A short biography of Kyauk Tan Sayadawgyi, Ashin Ruciranana
(Chief Mahanayaka of Panditarama Shwe Taung Gone Sasana Yeiktha )
translated by kZaw
Early Life
The boy who was to become Kyauk Tan Sayadaw was born on Wednesday the 12th of August 1925 at Kyauk Tan village, Pegu township, Pegu division of what was then Burma (now called Myanmar). His parents were U Maung Pu and Daw Ahmar. U Maung Pu was a distinguished Head Teacher of the Middle School in Kyauk Tan village and had been awarded a gold medal for his work in education by the government of the day.
Sayadaw was the third child of four children. He was named Maung Hla Maung.
He started school at six years of age at his father's school and studied there up to the seventh standard, this being the final year of the middle school.
Entering the order of the Sangha
In 1939, at the age of fourteen, he entered the order of the Sangha as a novice at the Mahabodhi Monastery in Kyauk Tan village. It was on a Tuesday and his preceptor was the most Venerable first Mahabodhi Sayadawgyi. His first cousin Daw Thoung was the sponsor for his requirements. Being Wednesday-born, his novice name was given as "Shin Ruciranana."
Kyauk Tan Sayadaw was ordained as a monk on the 17th of July 1945 at Khandhasima of Mahabodhi forest monastery. The first Mahabodhi Sayadawgyi again was his preceptor. U Aung Nyein and Daw Lone Mya, merchants in Kyauk Tan village, sponsored him for the ordination.
After becoming a monk he continued his studies of the Buddhist scriptures (Pariyatti) under the tutelage of renowned Sayadaws, namely, Ashin Nandhiya (Abhayaramika Sayadaw); Ashin Pannasiri (Satthasangiti palipadivitora); Ashin Acinna (Sasanadhaja Siripavara Dhammacariya); the 2nd Mahabodhi Sayadaw Ashin Pannava; 2nd Dakhinayon Sayadaw Ashin Kavindabhivamsa (Agga Maha- akyaw ).
He also gained knowledge of various teaching methods from the Senior monk (2nd in charge) of Nyaungtone Shwehintha forest monastery; Lecturers of Mandalay Mahavisuddhayon Pali University and Ashin Vicitta and Ashin Candobhasa of Masoeyein Pali University, Mandalay.
Sayadaw completed the lower, middle, upper and advanced monastic studies while he was still a novice and also passed the Mahabodhi Forest Pariyatti and Pali Recitation Examinations.
He passed the government-held lower, middle and higher grades of monastic examinations and the Dhammacariya examination in 1955. These were all completed while he was staying at the Mahabodhi Monastery in Kyauk Tan. He attained the highest marks in the Dhammmacariya examination held by Mahavisuddhayon Pali University in Mandalay.
In 1955, at the age of 29, he was conferred with the title of Sasanadhaja Siripavara Dhammacariya.
He taught pariyatti (Buddhist scriptures) and carried out the required duties at the Mahabodhi Monastery at Kyauk Tan during this period.
Further Sasana Journey
In 1976, from the 10th May, he came to Rangoon Mahasi Sasana Yeiktha and began to practice Satipatthana Vipassana with reverence to the Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw's teachings and with instructions and guidance from meditation teacher Hanlingyi Sayadaw.
On July 5th 1976 he went along as a yogi to Moulmein with our Venerable Panditarama Shwe Taung Gone Sayadawgyi. Sayadawgyi went to Taungwinelay Mahasi Sasana Yeiktha in Moulmein to conduct a meditation retreat in place of the Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw.. Kyauk Tan Sayadaw continued diligently with his Vipassana practice under the guidance and teaching of Panditarama Sayadawgyi.
On 26th February 1976, Panditarama Sayadawgyi and Sayadawgyi U Asmara from Kywegyan Ywathitawya Monastery gave Kyauk Tan Sayadaw the responsibility of being the Meditation Teacher at the Kywegyan Ywathitawya Mahasi Meditation Sasana Yeiktha. This was in Paung district, Mon state. He took up duties as the Meditation Teacher from 26th February 1980.
He became the Chief Nayaka Sayadaw of the Yeiktha on 3rd March 1982. In 1985, he became the adjudicator of State Mahanayaka. In 1989, he was elected and became a Sangha Mahanayaka Sayadaw in Paung township.
Shwe Taung Gone Sasana Yeiktha
In 1990, Panditarama Shwe Taung Gone Sayadawgyi invited Kyauk Tan Sayadaw to come to Shwe Taung Gone Yeiktha and gave him duties as a Nayaka Kammattnacariya. Kyauk Tan Sayadaw handed over the Sasana work at the Kywegyan Ywathitawya Mahasi Sasana Yeiktha to his pupils U Thunandra and U Wathawa and came to Shwe Taung Gone Yeiktha on 3rd December 1990.
From then on, Kyauk Tan Sayadaw worked with the late Venerable Panditarama Sayadawgyi to promote and propagate Buddhist Sasana including both Buddhist literature (pariyatti inter-related to patipatti) and insight meditation practice (patipatti inter-related to pariyatti).
Kyauk Tan Sayadaw is currently the Chief Mahanayaka Sayadaw of Panditarama Shwe Taung Gone Yeiktha and also the Chief Sayadaw in the department of the Mahabodhi Recitation Examinations, Shwekyin Nayaka, Kyauk Tan, Pegu.
Advocacy by Kyauk Tan Sayadawgyi
Do not abuse others
Be considerate, with understanding
Be pure with all physical and verbal actions
Ardently protect the discipline
Be truthful and calm
Know your own qualities
Practice these five sikkhas.
These are the five happy rules of Panditarama.