Our Top Ten Episodes of All Time
If you’re looking where to start your listening journey with Insight Myanmar Podcast, it is no easy feat with over 200 episodes and hundreds of hours of conversations ahead of you. Towards those ends, may we offer our top ten most listened-to episodes? Peruse the list below and pick up the topic and guest which calls to you!
10. Dave Eubank: A story about a chance encounter in the jungle led to the founding of the Free Burma Rangers (FBR) and their humanitarian mission in Myanmar and beyond.
9. Sayalay Piyadassi: A former Christian from Lithuania who became a Buddhist nun in Myanmar, this discussion highlights her spiritual journey into Myanmar, challenges as a monastic, and insights into meditation and gender discrimination in Burmese society.
8. Navigating Rough Waters: A discussion about the ethical responsibility of the vipassana organization in light of the crisis in Myanmar in which a vipassana teacher from the S.N. Goenka tradition addresses the balance between acknowledging the crisis's wider context and not engaging in spiritual bypassing.
7. Ashin Sarana: An unusual path that goes from seeking magical powers to becoming a Buddhist monk in Myanmar, including the description of a significant controversy over monastic rules.
6. Sitagu Sayadaw, The Coup, and Burmese Buddhism: The American monk provides a nuanced perspective on the controversies surrounding Sitagu Sayadaw and his actions regarding the military in Myanmar.
5. Alan Clements: The story of a remarkable journey from a comfortable life in the West to ordaining as a monk in Burma in the 1980s, Alan’s training under renowned Burmese masters, and his insights into the growth of the mindfulness meditation movement and his ongoing conversations with Aung San Suu Kyi.
4. Beth Upton: Moving from a rational, math-focused career in the West to ordaining as a Buddhist nun in Myanmar and Beth’s deep meditation practice under Pa Auk Sayadaw, she also shares her insights into jhana states, the Pa Auk method, the challenges of transitioning from monastic life to lay life, and her teaching experiences.
3. Thabarwa Sayadaw: The origins of Thabawa Monastery, highlighting the Sayadaw’s journey from a successful entrepreneur to a monk and the unconventional approach of caring for marginalized individuals, ultimately leading to a significant transformation as the Thabarwa mission expanded internationally.
2. Bhikkhu Bodhi on the Crisis in Myanmar: The esteemed monk addresses complex moral questions related to the Myanmar crisis, offering personal opinions and emphasizing adaptability in applying Buddhist teachings to real-life challenges.
1. Daniel Mayer: A journey from Argentina to becoming a senior teacher in the vipassana tradition, highlighting Daniel’s search for a spiritual path, his encounter with S.N. Goenka, and his dedication to spreading the Dhamma, with reflections on maintaining open-mindedness, concern for meditation centers in poorer countries, and the primacy of formal sitting meditation in the tradition.