Our Journey
For everyone who has been a part of our journey, your consistent support and dedication have been pivotal in sustaining our mission over the years. Our story, grounded in the pursuit of exploration and spirituality, has unfolded over more than a decade, characterized by steady growth, transformation, and resilience.
Our platform's origins are modest, rooted in an earnest curiosity about spirituality and meditation practices, sown in the rich cultural environment of Myanmar. Beginning over ten years ago as the "Burma Dhamma Blog," it served as a simple outlet for sharing insights, experiences, and observations regarding monasteries and meditation centers. As Myanmar navigated its path towards democracy in the 2010s, this period of change opened up new opportunities for individuals seeking spiritual development to explore the country's rich traditions, which were not possible before in the “bad old days” of military dictatorship.
With time, our platform found resonance with an increasingly diverse community of individuals drawn to Myanmar for its spiritual heritage. This led to an expansion of our offerings, encompassing documentaries, in-depth presentations, pilgrimages, and more, with the aim of delving into the roles of Buddhism and monasticism within Burmese society. This natural progression resulted in the creation of "Shwe Lan Ga Lay," a comprehensive two-part guidebook designed to assist meditation practitioners in navigating Myanmar's complex landscape of Buddhist and meditative traditions.
In 2019, we introduced the Insight Myanmar Podcast, providing a new avenue for exploring the deep and often unexplored aspects of spirituality within the country. However, the unexpected turn of events with the 2021 coup prompted us to broaden our scope. Our podcast began to actively address the crisis, sharing stories beyond Buddhism, about conflicts not widely covered by international media. Our episodes expanded to include a broader spectrum of Myanmar's diverse cultural, religious, and societal aspects, all the while maintaining a focus on meditation and spirituality from various perspectives, and ultimately reaching the ears of over 1200,000 listeners.
In response to the challenges faced by the people of Myanmar, we established Better Burma, a nonprofit organization aimed at providing humanitarian assistance in these difficult times to people of all ethnic and religious backgrounds who were facing hardship based on military violence and widespread atrocities. This initiative underscores our commitment to supporting those most affected by the crisis, offering hope, solace, and practical aid to communities in need of healing and restoration.
At this pivotal moment, we are working diligently to make a meaningful impact on the lives of the people of Myanmar. The challenges they face are daunting, but it is through our collective effort that we can offer a beacon of hope and support.
We invite you to join us in this mission. If our vision resonates with you and you feel moved to contribute, we welcome your support through a donation. Your financial assistance will directly benefit those in need, providing essential resources such as food, clean water, medical supplies, and shelter, and will also support our ongoing efforts to share these critical stories through our media platforms. Whether a one-time gift or a recurring donation via Patreon or PayPal, your generosity is greatly appreciated.
Together, we have the opportunity to make a significant difference and demonstrate unwavering solidarity with the people of Myanmar in these challenging times. Your contribution, no matter the size, has the potential to bring about comfort, resilience, and a glimmer of hope to those facing tremendous adversity.
Thank you for joining us for this journey, and we hope that it all ends with a story of federal democracy and human rights across the Golden Land!