A Guide to Tranquil Wisdom Insight Meditation (T.W.I.M.): Attaining Nibbana from the Earliest Buddhist Teachings with 'Mindfulness' of Lovingkindness'

by Bhante Vimalaramsi, David C Johnson (Contributor)

In this booklet are the beginning instructions for Mettà or Loving-kindness Meditation, as part of the 'Practice of the Brahmaviharas.' Bhante Vimalaramsi calls this Tranquil Wisdom Insight Meditation or TWIM for short. This is the practice described in earliest Buddhist teachings that the Buddha gave the monks to attain Nibbana. The way Bhante teaches this meditation practice yields very fast results. The warm, happy feeling of Loving-kindness, and the 6Rs practice system Bhante has discovered based on right-effort, gives you deep and profound states of meditation in only a matter of weeks or even days, when practiced consistently. Did you know Loving-kindness will take you deeper faster than doing Breath Meditation? Did you know that Metta DOES take you to Nibbana? This booklet gives the preliminary instructions for the practice of Metta and how to handle hindrances. This practice can also be brought into your daily life and helps with all your life/work situations and the many relationships you have. Mindfulness is re-defined here and practicing in this way yields the attainment of what Bhante calls the Tranquil Aware Jhanas. They are related to concentration Jhanas but are not the same. Through this practice, you can experience these deep states within days or weeks, not years or decades. Even just doing sitting practice at home. Bhante has students he has never met or taken a retreat who have gone all the way to awakening by using this system at home. Everything is here, and in detail, with many tips and examples, to get the meditator on his way to experiencing awakening in this very life. For more than 40 years Bhante Vimalaramsi researched and practiced many methods without finding any real satisfaction. He went back to the earliest Buddhist teachings, using the Majjhima Nikaya and found what he was seeking. He found the step that had been left out! Find out what that is (hint- to 'tranquilize'). Bhante Vimalaramsi's method of “The 6Rs", is the key to the step he found, which is the "Relax" step. In the suttas, it is called "Tranquilize." Once you learn this practice you can continue by going to Bhante's website and doing online retreats from home or visiting his center one of the retreats around the world he conducts. Bhante Vimalaramsi has been a monk since 1986 and practiced with many of the major Buddhist teachers in Asia. He now teaches all over the world and is the abbot of the Dhamma Sukha Meditation Center near St. Louis, Mo, USA. He is also the US representative to the World Buddhist Summit.

Genres: Meditation, Buddhism, Nonfiction

54 pages, Paperback

First published March 10, 2015

Reviews

[Amit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written loving kindness mediation instructions in form of a short book, got the pdf at start of dhammasukha online retreat, which is basically meditate at home.
https://www.dhammasukha.org/online-re...

[Ata A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple, succinct, and a brief way to learn the very basics of living-kindness / metta meditation. Metta meditation truly lifts the spirits, enriches the heart, and forms positive practice. Compassion, joy, loving kindness, and equanimity are the fruits of practicing metta meditation so the author posits. Many non- Buddhists are of the view that Buddhist meditation is about “observing” the breaths. This is only one part/form of Buddhist practice. Metta meditation is actually mentioned more in the Suttas than anapanasati / breathing meditation, and is seen as helpful in learning deeper knowledge, wisdom, and insight. Even if you’re not Buddhist, this small treatise/guide will benefit you immensely!

[Dean Paradiso · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent little primer related to meditation specifically in the tradition of Buddhist mindfulness practice. The (TWIM) method detailed in brief here is very effective in overcoming some of the common problems that present themselves with 'absorption' concentration practices. The booklet is written in easy to understand style and may serve as an introduction to meditation.

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting approach. Uses the feeling of mettā in the body as a chair.