The Start of a Path

Episode #178: Step into the hidden world of Burmese small arms, where intrigue, danger, and geopolitical secrets intertwine. Miles Vining, a former US Marine and member of the Free Burma Rangers, recounts how his obsession with digital weapons in video games led him to start documenting real-life firearms in Myanmar.Miles discovered a vast array of small arms sourced from unlikely corners of the globe. He describes the refurbishment and resourcefulness that keeps Burmese weaponry operational long after it was decommissioned elsewhere, as well as the intricate web of foreign influences and local production that shape the small arms landscape, and his work in unmasking the deeper political alliances they represent.But Burmese small arms are not merely tools of war; they symbolize a nation's struggle for freedom, too. Miles describes the blurred lines between suppliers and fighters, along with corrupt commanders secretly supporting those they oppose.“Diving into small arms research in Burma, you can go down some of the most amazing and fantastic rabbit holes and relationships and geopolitics and then who double crossed who and backtrack to where things are getting made and what secret deals were going on,” he says. “The whole shebang is there! But it's untouched, and nobody's interested in it, because it's the dark hole that Burma is, so it’s no surprise there. It's like the world doesn't care about Burma yet again!”

25 Jul 20232h 3min

Episode #177: In the captivating story of Sunda Khin, we delve into a world filled with remarkable individuals who left an indelible mark on Burma's history. Sunda Khin's father, U Chan Htoon, the esteemed first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Burma, played a pivotal role in shaping the nation's destiny.Growing up as part of an elite family, Sunda Khin encountered influential figures such as Aung San, the nation's first post-independence leader, and his wife, Daw Khin Kyi. She also had personal connections to Ne Win, the military dictator responsible for the 1962 coup, and Louisa Bensen, a movie star turned rebel leader. Sunda Khin's father shared a close friendship with U Nu, a devout meditation practitioner who found himself leading a country in turmoil.Amidst these historical events, Sunda Khin's family had unique experiences with renowned personalities worldwide. They received formal invitations from Lord Mountbatten in London, interacted with visiting dignitaries, and even became guests of King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, despite historical tensions between their nations. U Chan Htoon's pursuit of Buddhist wisdom led him to connect with Buddhist monks and scholars across Asia, fostering a broader understanding of the religion.One of U Chan Htoon’s most significant friendships was with the young Indian businessman, S.N. Goenka, who suffered from debilitating migraines, and was afraid he would become addicted to morphine. U Chan Htoon strongly suggested that Goenka take a meditation course with Sayagyi U Ba Khin to help overcome his affliction. This encounter would later inspire Goenka to spread the practice of Vipassana meditation worldwide, impacting countless lives.

18 Jul 20232h 5min

Episode #176: Jonathan Crowley's journey into meditation at Dhamma Dhara was both fascinating and fulfilling. As he immersed himself in vipassana meditation in the tradition of S.N. Goenka, he discovered a deeper understanding of the practice, and himself, along with the joy of serving as a volunteer. However, learning how to integrate his newfound wisdom into everyday life posed challenges, compounded by the fact that at this time in the 1980s, meditation was still considered fringe and largely outside the bounds of conventional society.Still, Jonathan pondered how vipassana meditation could impact society and bridge the worlds of introspection and social change. Around this time, the center was organizing courses for traumatized Cambodian refugees who had escaped the Pol Pot regime and were being relocated in Massachusetts. While these initiatives brought the world to the center, Jonathan still yearned to find a way to bring the center into the world.An opportunity arose when he accompanied Bruce Stewart, a senior teacher, to a maximum-security prison in Alabama, where they were allowed to conduct an intensive meditation course for inmates. While it was a transformative experience at the time, later Jonathan would reflect upon his racial naiveté and how he had positioned himself into a role as a “White savior.”Increasingly concerned about the lack of diversity within the organization's leadership, Jonathan advocated for targeted courses for Black communities and tracking retention rates by demographics, but the center showed little interest.Earlier in his practice, Jonathan had been deeply moved by how Goenka attempted to universalize the technique, proclaiming that “breath is breath,” and explaining that it couldn’t be differentiated according to nationality, religion or skin color. But Jonathan was beginning to see that there was more to this story than this universalist-sounding messaging. “I understand structural racism as intergenerational trauma,” he notes. “So now, I would say that even our breaths and our sensations are conditioned by this level of trauma, and that has to be addressed.”

11 Jul 20232h 14min

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.”

7 Jul 202342min

Episode #174: Jack Myint’s story begins with his attempts to learn English, which was no easy feat coming from a lower middle-class background, and in a country that had intentionally restricted English language instruction. Early on, he relied on the phrases his father taught him during taxi rides and recited them phonetically to foreign tourists at Shwedagon Pagoda, even though he didn't fully understand their meaning.As Jack's language skills improved, his parents managed to find English CDs and videotapes, and his remarkable journey of becoming self-taught before he was seven years old eventually caught the attention of famed author, Ma Thanegi, at The Myanmar Times. But even at that young age, Jack had to come to terms the harsh reality of living under a military dictatorship, as his lack of freedoms and need for self-censorship became evident.Jack's insatiable thirst for knowledge later found solace at the American Center, where he immersed himself in literature and political speeches—George Orwell and Bill Clinton were his favorites, respectively. Other impactful lessons came from his tutelage at the foot of Shwe Nya Nwar Sayadaw, who taught him about the struggle against military governance and the complexities of monastic politics.Jack came to recognize how the military was exploiting Buddhism by using nationalist rhetoric to co-opt monks as messengers of their propaganda. The rise of anti-Muslim sentiment and the military's effective use of social media, particularly Facebook, further divided the country.During Myanmar's transition period, Jack witnessed the hunger for a better life among the people. However, economic growth seemed to bypass many Bamar Buddhists, leading to a resurgence of racial and religious identity, which played into the military's hands.

