How a Chance Encounter in Malaysia, Medical Visits in Chennai, and Dedicated Students Brought TWIM Meditation to Indian Soil
“When this exists, that comes to be; with the arising of this, that arises.”
— The Buddha
The Bhante Vimalaramsi India story shows us how beautifully cause and effect work in real life. The Buddha taught us that nothing happens by pure luck or accident. Instead, one small action triggers another, and slowly, a life-changing movement takes root. Looking back at how my venerated teacher came to share Tranquil Wisdom Insight Meditation (TWIM) in India, I see this law of nature clearly.
A Casual Meeting in Kuala Lumpur
The connection that eventually brought Bhante Vimalaramsi to India began in a very unexpected way in Malaysia.
Sister Khema (Sasana Dipika Khanti Khema) was staying at a Sri Lankan Buddhist temple in Kuala Lumpur. During her stay, an Indian professor came to visit the temple. They sat together and had a very warm, friendly conversation about the Dhamma. Before leaving, the professor cordially invited Sister Khema to visit India.
Now, most people receive casual invitations and forget them over time. But Sister Khema kept that invitation in her heart. