Place and date of birth
Ashin Kelāsa was born on 4 May 1959. His birthplace is Taungkok Township, Rakhine State.
Education
At 17 he passed the Pathamagyi examination, and at 19 (1979), as a novice, he received the title Sāsanadhaja Dhammācariya. He passed Tenth Standard in 1985, received a B.A. (Philosophy) from Yangon University of Arts and Science (distance education) in 1990, and an M.A. (Buddhism) from the State Pariyatti Sāsana University (Yangon) in 1993. He taught at the State Pariyatti Sāsana University (Yangon) for ten years, from 1990 to 2000.
Residence
Alodawpyie Buddha Dhamma Retreat, Arizona.
Sāsana work
He teaches the basics of Theravāda Buddhism to children and young people, and teaches suttas from the original Pāḷi canon to adults interested in the Buddha's teaching. In his free time he writes.
Published works
Eleven Burmese translations, including 'History of Buddhism in Ceylon' and 'The Life of the Buddha' (Tibetan records), and six volumes of collected Dhamma questions and answers totalling over 3,000 pages.
List of the 11 Burmese translations
1. A Pilgrim's Guide to the Buddha's India: Middle Land Middle Way, by S. Dhammika (277 pages, 2001)
2. Nibbana in Theravada Perspective, by Dr. Dhammapiya (242 pages, 2004)
3. Buddhism in a Nutshell, by Narada Thera (129 pages, 2005)
4. History of Buddhism in Ceylon, by Dr. W. Rahula (532 pages, 2008)
5. The Pali Literature of Burma, by Dr. Mabel Haynes Bode (194 pages, 2010)
6. The Buddhist Catechism, by Henry S. Olcott (133 pages, 2012)
7. The Life of the Buddha, by W. Woodville Rockhill (445 pages, 2014)
8. Commentary on Ānāpāna (74 pages, 2016), translated from the Ānāpānasati section of Bhikkhu Ñāṇamoli's The Path of Purification
9. Gautama, the Story of Lord Buddha, by Saukntala Masani (131 pages, 2022)
10. A Comprehensive Manual of Abhidhamma, by Bhikkhu Bodhi and Dr. Revatadhamma (65 pages, 2022)
11. Karaniya Metta Sutta: the Message of Peace and Universal Friendliness (66 pages, 2022)
Questions and answers on the Dhamma
Compilation 1 (516 pages, 2017)
Compilation 2 (506 pages, 2016)
Compilation 3 (527 pages, 2016)
Compilation 4 (520 pages, 2017)
Compilation 5 (503 pages, 2018)
Compilation 6 (510 pages, 2020)