Panditarama Hse Main Gon Forest Center

The Hse Main Gon Forest Center is a forest branch of Panditarama, whose main centre, Panditarama Shwe Taung Gon in Bahan, Yangon, was founded in 1990 by Sayadaw U Paṇḍitābhivaṃsa (Sayadaw U Pandita, 1921 to 2016), a teacher in the Mahasi tradition. The forest centre is in The Phyu Chaung village, Inntakaw Township, Bago Region; Panditarama's list of centres spells it 'Hse Mine Gon'. Panditarama's biography of the Sayadaw says that after heart surgery in 2007 he held a 60-day special retreat at the forest centre every year, and the site advertised a 60-day retreat for foreigners there from December 2019 to January 2020, with applications through saddhamma.org. Panditarama's online application form asks applicants to choose between the forest centre and the Yangon centre, and whether they can talk with a meditation teacher in English or need a translator. As of October 2026 the site's retreat page is marked as under construction and its most recent news item about the forest centre dates from 2019, so contact Panditarama before planning a stay.

How to apply

Apply to each centre directly. Panditarama Lumbini asks you to read its guidelines and then contact it to agree your dates; IBMC Kathmandu wants a signed form at least a week ahead.

What is taught here

Mahasi Sayadaw's method of noting the rise and fall of the abdomen and whatever else arises, practised in silent retreats in Myanmar, Nepal and beyond. Read about Mahasi noting.