Jonathan Crowley, Part 1
Insight Myanmar7 Jul 2023

Jonathan Crowley, Part 1

Episode #175: Long before it was commonplace in America, Jonathan Crowley’s parents were keen on exploring Eastern philosophy. As for Jonathan, his first exposure to meditation began with a four-day silent retreat led by Larry Rosenberg at IMS. Seeking a deeper experience, he attended a ten-day course at a vipassana meditation center in the S.N. Goenka tradition. The course proved to be incredibly challenging, both physically and mentally.

After taking a second course, Jonathan gained a better understanding of Goenka's teachings, and left him with a lasting experience of mettā (loving-kindness). This newfound understanding also inspired him to look at how to integrate meditation into everyday life.

Still, Jonathan struggled to reconcile these realizations with conventional expectations and societal pressures. He found inspiration from books on renunciation and sought simpler lifestyles, which eventually led to applying for the sit-and-serve program at Dhamma Dhara.

At this point, Jonathan faced a choice between joining the center or pursuing an intensive theater program. Ultimately, he chose the path of Dhamma, immersing himself in the vipassana community around western Massachusetts. His time spent with fellow students, servers, and teachers deeply influenced him, and is explored further in Part 2 of the conversation.

“I was getting to know that world,” Jonathan recalls. “And that period of time certainly had a very deeply conditioned experience on me.”

Episoder(507)

Bonus Content: An Interview with The Bangkok Podcast

Bonus Content: An Interview with The Bangkok Podcast

We were honored to join our friends at The Bangkok Podcast to discuss the origins of our platform and how we've navigated the challenges of hosting discussions in the post-coup environment. We are sha...

13 Sep 202436min

Navigating a Mine Field

Navigating a Mine Field

Episode #267: Yèshua Moser-Puangsuwan discusses the profound impact of landmines in Myanmar with an equal mix of empathy and depth. He vividly describes how retreating soldiers have planted landmines...

10 Sep 20241h 46min

Namaste to Nowhere

Namaste to Nowhere

Episode #266: We are joined by Kimi Colney and Makepeace Sitlhou, journalists covering the humanitarian crisis and ethnic conflicts along the Indo-Myanmar border in India’s northeastern states. They d...

6 Sep 20241h 8min

Reading the Tea Leaves

Reading the Tea Leaves

Episode #265: Marc Batac's story is one of profound political transformation, reflecting the broader struggles of Southeast Asia. Born in the eastern regions of the Philippines, Marc's early exposure ...

3 Sep 20241h 53min

The Cure Lies Within

The Cure Lies Within

Episode #264: Shalini Sri Perumal delves into her expertise in community-based healthcare, particularly focusing on the integration of indigenous and traditional medicine among Burmese migrant women i...

31 Aug 20241h 33min

Passage to India

Passage to India

Episode #263: Sanjay Valentine Gathia weighs in on the complex India-Myanmar relationship, highlighting the historical context and evolving policies that have shaped it. He underscores the importance ...

27 Aug 20241h 18min

A Woman’s Place is in the Revolution

A Woman’s Place is in the Revolution

Episode #262: Hnin Thet Hmu Khin, a dedicated women's rights activist, reveals the often undocumented struggles and triumphs of women in Myanmar's revolution. Despite their widespread and committed pa...

24 Aug 20241h 53min

From The Ground Up

From The Ground Up

Episode #261: Saw Kapi delves into his journey and contributions to Myanmar's democratic and educational landscape. His story began with involvement in the 1988 student uprising against military rule,...

21 Aug 20242h 1min

Populært innen Politikk og nyheter

giver-og-gjengen-vg
aftenpodden
aftenpodden-usa
forklart
i-retten
stopp-verden
popradet
fotballpodden-2
det-store-bildet
rss-gukild-johaug
dine-penger-pengeradet
lydartikler-fra-aftenposten
rss-ness
nokon-ma-ga
hanna-de-heldige
aftenbla-bla
e24-podden
rss-dannet-uten-piano
frokostshowet-pa-p5
rss-penger-polser-og-politikk