The Breath of Love - About the Author

The Breath of Love
Author
Most Venerable Bhante Vimalaramsi Mahàthera




About the Author

Most Venerable Bhante Vimalaramsi Mahàthera
became a Buddhist monk in 1986 because of his
keen interest in meditation. He went to Burma
in 1988 to practice intensive meditation at the
famous  meditation  center,  Mahasi  Yeiktha  in
Rangoon. While there, he practiced meditation
for 20 to 22 hours a day for three months and
16 hours a day for 5 months. Because of some
social unrest, all foreigners were asked to leave the country. So
Bhante  traveled  to  Malaysia  and  practiced  intensive  Loving-
kindness Meditation for 6 months.
In 1990, Bhante went back to Burma for more intensive Vipassanà
meditation,  for  14  to  16  hours  a  day,  at  Chanmyay  Yeiktha  in
Rangoon. He practiced for 2 years, sometimes sitting in meditation
for as long as 7 to 8 hours a sitting. After two years of intensive
meditation and experiencing what they said was the final result,
he became very disillusioned with the straight Vipassanà method
and left Burma to continue his search.
He went back to Malaysia and began teaching Loving-kindness
Meditation.  In  1995,  Bhante  was  invited  to  live  and  teach  at
the  largest  Theravàda  monastery  in  Malaysia.  This  Sri  Lankan
monastery offered public talks every Friday evening and Sunday
morning  where  300  to  500  people  would  attend.  Bhante  gave
talks every other Friday and on every Sunday.
While staying there he had the opportunity to meet many learned
monks, and Bhante questioned them at length about the Buddha’s
Teachings.  He  found  out  that  the  straight  Vipassanà  Burmese


method  of  meditation  is  taken  from  a  commentary  written  a
thousand  years  after  the  Buddha’s  death,  called  the  Visuddhi
Magga. This commentary is not very accurate when compared
directly with the sutta teachings. Bhante Vimalaramsi then began
to study the sutta texts more thoroughly and practice meditation
according  to  these  texts.  After  a  three  month  self-retreat,  he
came  back  to  Malaysia  and  wrote  a  book  on  the  Mindfulness
of Breathing called “The ânàpànasati Sutta – A Practical Guide
to Mindfulness of Breathing and Tranquil Wisdom Meditation”.
There  are  now  over  1,000,000  copies  distributed  worldwide  in
multiple  languages.  This  book  is  currently  used  as  a  practical
study guide for meditation teachers and their students.
Bhante Vimalaramsi came back to the U.S. in 1998 and has been
teaching meditation throughout the country since then. In 2003
he cofounded the United International Buddha-Dhamma Society.
UIBDS supports the Dhamma Sukha Meditation Center located
near  Annapolis,  Missouri,  USA,  where  he  teaches  meditation
from May–October each year.
In  2008  he  officially  announced  the  birth  of  the  Buddhist
American  Forest  Tradition  in  Annapolis,  MO.  This  is  the  first
Buddhist American Forest Tradition study center on American
soil  where  all  teaching  and  work  is  done  using  English  as  the
primary language and the core teachings rely on the Pàli Canon
directly with the Vissudhi Magga used as an additional reference
support. The Tradition actually began in 2005.
International  monks  now  come  there  to  improve  their  English
and  study  more  deeply  the  meditation  and  sutta  studies.  An
active  ordination  program  is  available  where  both  men  and
women are trained equally.


About Dhamma Sukha Meditation Center
United  International  Buddha-Dhamma  Society  (UIBDS)  and
Dhamma Sukha Meditation Center (DSMC) are located on 103
acres  of  forested  land  located  in  the  Ozark  Mountains  of  Iron
County (near to Annapolis) in Missouri, USA.
DSMC’s  goal  is  to  be  open
all  year  round.  At  present
it  usually  houses  from
10–20  students  at  a  time
between  the  months  of
May  15–October  15  each
year for meditation training
and  Buddhist  studies.  In
winter it is open for visitors
and  there  are  small  group
retreats.  The  main  teachers
usually teach abroad during
the coldest time of the year. This helps to raise money for further
buildings  at  the  center.  Presently  there  are  cabins,  dining  hall
and kitchen, library, and a new Dhamma hall is going up in 2012.
There are beautiful walking trails and flat areas for walking near
the main halls. There is a lay area for meditators and a separate
monastics living area.
June–October  full  moons  serve  as  the  center’s  Rains  Retreat
period each year. Monastics may come in for a May to September
Rains  Retreat  if  they  let  us  know  in  advance.  We  do  offer  an
Dhamma English support program.
In  this  Buddhist  tradition,  Rains  Retreat  is  when  monks  and


