Webu Sayadaw (17 February 1896 – 26 June 1977) was aTheravada Buddhist monk, andvipassanāmaster, best known for giving all importance to diligent practice, rather than scholastic achievement.

Webu Sayadaw was born in British Burma near Khin U township in modern-day Sagaing Division. He underwent the usual monk’s training inthe Pāli scriptures from the age of nine, when he became a novice, until he was twenty-seven. His monastic name was Kumārakassapa.

In 1923 (seven years after his ordination), he left the monastery and spent four years in solitude. He practiced (and later taught) the technique ofĀnāpānasati(awareness of the in-breath and out-breath). He said that by working with this practice toa very deep level of concentration, one is able to developvipassanā (insight) into the essential characteristics of all experience:anicca(impermanence),anatta(egolessness) anddukkha(unsatisfactoriness).

Webu Sayadaw was famous for his unflagging diligence in meditation and for spending most of his time in solitude. He was reputed to be anarahant(fully enlightened one), and it is said that he never slept.