Sayadaw, Mahasi Sayadaw, Taung Myo Maha Gandhayon Sayadaw, Pakokku Sayadaw (Anicca Sayadaw), and Pa-Auk Tawya Sayadaw. Furthermore, he continued to read and study Ledi Sayadaw's Dipani collection and the Burmese translation of the Sixth Buddhist Council Pali Canon (Tipitaka) preached by the Buddha. In 2004, he began practicing and contemplating practical Vipassanā meditation to transition from an intellectual understanding of Dhamma to an experiential understanding of the body and Dhamma.          In 2006, he began discussing and explaining the basic concepts regarding Vipassanā to friends in Mandalay and Yangon.           In 2009, at the 10th Paying Homage Ceremony (Acariya Puja) of the 1976-82 class of the University of Medicine, Mandalay, he began writing a Dhamma article titled “Let's Walk the Dhamma Path”. While paying homage to teachers with Dhamma, he also led his friends onto the path of Dhamma. Starting in 2010, he conducted monthly five-day meditation courses starting at Tagaung Monastery in Mandalay, and quarterly meditation courses at Tamwe Zambu Kaung Monastery in Yangon. On August 14, 2014, a Vipassanā propagation group comprising 8 Ovadacariya Sayadaws (Patron Monks), led by the Chairman of the Mandalay Region Sangha Nayaka Committee Masoeyein Sayadaw, was formed, and he received guidance from them. Under the guidance of the Sayadaws, the group was named the "Visuddhimagga Dhamma Road Vipassanā Group" by the Chairman Sayadaw of the Sangha Nayaka Committee. The three objectives of the "Visuddhimagga Dhamma Road Vipassanā Group" are: (1) For ordinary people to understand and realize the Buddha's teachings. (2) To be able to practice and apply Dhamma in daily life. (3) To pass it on and share it with new generations. In 2015, the Visuddhimagga Dhamma Road Vipassanā Center (Pyin Sar) was established in Pyin Sar Myay Bon village, Pyin Oo Lwin District, and to this day, activities such as opening meditation retreats, conducting Dhamma training courses, and Dhamma discussions are being carried out. Due to Sayagyi's Vipassanā missionary works, in January 2020, he received the "Maha Saddhamma Jotikadhaja" title conferred by the State. The Maha Saddhamma Jotikadhaja title is a missionary title awarded by the State, meaning "One who can hoist the victory banner that illuminates the Sāsana (Religion) grandly and nobly." Branches of the Visuddhimagga Dhamma Road Vipassanā Group have also been formed, and to date, branches have been established in Yangon, Mandalay, Taunggyi, Monywa, Nay Pyi Taw, Singapore, and Bago. In these branches, meditation retreats, Dhamma courses, and Dhamma discussions are being conducted. Dhamma courses and retreats have also been conducted in other towns such as Taunggyi, Lashio, Myingyan, Madaya, Mogok, Mogaung, Meiktila, Mawlamyine, Danubyu, Labutta, Bogale, Myaungmya, Loikaw, Nyaung-U, Nay Pyi Taw, Monywa, and Bago. As overseas missionary work, Dhamma courses and discussions were held in Bangkok and Singapore, and Dhamma discussions were conducted during arranged pilgrimage trips to Bodh Gaya. Furthermore, arrangements are being made to propagate the Buddha's teachings internationally, and Dhamma courses taught in English are also being conducted. Up to now, Sayagyi has written over 90 Dhamma books and continues to teach and explain in Dhamma discussions. Sayagyi Dr. Soe Lwin is serving as the Head of Department at the Department of Education of the University of Global Peace located at the foot of Yankin Hill in Mandalay, teaching Dhamma courses. Sayagyi Dr. Soe Lwin is also conducting Dhamma discussions and teaching Dhamma courses via internet online Zoom meetings. At the Mandalay Dhamma Road Center at Tagaung Monastery in Mandalay and the Yangon Dhamma Road Center in North Dagon Township, Yangon, in addition to Sayagyi's Dhamma courses and discussions, teachers from the Visuddhimagga Dhamma Road Vipassanā Group are conducting meditation retreats, Dhamma courses, Dhamma discussions, and opening Dhamma classes for children.