Ciao, Enlightenment
Insight Myanmar27 Feb 2024

Ciao, Enlightenment

Episode #221: Our guest, Lorenzo Colombo, talks about the great Italian monk, U Lokānatha. Born Salvatore Cioffi near Naples in 1897, his family temporarily moved to New York due to economic difficulties. Salvatore embarked on a spiritual quest early in life. Though his family were devout Roman Catholics, Salvatore initially explored positivism but eventually found himself drawn to Buddhism, quite unusual for a Westerner at that time.

Salvatore abandoned his family and possessions, venturing to Asia in search of spiritual fulfillment. His quest took him through India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and finally to Burma in 1925, where he ordained as a Buddhist monk, adopting the name U Lokānatha. In the remote regions of northern Burma, he engaged in intense meditation, developing supernatural abilities and a deep understanding of Buddhist teachings.

U Lokānatha's journey didn't end there; he toured the US and Europe, introducing Buddhism as a practical and spiritual path for the common person. He connected Buddhist principles with science, politics, and psychology, emphasizing inner peace as a means to achieve world peace. His life touched a great many people, including such luminaries as Sayagyi U Ba Khin, Webu Sayadaw, B.R. Ambedkar, the Thai Royal Family, Munindra, S.N. Goenka, Sun Lun Sayadaw, General Aung San, the Sri Lankan head of state, and Mahasi Sayadaw, while also trying to even convert Mussolini and the Pope to Buddhism!


Despite facing challenges, U Lokānatha's unwavering determination and commitment to sharing the Dhamma left a lasting impact on the world. His story continues to inspire those on their own spiritual journeys, highlighting the transformative power of spiritual exploration and inner peace.

Episoder(519)

COVID-19 in Myanmar: Sheltering At Home

COVID-19 in Myanmar: Sheltering At Home

Welcome to the fifth episode in our ongoing “COVID-19 in Myanmar” series, called “Sheltering in Place.” While the previous show told the stories of four expats who left just before the world closed do...

17 Jul 20201h 37min

COVID-19 in Myanmar: Exiled Expats Edition

COVID-19 in Myanmar: Exiled Expats Edition

How has the coronavirus pandemic impacted foreign meditators in Myanmar? This is precisely the question we set out to answer in this “Expats in Exile Edition” of our COVID-19 in Myanmar series.The gue...

4 Jul 20201h 55min

Myanmar Dhamma Diaries: Empathy for the Executioners

Myanmar Dhamma Diaries: Empathy for the Executioners

In 2017, Zach Hessler, then known as U Obhasa, was a forest monk in upper Myanmar. Following in the tradition of monks during the Buddha's time, one day he set out from his forest monastery on foot to...

26 Jun 20201h 38min

COVID-19 in Myanmar: Monastic Edition

COVID-19 in Myanmar: Monastic Edition

How is the coronavirus pandemic impacting monastics in Myanmar? This is precisely the question we set out to answer in this very special “Monastic Edition” of our COVID-19 in Myanmar series. The guest...

16 Jun 20202h 4min

COVID-19 in Myanmar: Women's Edition

COVID-19 in Myanmar: Women's Edition

In the second installment of our ongoing COVID-19 in Myanmar series, we present the Women’s Edition. So often at times of crisis and at key moments in world events, it is the voices of men who make th...

10 Jun 20201h 34min

COVID-19 in Myanmar: Burmese Edition

COVID-19 in Myanmar: Burmese Edition

In this inaugural episode of our ongoing "COVID-19 in Myanmar" series, we present the Burmese Edition, where we hear from the four local voices who present their perspectives on the ongoing coronaviru...

29 Mai 20201h 29min

Myanmar Dhamma Diaries: Sobering Up in Ingyinbin

Myanmar Dhamma Diaries: Sobering Up in Ingyinbin

In this inaugural edition of the “Myanmar Dhamma Diaries,” Joah tells the story of an alcoholic Airbnb guest from Europe who disrupts his Yangon home. Learning that the guest had chosen to stay there ...

8 Mai 20201h 23min

Swe Win

Swe Win

Swe Win’s journey has taken him from a love of British literature to the pits of solitary confinement in Insein Prison in Yangon, where he escaped harsh conditions and toxic anger by taking up a medit...

27 Apr 20202h 28min

Populært innen Politikk og nyheter

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