ABHIDHAMMA IN DAILY LIFE - Abhidhamma.com

About The Author:
Ashin Janakabhivamsa
The celebrated teacher of Pali Canon and founder of the famous Mahagandharama monastery of
Amarapura Division, was born on Tuesday of fourteenth waning day of Tabodwe 1261, M.E.
(27th February 1900) of U Zaw Ti and Daw Ohn Hline in Thayine village, Wetlet township,
Shwebo district, Sagaing Division.
At age five, he was sent to the local monastery and was initiated for the first time as a novice,
samanera. Nine years later in 1275, he was initiated for the second time into the Order, to spend
his lifetime as a disciple of the Buddha in his Dispensation.
At age eighteen, in 1279 M.E. (1918) still a samanera, he passed the Government examination at
higher level Pathamagyi, the examination in the Grammar, the Vinaya, the Abhidhamma and the
Digha Nikáya.
At age 20, he was fully ordained as Buddhist monk with the title of U Janaka on the full-moon
day of Tabaung 1280 M.E. (1919). He had the distinction of being ordained thrice in his life, the
second time on the full moon day of Nayon 1281 M.E. (1920) and the third on the full moon day
of Tabaung 1281 M.E. (1920).
His preceptor saw to it that he studied under the best teachers in the two most prominent centers
of Pariyatti learning in Myanmar at Mandalay and Pakhokku. The advanced courses in the Pali
Canon, the commentaries, sub-commentaries, exegeses, and expositions were thoroughly learned
from the most distinguished teachers of these centers where he was afforded the opportunity of
acting as a probation teacher himself under their guidance.
He passed the Government Pathamagyaw examination in 1287 standing first. In addition, to gain
outright success in the especially difficult Sakyasiha - teacher course examination in 1289 for the
title of Pariyatti Sasanahita Dhammacariya.
By that time, he had already started writing books, which were to be use as guides and manuals
for thousands of students who later gathered round him until he passed away. He also wrote
many small manuals for lay Buddhists who have no opportunity to study the Teaching of the
Buddha directly from Pali Canon.
It was at the time when world war II began to reach the shores of Myanmar and the Japanese
forces began to appear at the eastern border that the Venerable Janakabhivamsa who had already
become a noted teacher and writer began to settle down in his own monastery at Amarapura
about 12 miles south east of Mandalay. It was an old monastery called Mahagandarama, which
belonged to his mentor the First Maha Gandharama Sayadaw. There were only three dilapidated
buildings with five inmates including himself when he decided to settle down there and bring it
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