The blogger “riverflows” describes a pilgrimage two years ago to Webu Sayadaw monastery in Ingyinbin, an inspiring read for meditators who one day wish to visit here.
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Pannobhasa Bhikkhu describes his strange experiences as being the first Westerner to meditate with Tant Kyi Taung Sayadaw on an intensive retreat.
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Dan Kaminsky published this article on the Living Vipassana website, concerning his quest to find out why the male and female meditation cushions must be washed separately at vipassana centers in the tradition of SN Goenka. The article touches on many issues: the question of blind faith, a hierarchical-organizational structure, a belief in the role and importance of subtle vibrations, and even the issue of free speech, as some meditators have called for such content to be immediately removed from this and other blogs, and the authors to refrain from writing or talking further on the topic.
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“Since the beginning of pandemic, the part of my Buddhist training that I came to rely on the most is "Paticca Samuppada", or "The Law of Dependent Origination." In other words, as we can see clearly in the world today, all things and people are connected to each other. This is true of economies, or politics, or climate, or whatever….everything is interrelated.”
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With Burmese monks unable to go out on alms rounds due to a nationwide lockdown, basic food and medical supplies are becoming difficult to attain at many monasteries. How can age-old Buddhist traditions be maintained in the Golden Land in the face of such disruption?
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Last year on Living Vipassana, Ryan Shelton penned the following essay about the 10-day silent retreat format in the tradition of the S.N. Goenka. Shelton reflects on the comparative value between these intensive retreats as they are currently offered, and the possibility of reaching students in new and different innovative ways by focussing mainly on anapana instruction.
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Thabarwa Monastery has long pushed the boundaries of how a Burmese Buddhist monastery is expected to operate. Existing within a traditional, conservative, Burmese Buddhist society that is steeped either in age-old religious conventions or centered around post-war, highly structured, teacher-centered meditation retreats, Thabarwa is re-inventing the very role that a monastery can play in society.
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Support Aung Ko Ko’s donation drive to collect funds to support the most impoverished families now affected by the coronavirus in Mandalay!
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A mural highlighting the dangers of coronavirus spread in Myitkyina is immediately painted over and its artists arrested.
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An update on the annual mettā retreats held at Chan Myay Myaing Monastery in Pyin Oo Lwin, Myanmar
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Kory Goldberg, the co-author of Along The Path and a pilgrimage leader in Myanmar several years ago, takes a moment to share his thoughts on the importance of practice during a pandemic.
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A Burmese man becomes infected with the COVID-19 coronavirus and faces death as he spends 140 hours on a ventilator. In such a state, he recalls all the past Dhamma lessons of monks and meditation teachers who have played a role in his life. An inspiring message for meditators and practitioners during this time of pandemic.
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On April 5, 2020, Doug McGill conducted an interview with Sayadaw U Tejaniya concerning how a meditator can practice during a time of pandemic. Translated by Ma Thet, his responses can be read in full here.
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Beth (previously Sayalay Anuttara) was ordained as a Buddhist nun for ten years in the Pa Auk tradition of Myanmar. She now teaches meditation, and in this time of the coronovirus, is offering online meditation instruction to anyone who would like to practice at home.
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As COVID-19 (coronavirus) spreads around the globe, the media has been so busy reporting on the stunning developments in much of the Western world that the reality in other countries and cultures has often been overlooked. Many meditators now sheltering at home in their own places may be wondering about the view on the ground from Buddhist Burma, and how monasteries, meditators, and monastics are responding. Ashin Dhammosadha, a German monk living in Yangon, gives an update from his recent months there:
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Why are there still no reported cases of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the Golden Land, when it has been spreading unabated into nearly every other country on Earth?
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Let by the revered Bhamo Sayadaw, the Chairman of State Sangha Mahanayaka Committee, Burmese monks are flown by helicopter over the Golden Land to protect their people from the deadly Coronavirus, COVID-19. They can be seen chanting protective verses and sprinkling water laced with chantings on loving-kindness, and making the Vow of Truth.
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