The Start of a Path

Episode #195: “I just always felt most comfortable in retreat settings, and in monastic settings to some degree… and in strip clubs.” This is Natalie Claire’s story, and though she no longer is employed as a stripper or sex worker, her perspective on her story and her decisions is very thought-provoking.Natalie traces her story back to a very messy parental divorce. To help her cope, she took up yoga and then vipassana, but also experimented with all kinds of drugs. In fact, even as she began sitting long vipassana retreats, her drug and alcohol addiction spiraled out of control. Finally, with professional help, she was able to get it under control, and has not used substances for over a decade now.But she continued her job as a sex worker and stripper, and was comfortable with her decision. She sought out advice from therapists and Dharma teachers about how she could stay in that profession while still being true to her inner values of living with integrity and not taking any action that would cause harm to others. She was intent on applying the Buddha’s teachings of mindfulness in all postures and in all situations to the strip club.So even while stripping, Natalie tried to maintain her observation of her body and mental volitions. Outside of work, Natalie spent her free time on retreats, studying the Pāḷi scriptures or at the local Mahasi monastery in Las Vegas which she visited often. She took a trip to Thailand in 2007, and then Burma in 2019, where she spent time living in nunneries in the Sagaing Hills. She remembers Sagaing as “a Disneyland of monasteries.” She was deeply inspired by the generosity and friendship of the community of nuns she came in contact with.The coup and its aftermath have been devastating for Natalie, especially hearing stories of violence inflicted on the very nuns she spent time with. Still, she comes back to the deeper lessons that remain with her from that trip in the Golden Land, which she is still deeply grateful for today. “What really sits with me is this expression of that life and of that culture of Dharma, of monastic life, just the most loving, tender, gentle, nurturing… that's what's really emerging for right now."

17 Loka 20231h 18min

Episode #194: In the midst of Myanmar's turbulent times, Manny Maung, a dedicated advocate from Human Rights Watch, sheds light on a dire situation. Behind closed doors, a shadowy military court system relentlessly tries civilians without proper legal representation. This injustice has escalated to an unprecedented level since the coup, eroding the foundations of democracy and rule of law.The Myanmar justice system, rooted in colonial-era penal codes, has never embraced fair trials. Now, it operates entirely at the whims of military leader Min Aung Hlaing, undermining the very essence of legality. Lawyers valiantly defending their clients often face harassment, and are not immune to threats of detention and even torture, adding immense stress to their lives. Merely attempting to defend a client who the state has accused may land them in contempt of court.The judiciary, once on a path to independence, has regressed under the military's grip. Arbitrary arrests, the state of emergency's dubious renewals, and sham elections are orchestrated to consolidate the regime's power, while neighboring countries lend support.Recent sanctions, though effective to some degree, are not substantial enough, allowing the military to find a way around them. Maung calls for more stringent measures, including a Global Arms Embargo and action against Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise.Amid these harrowing circumstances, the Rohingya suffer more than anyone. They remain stateless, trapped in apartheid-like conditions, with no justice for the atrocities committed against them.A multifaceted approach is needed to limit the military's capacity to oppress. Maung asserts that international support can be directed to reignite Myanmar's democracy movement, offering hope for a brighter, post-junta future.Though darkness looms, hope remains the beacon guiding Maung and others fighting for Myanmar's freedom. “Myanmar will have a lot of problems, you have a generation now that is very used to extreme violence, let alone the trauma and the types of violence that they've been exposed to. But there's also some hope in starting from the beginning, perhaps if we can actually move towards somewhere that doesn't have the military as part of that underlying fabric of society, then I think we can get to a better place.”

