Episode 34: Finding Inner Stability in Troubling Times
“The Dhamma is so central to this culture, and [yet] not understood by the people who write about this place in the media from overseas. So all those sorts of things get reported from a vacuum of understanding about how incredibly important it is, for this whole culture.”
So says Daw Viranani, an American nun based in Chan Myay Myaing Monastery in northern Yangon. Since the military coup on February 1st, Myanmar has been one of the trending topics and major stories across news networks and social media platforms. And yet, as Daw Viranani points out, the core Buddhist practice animating much of the country’s spiritual life is barely mentioned in foreign reporting, let alone understood.
For so many in the meditator community, for whom Myanmar has a special place in their heart, this has been a difficult week. So it is very valuable to hear words of wisdom from a fellow practitioner engaging with the heart of the practice, and who is now in the very place where these challenging events are unfolding.
In this interview, we address the current situation, but avoid the usual angles of analyzing politics, history, or biographies of the major players. Instead, we bring in a Buddhist perspective to the current moment. Daw Viranani shares the power of practicing mettā-bhavana, or loving-kindness meditation, and radiating these good wishes to all beings—even those we have difficult feelings towards.
The talk then delves into other areas, with Daw Viranani discussing her depth of gratitude to the Golden Land and the role that the country and culture has played in her spiritual life. We examine the intersection between social justice and meditation practice, contrasting how it differs between American and Burmese societies. Daw Viranani also shares the suttas and teachings that have been most on her mind during this difficult week, as well as how her overall practice is going. While acknowledging that many meditators around the world are confronting difficult emotions such as sorrow, anger, and despair, she believes that this is the time for yogis to re-engage with the practice, reminding us that “samsara is not supposed to work,” meaning that we are never free from greed, hatred, and delusion in this world, they simply continue to evolve into new and different forms.
A note about our mission here at Insight Myanmar Podcast. While it usually takes us several weeks at minimum to produce an episode, we feel that the current moment demands a faster turn-around, and we managed to release this episode after just 48 hours. However, this can be challenging for a primarily volunteer organization, especially one with limited funds. We hope to continue bringing interviews on this topic with Buddhist practitioners, teachers, and scholars, but we need your support to do so. If you would like to help with our mission, we welcome your contribution. You may give by searching “Insight Myanmar” on PayPal, Venmo, CashApp, Go Fund Me, and Patreon, as well as via Credit Card.