nuns stay in one place to give Dhamma talks and teach people
meditation.  They  also  practice  their  own  meditation  deeply  at
this  time.  Each  year  various  monastics  who  also  support  the
goals of this program visit from different traditions. Often times
they  will  offer  to  teach  Buddhist  history,  Chanting,  and  Pàli
classes  while  in  the  center.  From  over  23  countries  around  the
world, students and faithful lay people come to investigate early
Buddhist teachings and they stay from 2 weeks to 3 months at a
time upon by approval by the teacher.
There is also an active ordination program for men and women
for equal training. It is a sincere forest training which is received
and  there  will  be  opportunities  in  the  near  future  for  study
abroad at a university in Sri Lanka which is now partnering with
the DSMC project in 2012.
DSMC  is  dedicated  a  religious  center  sheltered  by  United
International Buddha-Dhamma Society. UIBDS is a Missouri 501
(c) (3) non-profit corporation set up for the purpose of Religious,
Charitable and Educational works.
DSMC  provides  a  support  place  for  people  to  come  and  hear
early  Buddhist  texts  taught  in  English  by  a  master  meditation
teacher,  Most  Venerable  Bhante  Vimalaramsi  Mahàthera  and
Sasana Dipika Sister Khema who have both taught this Buddha-
Dhamma internationally over recent past years.
In  the  center  you  will  study  and  practice  early  foundation
teachings  recovered  from  the  very  earliest  Buddhist  texts  that
survived.  Center  monastics  offer  free  counseling  support  for
people. Daily meditation is practiced and many supports are in
place to help students keep their practice going in life.
After  14  years  of  investigation  work,  at  DSMC,  it  has  been


confirmed  that  the  Buddha  recovered  something  extremely
unique that leads directly to a reduction of suffering and, if the
teachings  and  meditation  are  pursued  more  deeply,  following
the  precise  instructions,  this  training  can  lead  to  an  eventual
total cessation of suffering in this lifetime.
The center teaches a simple meditation practice based on Right
Effort as found in the early texts. The practice is called Tranquil
Wisdom Insight Meditation, TWIM for short. TWIM is easy and
fun to learn and is appropriate for anyone within the bounds of
any religion.
This teaching is easy to understand and immediately effective.
The practice transfers very well into daily life to help us lighten
up,  smile  more,  and  become  happier.  It  is  so  progressively
interesting that it invites deeper inspection and people really do
want to ‘come and see’ and understand more.
There  is  no  question  that  Buddhist
teachings make life easier. They provide
a  clear  understanding  of  how  the  mind
works.  As  you  discover  how  things
actually  operate,  then  quite  naturally,
as  you  calm  down,  you  will  tend  to  act
in  more  compassionate  ways  towards
people in daily life.
Training at the center uses the Majjhima Nikàya as a main text for
guidance during your training. Students who practice in earnest
and want to progress well are encouraged to follow the advice of
MN-95 The Canki Sutta when coming to the center to study. In
that sutta there are 12 steps key to making good progress. MN-15
describes the best student for the teacher to put time and energy
into training. The proper outcome of your training is described


in MN-21. It is worth it for you to investigate these suttas before
coming to train.
At the center, students
and  monastics  alike
are challenged to test
their  understanding
through  their  own
investigation  for
verification  of  any
spoken  truth  they
hear  in  a  Dhamma
talk.  If  their  results
match  the  results
described  within
the  suttas,  then
they  are  considered
the  Buddha’s  teaching.  If  not,  then  its  time  for  open  Dhamma
discussion and re-evaluation.

More Information
We  encourage  you  to  visit  our  website  at  www.dhammasukha.
org
At  the  website  you  will  find  a  lot  more  information  about
Dhamma talks, how we teach at the center, books that can help
you,  articles,  and  more  information  about  how  to  contact  our
center in Missouri.
If  you  need  help,  you  can  write  to  Rev.  Sister  Khema  at
sisterkhema@yahoo.com. She will forward you to whomever can
help you best.


Please make arrangements to come into the center by April 15 if
possible so residences can be carefully planned for you.
The  address  of  Dhamma  Sukha  Meditation  Center  and
Anathapindika’s Park is:
Dhamma Sukha Meditation Center
8218 County Road 204
Annapolis, MO 63620 USA  
Website: www.dhammasukha.org
Office Telephone: (573) 546-1214 (please leave a clear message)
E-mail: bhantev4u@dhammasukha.org,
Training Questions: sisterkhema@dhammasukha.org