Bhante Vimalaramsi

Most Venerable Bhante
Vimalaramsi
Mahathera
Bhante Vimalaramsi
Nationality American
Organization Dhamma Sukha Meditation Centre (DSMC)
Notable work
  • The Anapanasati Sutta: A Practical Guide to Mindfulness of Breathing and Tranquil Wisdom Meditation 1998-2006 editions
  • Breath of Love 2012
  • Moving Dhamma Volume 1- 2013
  • The Dhamma Leaf Series - 2014
  • Life is Meditation, Meditation is Life - 2014
  • A Guide to Forgiveness Meditation - 2015
  • A Guide to Tranquil Wisdom Insight Meditation (T.W.I.M.) - 2015
Religion Buddhism
Website http://www.dhammasukha.org/

Bhante Vimalaramsi (born 1946) is an American Buddhist monk currently the Abbot of the Dhamma Sukha Meditation Center[1] in Annapolis, Missouri.

Biography

Born Marvel Logan, Bhante Vimalaramsi studied with Anagarika Munindra in 1977 and became a bhikkhu in Thailand in 1986[2] with further studies in Burma.[3]

Bhante Vimalaramsi is a well known meditation teacher[4] having taught in Malaysia[5] and the United States. He is the founder of the American Forest Tradition and the Suttavada.[6]

He uses the Majjhima Nikaya as his basis for teaching the "Mindfulness of Metta" and the Brahmaviharas, that leads to the realization of Nibbana which many of his students call Tranquil Wisdom Insight Meditation (T.W.I.M.).[7]

Bhante Vimalaramsi founded the Dhamma Sukha Meditation Center (DSMC) located in Iron County, MO.[5]

US Representative to the World Buddhist Supreme Conference

Venerable Bhante Vimalaramsi is the first American born monk who has been named as the first US Representative to the World Buddhist Supreme Conference in Kobe, Japan.[8][9]

As part of his new position he will coordinate U.S. representation at the Summit Conference to be held in Kobe, Japan in the Spring of 2007. The goal of the summit conferences is to bring together the many traditions of Buddhism in the world, and unify them to produce a united position dedicated to working towards balance, harmony, and world peace for mankind. The Conferences are scheduled to meet every two years.[10]

Upon approval he was inaugurated into this lifetime position on November 1, 2008 in the New Royal Grand Hall of Buddhism in Japan.[11][12]

Teachings

Bhante Vimalaramsi teaches meditation directly from the Suttas using the Pali Canon.[13] He considers the most workable English translation to be the work of Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi and Ven. Nanamoli. Generally, Venerable Vimalaramsi places first emphasis on the texts and references the commentarial works only where they agree with the texts.[7] He teaches by directly reading from the Suttas and expounding what they mean as he goes along. He follows the definitions and drills for meditation that were given by the Buddha to the original group of monks. Therefore, the meditation is taught with Samatha and Vipassana yoked together as advised by the Buddha in the texts.[14]

  1. TWIM, Jhānas and the Relax step.

Bhante Vimalaramsi has been teaching his meditation with a different approach which is Relax step and Tranquil/light Jhānas. Sutta-based interpretation of meditation has led him to teaching what he calls “tranquil-wisdom meditation,” a joint samatha/vipassanā meditation.[13] Vimalaramsi interprets the word ‘samādhi’ as tranquillity, which signifies the same mental characteristics as samatha .[15]

This has been covered in a number of research papers/ Journals, below are the direct quotes with citations.

Vimalaramsi, suggests “it is far more important to observe what is happening in the mind than to sit with uncomfortable or painful sensations…there is no magic in sitting on the floor. The magic comes from a clear, calm mind.” Vimalaramsi warn against the dangers of over straining or forcing meditation and the emotional disturbances and hardening of the mind that may ensue.[16]

I really got it! Whenever you try to focus your attention only on breathing and exclude other things—sound, delusive ideas etc., you will get stuffiness and tension in your body and mind, even if you are not aware of it.[17]

We would suggest following the Buddha’s advice to Ven. Soṇa and returning the approach to bring about harmony rather than stress or tension. Perhaps much can be learned from those like Ven. Vimalaramsi who are careful to avoid the extremes of too loose and too tight. TWIM aims to provide the meditator with a structure within which he or she can remain alert and aware, yet relaxed and open.[18]