13 Loka 20231h 7min

Episode #193: In Myanmar's tumultuous landscape, Patrick Winn urges us to see the drug trade not as a moral dilemma but as a potent force shaping the nation's destiny. This trade is a means to amass power, manipulate borders, and influence Myanmar's very future, much like how Saudi Arabia was changed by the discovery of oil there.Winn's perspective on the multibillion dollar drug trade is pragmatic; it's a colossal industry, akin to Fortune 500 companies, driven by ruthless individuals who'll go to any lengths for profit. He traces the Golden Triangle’s origins back to Chinese Nationalist soldiers who, with clandestine CIA support during the Cold War, turned to opium and heroin production after they failed to overthrow Mao and Communist China. This had the unintended consequence of addicting American soldiers in Vietnam, and eventually making its way into the US.Over time, the drug trade has become deeply ingrained in Myanmar, affecting not only the country’s governance but leading to widespread corruption and exploitation. Recent shifts have seen drug lords pivot to methamphetamine production, significantly boosting profits, as meth profits now far outpace heroin. Chinese crime cartels dominate the landscape, using a "landlord model" for drug cultivation, with profits going to those ethnic militias which provide them space. Surprisingly, the West pays little attention to the Golden Triangle's thriving drug trade because it mostly caters to local demand across Asia, leading to the devastate of local communities.Illicit narcotics is a major factor in the political mix of post-coup Myanmar. Besides enriching the military, it largely funds the United Wa State Army (UWSA). The UWSA is a very strong and well-armed ethnic defense force that has so far managed to hold itself apart from the conflict. Thus, its role in helping shape the country’s political future remains uncertain.“The real revolution that's already happening, is the beginning of this feeling of unity between the lowlands and the highlands,” Winn says in closing. “And if that if that doesn't work, then the revolution won't succeed.”

10 Loka 20231h 55min

Episode #192: “Where are the fighters of Europe who came out against fascist Hitler, or communist Stalin? All disappeared?” This is one of many blunt questions posed by Kasit Piromya, a distinguished Thai diplomat with 37 years of experience. He delivers a powerful critique, calling out the paltry global response to Myanmar's democracy movement. Piromya passionately criticizes the feeble commitment of politicians worldwide to involvement in this crisis, and urges them to align their actions with their ideals. He expresses particular disappointment in Western democracies for hesitating to confront tyranny in Myanmar, emphasizing the need for bold and tangible actions rather than excuses.Piromya also highlights the cozy relations between the Thai government and Myanmar's military, which hinder effective intervention. The role of ASEAN comes under particular scrutiny, with Piromya advocating for a permanent envoy to represent collective decisions and greater coordination with the NUG for humanitarian efforts.Emphasizing the importance of taking a strong stand against the Myanmar junta and warning against ASEAN's failure to act, Piromay argues that ASEAN’s response has set a dangerous precedent for permitting autocracy to take root in the region. He calls for a united front in promoting democracy and human rights, potentially reducing external influences from China, India, and Russia, which have continued to prop up the regime.Piromya acknowledges the challenges faced by democratic activists and NUG ministers in Myanmar and he appeals to ASEAN members, especially Thailand, to provide travel documents for their safe passage so that their voices can be heard by regional stakeholders.Lastly, Piromya offers constructive criticism of the NUG, urging them to select leaders willing to take risks for their country, move beyond Aung San Suu Kyi, and firmly reject past Burmanization policies.“They have to take the risk of their life because that is a noble thing called service to the country,” he says of those current NUG leaders. “So their life is secondary, because this is a very crucial time for them to take the mantle of leadership and take the risks, even to their physical well-being to their life.”

3 Loka 20231h 41min

The host and founder of Insight Myanmar was interviewed by the podcast, "Rocklaz Radio with Tanmay Shah." Trish, the founder of Bamama Cooks, joins the conversation as well.

