Chief resident Monk
Sayardaw U Tilokasiri (1948 – ) was born in Pakokku town, a major Buddhist learning centre in central Myanmar. He entered monkhood at the age of 13 and attained higher ordination at the age of 20. He graduated Dhammacariya (Teacher of the Dhamma) at the age of 29.
He has developed a passion to teach Buddhism overseas since he was young. He seized his first chance to be a lecturer at Wat Tamaoh temple of Thailand in 1980, and became one of the resident monks at the temple. Later he was nominated by Sayardaw U Dhamma Nanda to become chief resident monk at Wat Pa Fang Burmese Buddhist Temple in Thailand.
He supervised a major renovation work of the 90-year-old temple, which was established in 1892, and advised day to day temple activities and taught Buddha’s Dhamma to the local community. He arrived at Penang Burmese temple in 1987 under the guidance of Sayardaw U Pannavamsa. He was then assigned to reside at Singapore Burmese Buddhist Temple in 1988 owing to his experience and leadership provided to the Buddhist temples the region.
Since then, Sayardaw has been giving invaluable advises in temple functions and activities, from building maintenance to daily operations. Sayardaw received a prestigious title – Maha Saddhammajotika Dhaja – offered by Myanmar government in 2013 for his contributions to the Buddha Sasana. He was selected to become chief monk of Penang Myanmar Sangha Organisation in Malaysia, after passing of Venerable Sayardaw U Pannavamsa in Nov 2017. Meanwhile Sayardaw continues his duties as chief resident monk at Burmese Buddhist Temple in Singapore.