Sayalay Bhaddamanika began practising under the guidance of Sayadaw U Pandita in Myanmar in 1974, at the age of 19. She was ordained as a nun in 1999, with Sayadaw U Pandita as her preceptor, and began teaching meditation in 2002.
Sayalay currently lives in Nepal, where she resides and teaches at the Panditarama Lumbini Meditation Centre alongside Sayadaw U Vivekananda. She also spends several months each year leading retreats around the world.
In addition to teaching, Sayalay has a deep love of nature and has been actively involved in conservation efforts at the historic site of Lumbini. Before becoming a nun, she taught biology at universities in Myanmar for over 13 years. She continues to contribute to environmental and cultural heritage conservation projects in Lumbini, representing the monastic community in various initiatives and workshops.
