Insight Myanmar15 Jan 2021

Luissa Burton

Today’s episode explores a journey from the fashion runway to the meditation hall. An actress, model, and beauty queen, Luissa Burton discusses the circuitous route that ultimately brought her to meditation practice in Myanmar.

Luissa’s career trajectory did not follow the conventional narrative of the fashion industry. From childhood, she was stricken with two serious skin conditions, eczema and psoriasis, and struggled with eating disorders throughout her modeling career. Luissa certainly has a unique perspective from which to reflect on her struggles and celebrity. Today she is helping reinvent what it means to be a social influencer in the 21st century, advocating for young people to focus more on self-love and inner acceptance instead of distorting their personality and body image in a quest to become popular or conform to society’s messaging.

An inner focus on healthy living and non-harm to all beings ultimately led Luissa to meditation, which was further motivated after passing through a “dark night of the soul.” Following an inner voice compelling her to come to Myanmar, she enrolled in a ten-day course in the tradition of S. N. Goenka at Dhamma Joti, and then followed up the retreat with an eco-tour around the country.

The talk covers a number of key topics, including the contrast between being a dedicated meditator and a famous international fashion model, the definition of “beauty” in contemporary Western society, and how meditation practice disrupts a dualistic understanding.

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