Bhante Wimala
Bhante Wimala, author of Lessons of the Lotus: Practical Spiritual Teachings of a Travelling Buddhist Monk, was Omega's resident meditation teacher for staff and participants for 12 years.
At the age of 13, Bhante chose to go to a Buddhist temple; he received his ordination as a novice the next year, then completed six years of formal training as a Buddhist monk and received his higher ordination at age 20. At this stage, a Buddhist monk is typically encouraged by custom or inclination to continue in strictly formal studies, which are primarily academic in their emphasis. Bhante, however, chose to set out into the world, bearing only his robe and bowl. Traveling for two decades around the globe and studying under many teachers and masters has produced in the person of Bhante Wimala a compassionate and receptive monk. His practical spiritual teachings and down-to-earth approach make him available, encouraging, and understandable. Bhante's philosophy emphasizes the authenticity of experiencing (above mere speculating), a focus on "be-living" rather than "believing."
His Holiness the Dalai Lama introduces Bhante as "a Theravada Buddhist monk from Sri Lanka, who spends his time traveling and teaching in the spirit of monks at the time of the Buddha. [Bhante] presents the teachings the Buddha gave over 2,500 years ago as if they had been given to address the needs of people today . . . Bhante Wimala's heartfelt concern for the suffering and the simple remedies he draws from the Buddha's teachings will be a source of strength for everyone confused by the pressures of modern life." |
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