Introduction

Venerable U Maṅgala is a highly respected Malaysian meditation teacher and a senior disciple of the world-renowned meditation master, Most Venerable Pa-Auk Sayadawgyi. Known for his systematic teaching style and deep dedication to the Samatha-Vipassana practice, he has been instrumental in establishing several meditation hermitages across Asia. As a Malaysian-born monk, he possesses the unique ability to bridge traditional Burmese monastic training with the cultural context of local and international lay practitioners.

Academic Background and Ordination

Born in Malacca in 1968, Ven. U Maṅgala pursued a secular career in law, graduating from the Law Faculty of the University of Malaya. However, his search for a more profound truth led him to the monastic life.

In 1996, he received full ordination under Ven. Pa-Auk Sayadawgyi in Myanmar. He spent the next decade in intensive practice, immersing himself in the detailed meditation manual of the Visuddhimagga (Path of Purification) under the close supervision of his teacher.

Training and Appointment at Pa-Auk

Ven. U Maṅgala’s aptitude for the practice and his clear understanding of the Dhamma led to his appointment as a meditation teacher at the main Pa-Auk Forest Monastery in Mawlamyine, Myanmar, in 2006. In this role, he guided both local and international monastics and laypeople through the rigorous stages of concentration and insight meditation.

Establishing the Tusita and Dhamma Earth Network

In 2008, Ven. U Maṅgala returned to Malaysia to share the fruits of his training. With the support of the Malaysia Dhamma Society, he founded Tusita Hermitage in Kuching, Sarawak. His vision for a dedicated space for intensive practice led to the rapid expansion of the Tusita Saṅgha Council, which now oversees centers in:

Malaysia: Kuching, Malacca, Penang, and Taiping.
International: The Nepal Himalayas and Taiwan.

In 2016, he established Dhamma Earth (Tusita Dhamma Earth) in Semenyih, Selangor. This center has become a major hub for Dhamma education, youth programs, and intensive retreats in Peninsular Malaysia.