Sayagyi Shwe U Daung

Much of the diversity and depth of Dhamma practice found in Burma has scarcely penetrated the West, often because so few foreigners have been here to experience it in past years, and so few of the resources have been translated into English. 

One such example is the postwar figure Sayagyi Shwe U Daung, a lay meditation practitioner who argued for a sati-based method that de-emphasized samadhi practice and encourages an awareness of the six sense doors. The controversial yogi had several famous arguments with Mahasi Sayadaw, who ultimately could not support his methodology, however the other Buddhist giant Mogok Sayadaw did ultimately give his blessing to his teachings.


Still widely read among Burmese Buddhist today, one reader hopes to provide a translation to Western readers, saying that reading his Dhamma discussion "will blow open your entire mind," and has compared his teachings to Shwe Oo Min Sayadaw and his disciple Sayadaw U Tejaniya. However, she notes that the method he describes is so challenging, that very few practitioners in Myanmar were ultimately able to succeed in learning it, despite the popularity of his book.