Bhante Candima was a son of U Mg Pein and Daw Khin Kyi who were merchants living in Okshitpin village, Padaung Township, Bago Division. He was born in Pyay General Hospital on 1st Dec 1964 (11th Dec 1964 in ID card and the passport).
His lay name is Maung San Sein @ Ko Tuu. He has five elder sisters and one younger sister. He is the 6th and only son.
He studied his primary, middle and high school courses in Okshitpin and Pyay. He passed the 10th standard in 1982. He attended in Yangon Art and Science University and got the B.A(English) Degree in 1987. He studied basic pāli cause in University as a compulsory minor subject in the first year.
After graduation, he practised meditation under the guidance of Pa-Auk Sayadawgyi in 1988.
On 20 July 1992, he was ordained and became a Theravada Buddhist monk in Pa-Auk Tawya, Mawlamyine under the preceptorship of Sayadaw bhaddanta Parama and under the guidance of Pa-Auk Sayadawgyi. He studied theory and practice of meditation as well as basic Pāḷi grammer, Abhidhamma courses, Saṃyuttanikāya, Visuddhimagga and Nibbānagāminipaṭipadā courses from Pa-Auk Sayadaw. He also learnt basic pāḷi grammar from bhaddanta Kovidābhivaṃsa (LinYoungKyi sayadaw), bhaddanta Vimalābhivaṃsa, bhaddanta Paṇḍita (MyaungMya) and bhaddanta Ñāṇācāra occasionally. He also learnt Dhammapada from bhaddanta Cittara (Ku Mae Sayadaw) and a short Abhidhamma course from Dr Mehm Tin Mon.
He is of 29 vassas (in 2020). He had been working as a deputy secretary of the Saṅgha Nāyaka Committee of Pa-Auk Tawya (main centre) since 27 Feb 2002 until 25 Feb 2013. He is currently the deputy secretary of the Central Saṅgha Committee of all Pa-Auk Tawya branches since 2002. He is also the secretary of the Saṅgha Committee of Pa-Auk Tawya (Pyin Oo Lwin) since 1 August 2015.
In accordance with Pa-Auk Sayadawgyi’s instructions, he does his utmost to carry on the Sāsana affairs as one of the Nāyaka Sayadaws in local Pa-Auk branches and abroad. He has also been assisting Pa-Auk Sayadaw in propagating the Buddhasasana, travelling occasionally in foreign countries such as Thailand, Sri Lanka, India, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, China, Indonesia, Vietnam, United state of America, England, Canada. He also visited Laos and Canbodia.