Venerable Bhante U Vimalaramsi teaches Jhanas that have only a light absorption. One can sense things happening around one while in these states; one can even do Jhanas while doing walking meditation.He teaches mainly from the Anapanasati-sutta and the Satipaṭṭhāna-sutta, and maintains that jhāna should not be considered ecstatic or one-pointed (ekaggatā). Rather, it is a light, relaxed state in which various Buddhist insights are examined.[13] The light sutta jhāna approach of Vimalaramsi and Thanissaro [13]

Bibliography

Dhamma Leaf Series

References

Citations
  1. ↑ Kraft 2013, p. 7-8.
  2. ↑ "Bhante Vimalaramsi Bio and History". DhammaSukha Meditation Center. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
  3. ↑ Knaster 2010, p. 251.
  4. ↑ "At Light Of Asia Centre "Study of Suttas and Meditation Practice.". Daily Mirror, Sri Lanka. 16 May 2015. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  5. 1 2 Khaster 2010, p. 251.
  6. ↑ Bhante Vimalaramsi (2014-09-25), Bhante Vimalaramsi declares we are Suttavada!, retrieved 2016-05-09
  7. 1 2 Kraft 2015, p. 1.
  8. ↑ "Bhante Vimalaramsi". Awaken Insight Retreats. Retrieved 2016-05-10.
  9. ↑ "Buddhism in America | The Pluralism Project". pluralism.org. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  10. ↑ "American Monk Named First US Representative to the World Buddhist Supreme Conference". The pluralism Project - Harvard University. 25 December 2006. Retrieved 21 June 2016. As part of his new position he will coordinate U.S. representation at the Summit Conference to be held in Kobe, Japan in the Spring of 2007. The goal of the summit conferences is to bring together the many traditions of Buddhism in the world, and unify them to produce a united position dedicated to working towards balance, harmony, and world peace for mankind. The Conferences meet every two years.
  11. ↑ "US West | American Monk Named First US Representative to the World Buddhist Supreme Conference". www.buddhistchannel.tv. Retrieved 2016-05-08.
  12. ↑ "About / Contact". Meditate for Insight. Retrieved 2016-05-08.
  13. 1 2 3 4 Quli, Natalie (Fall 2008). "Jhāna in Convert Theravāda". Pacific World: Third Series Number 10. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
  14. ↑ Brown & Gerbarg 2012, p. 1.
  15. ↑ Phramonchai, Saitanaporn (2009). "BUDDHIST DELIVERANCE: A RE-EVALUATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SAMATHA AND VIPASSANĀ" (PDF). A thesis submitted in fulfillment. Of the requirements for the degree of. Doctor of Philosophy.: 18, 314. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
  16. ↑ Bhikkhu, Anālayo (August 2004). Satipaṭṭhāna, the Direct Path to Realization. Park Road, Birmingham: Windhorse. pp. 52, 152. ISBN 9781899579549.
  17. ↑ Lee, Ja-Yeon (November 2012). "Mindfulness Meditation as a Therapeutic Method for Philosophical Counseling.". Philosophical Practice: Journal of the American Philosophical Practitioners Association Vol. 7 Issue 3: 1066–1080.
  18. ↑ Johnson, Mark Edsel (2012). "Not Too Tight and Not Too Loose, Properly Tuning the Lute:Avoiding the Extremes of Indulgence in Sense Pleasure and Self Mortification in the Vinaya" (PDF). Sri Lanka International Journal of Buddhist Studies VOLUME 2: 200. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
Bibliography
  • Brown MD, Richard; Gerbarg MD, Patricia (2012), The Healing Power of the Breath: Simple Techniques to Reduce Stress and Anxiety, Enhance Concentration, and Balance Your Emotions, Shambhala Publications, ISBN 9781590309025 
  • Knaster, Mirka (2010), Living This Life Fully, Shambhala Publications, ISBN 978-1590306741 
  • Kraft, Doug (2013), Buddha's Map: His Original Teachings on Awakening, Ease, and Insight in the Heart of Meditation, Blue Dolphin Publishing, ISBN 9781577332763 
  • Kraft, Doug (2015), Kindness & Wisdom Practice: A Quick Guide to Metta-Panna Meditation, Blue Dolphin Publishing, ISBN 9781577332961 
  • Riso, Walter (2013), Desapegarse sin anestesia: Cómo soltarse de todo aquello que nos quita energía y bienestar, Océano Publishing, ASIN B00C9JE3R6 
  • Rosenberg, Larry (2004), Breath by Breath: The Liberating Practice of Insight Meditation, Shambhala Publishing, ISBN 978-1590301364 
  • Bhikkhu, Anālayo (2003), Satipaṭṭhāna: The Direct Path to Realization, Windhorse, ISBN 9781899579549 

External links

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