3 Jul 20231h 54min

Episode #173: Historian Robert Lyman takes listeners on a captivating journey through the little-known Burma Front of World War II. Lyman's 35 years of research and his fascination with the ethnic hill tribes, particularly the Naga, come together in his book, Among The Headhunters, which serves as the focal point of this conversation.Lyman unveils the intricate details surrounding a remarkable story: an American C-47 plane crashes in the Naga Hills, triggering a race to rescue the survivors. The backdrop to this adventure is the Japanese invasion of Burma and their successful blockade of the Burma Road. The Americans needed to do all they could to keep China in the war, in order to keep Japan tied down there, and away from the fighting in other parts of the Pacific.Lyman describes how Roosevelt eventually approved the audacious logistical undertaking of transport planes navigating the treacherous Himalayas as a way to keep Chinese troops supplied. Pilots braved perilous flights without oxygen, facing towering peaks and Japanese adversaries. Lyman also introduces us to the rich tapestry of the Naga people— some of whom were headhunters and slave owners— and describes their ongoing conflicts with the British Empire as it expanded into their region.The narrative returns to the plane crash, where the survivors find themselves in the Naga village of Pangsha. Lyman talks about the initial amazement of the villagers toward the strange visitors, emphasizing the cultural disorientation experienced by both sides. He highlights the benevolence shown by the Naga people, sheltering the survivors and enabling their communication and eventual rescue.Lyman concludes by reflecting on the ongoing conflict in Myanmar, attributing it to flawed colonial mapping and the lack of effort on the part of the Burmese military to establish a unified nation for the diverse hill tribes. He underscores the importance of creating structures and processes to foster peace and urges Myanmar's government to adopt a more inclusive approach.“The really tragic thing about Myanmar is that the government doesn't seem to understand that every time they use violence, they simply create more warriors. They're not doing anything to create a long peace!” Lyman says in conclusion.

27 Jun 20232h 9min

Episode #172: In 2021, Jake Snyder embarked on a journey from Kansas to Missouri, unknowingly setting the stage for a life-altering encounter. As he tuned into an episode of the Insight Myanmar Podcast during his drive, the guest’s voice captivated him. Her name was Thiri, and her vulnerability and vivid portrayal of the challenges she faced drew Jake into her world. Inspired by her openness, he felt compelled to support her cause, and decided to offer recurring donations to her work that have now stretched over two years. Jake's firm decision to “show up” in this way was rooted in his own experiences of transformation, as he himself had successfully come out of a devastating heroin addiction.Thiri, moved by the degree of Jake’s support, reached out to Insight Myanmar with an idea: to bring Jake and herself together for a podcast episode. She wanted to shed light on the power of one person's actions and inspire others amid the darkness that plagued Myanmar.Thiri recognized that Jake's support went beyond financial contributions; it represented a willingness to stand with those in despair. Living in a country where their plight was often overlooked by the international media, Thiri felt isolated and unseen. However, these donations became a beacon of hope, reminding her that they were not alone.“I share about you to other friends as well,” Thiri relates, addressing Jake. “‘Hey, I have this friend. I have never seen him, but he's been supporting me!’ Some of my friends have even heard of your name. And even though they don't know who you are, you are now known among us. We're like, ‘Oh, we have that friend! Jake, somewhere in the US. I talked to my mom and my mom's like, ‘Oh, such a great human being! Can you give thanks to him?’”

20 Jun 20231h 12min

Episode #171: Tempel Smith, a meditation teacher who is also an active, committed social activist, is used to finding a balance among differing perspectives, points of view and ideologies. This can be traced back to his childhood, with two very different parents with two very different world outlooks.Tempel went to Reed College in Portland, Oregon, where he began volunteering to support environmental conservation, and after a nearby abortion center was bombed, he took up that cause as well. Eventually he traveled down to Nevada to join a large protest at a nuclear site, which turned violent. It caused him to start questioning how he was processing it all. “I'm so angry at the way things are, and I'm so impatient. I'm trying to be peaceful, but it's all I can do is stop myself from reacting!”Through the behavior modeled by other committed activists, however, he eventually realized his path was that of peaceful engagement. The question was how to pursue it. By then he knew that academic study could not provide any of the answers he was looking for. On a visit home, a neighbor told him about a recent course he had taken at the nearby Insight Meditation Society, and so Tempel signed up for a nine-day silent course.It was very impactful experience for him. A year later he headed back to another retreat, and he knew by then he had found his practice. Tempel began to do more intensive retreats, joining courses in the Mahasi and Goenka traditions.But now the danger was that he was becoming a “retreat dweller;” moving on from one intensive experience to the other while getting further and further away from the past social engagement that was once so important to him. And once again, he felt in a tense limbo between two very divergent communities: while his yogi friends found his activism a distraction from the real work of insight, his activist friends dismissed meditation as a selfish pursuit. He eventually found inspiration about how to reconcile all this in the writings of the Vietnamese monk, Thich Nhat Hanh. To go deeper into the practice, he decided to visit Myanmar to practice under Sayadaw U Pandita and Pa Auk Sayadaw.

13 Jun 20231h 28min