29 Syys 20232h 40min

Episode #191: Myra Dahgaypaw was born in a camp for internally displaced persons in Karen State. Yet there was no safety there. From infancy, she had to flee with her family to escape violence, facing gunfire, airstrikes, and landmines. No matter where they stopped, the Burmese military found them and forced them to flee again. Myra wondered why this was happening to her and her family, and began to see the Bamar people as monsters.Her parents died before she was a teenager, and she was raised by extended family in a Thai refugee camp, where safety was still elusive due to cross-border attacks launched by the military-aligned Democratic Karen Buddhist Army. But Myra's thirst for education pushed her to learn English, leading to work as a librarian in Thailand.Her work eventually got her a ticket out of the camps to Washington, DC, where she works with the US Campaign for Burma, whose focus is uniting the diaspora and rallying both government and grassroots support. She highlights the urgent life-or-death situation in Burma and urges international intervention. “No matter what we say here, no matter what we advocate for, we can still go back to bed at night and sleep peacefully. I know people in Burma are not having this luxury. Next time they're killed, they're beheaded, they're put in jail… just because they are fighting for freedom, they are fighting for their rights and the rights of the people, the civilians of Burma.”

26 Syys 20231h 11min

Episode #190: A carefree Australian surfer, Grahame White’s life changed dramatically on a chance encounter with Hermann Hesse’s, Siddhartha. After reading it, he decided to practice breathing based on a short line in the text. What happened next blew him away. “The mind became very bright and luminous after about five minutes and I said, ‘Oh, this is better than drugs!’” Grahame then practiced Buddhist meditation in the Mahasi style at a monastery offered by the Thai Embassy in London, before heading onto Bodhgaya and ordaining there as a monk.At Bodghaya, he learned about an Indian vipassana teacher, S.N. Goenka, and Grahame made plans to go to the Tibetan monastery in Ladakh where Goenka would be conducting his second ever course.Those days in Bodghaya were an amazing time. He met Joseph Goldstein and Munindra, among many other names who would become prominent in Dhamma circles. Goenka soon announced his intention to come there to conduct a series of courses. Even among all the other spiritual teachers he was encountering at the time in India, he found that Goenka stood out in a remarkable way. “I feel as though Goenkaji just had a presence about him from his meditation practice,” he commented, adding that his strong personality and humility also stood out. He spent long periods in Goenka’s presence, and listened to Goenka and Munindra converse for many hours on the Dhamma.In those days, Goenka courses were intense, but quite relaxed. But little by little, Grahame felt an emergent “fundamentalism” in the organization as it rapidly grew in size, which made him uncomfortable, and so he returned to his Mahasi practice.In 1973, Grahame made his first visit to Burma. With only 7-day visas given to foreigners, he practiced briefly at the main Mahasi monastery, where he studied under Sayadaw U Janaka.Mahasi was also gaining a growing interest among Westerners, and when Grahame finally made it back to Australia, he began to involve himself with supporting Mahasi courses there. He eventually stepped into the teacher role himself, which will be the subject of Part 2 of our interview with him.

19 Syys 20231h 57min

Episode #189: Nan Su Mon Aung took on a significant role to support her country and government by agreeing to become the NUG Representative in France. Despite acknowledging the challenges and responsibilities that come with the position, she embraced it with determination. Nan Su Mon Aung's mission is to inform French society about the situation in Myanmar, represent Burmese citizens in France, and foster communication between the NUG and French organizations.She expresses gratitude for the support provided by the global Burmese diaspora while recognizing the sacrifices made by those in the resistance movement who are on the ground. Nan Su Mon Aung highlights the ongoing struggles faced by people in Myanmar, such as arrests and ongoing human rights violations. Having grown up under previous dictatorships, her aspiration was to provide freer and more open education to Burmese youth. She aimed to encourage critical thinking and create a learning experience similar to that of international universities. However, her plans were disrupted by the coup.Nan Su Mon Aung also discusses her mixed, Karen/Pa’O background and the ethnic divisions still present in Myanmar. She praises the younger generation for their acceptance of diversity and their awareness of human rights and equality, and chalks it up to their easy access to information, which sets them apart from previous generations. She also emphasizes the global nature of the conflict in Myanmar, urging outside observers to recognize the involvement of Russia and China and the threat it poses to neighboring countries and the international community. Nan Su Mon Aung believes in the importance of eradicating dictatorship worldwide and encourages support for the ongoing revolution.“As long as we don't lose hope in our revolution, we are already winning. And we should be believing in it, because our revolution should prevail

15 Syys 20231h 9min