Ashin Munindabhivamsa

Ashin Munindābhivaṃsa
မုနိန္ဒာဘိဝံသ
The city of Bago, home to the Win Neinmitayon Monastery where Ashin Munindabhivamsa was an abbot
Titel	Agga Mahā Paṇḍita (2006) Agga Mahā Ganthavācaka Paṇḍita (1992)
Personal
Born	(1946-12-13)13 December 1946 Thanatpin Township, Bago Division
Died	19 June 2024(2024-06-19) (aged 77)
Cause of death	Firearms
Religion	Buddhism
School	Theravada
Sect	Shwekyin Nikāya
Dharma names	Muninda
Pen name	Shindan Sayadaw
Organization
Temple	Win Neinmitayon Monastery

Ashin Munindābhivaṃsa (Burmese: ဘဒ္ဒန္တမုနိန္ဒာဘိဝံသ (13 December 1946 – 19 June 2024), also known as Shindan Sayadaw, was a Burmese scholar monk and chief abbot of Win Neinmitayon Monastery in Bago. Recipient of the title of Agga Maha Pandita, he was a member the central executive committee of the Shwegyin Nikaya, the second largest monastic order in Myanmar. A member of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee, the assassination of Ashin in June 2024 leads to confrontation between the Tatmadaw and founding members of the monastery.

Early life and education

Ashin, the eldest son, was born in Thanatpin Township in Bago Division to Tun Shwe and Kyeyin on 13 December 1946. Novitiated under the 5th Kyakhhetwine Sayadaw at the age of 10, he passed his first exam titled vinyānuggaha sāmanera bhāņaka sīla sikkhā at age 11. He passed the government examination of Dhammācariya at 17, ranked the whole Burma second. In addition to his degrees in three examinations of Dhammācariya, Ashin was also bestowed the title of Dhīghabhāņaka upon the completion of Sutta Piṭaka at the Tripitaka Examinations.

Life as an instructor

Ashin had started his career as an instructor since he was 14 years old, at the Kyakhetwine Monastery. He founded the Win Neinmitayon Monastery in 2003 at which he took the role of chief abbot until his death.

He also compiled religious writings under the title of Shindan (lit. 'Explanation') and was known as Shindan Sayadaw. He received the title for senior instructor Agga Maha Ganthavācaka Pandita from the government in 1992. He was offered the titles of Agga Maha Saddhama Jotikadhaja and Agga Maha Pandita in 2006.

He had served as a member of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee for 8 years and was also in charge of State Vinayadhara. Upon his death he was a wunsaung sayadaw, which literally represents who accepts and carries out a specific responsibility, and a member of the central executive committee of the Shwegyin Nikaya.

Death

The assassination of Ashin Munindabhivamsa occurred on 19 June 2024. As he left the Mandalay International Airport, Ashin's vehicle was shot at by Tatmadaw soldiers after it allegedly refused to stop at a security checkpoint. The soldiers claimed that they believed PDF fighters were in the car since the windows were closed. They then confiscated the monks' phones and coerced them into silence.

Aftermath

Initially, Zaw Min Tun blamed an explosion from a PDF landmine on Ashin's death. Two days later, however, he admitted that soldiers fired warning shots and shouted at his van to pull over before shooting at it from behind: only after Kanthonsint Sayadaw who accompanied Ashin in the car revealed that they were attacked by the Tatmadaw soldiers. The military junta promised to take action on those responsible for the attack. On 20 June, chief minister of Bago Region came and addressed to founding members of the monastery that they had not known the truth, but the patrons replied that they want an official apology. On 24 June, Min Aung Hlaing's official letter of condolences and apology was read by the minister for religious affairs. The current Kyakhetwine Sayadaw said that it was sorrowful and painful, in the same time it was unforgettable [and unforgivable].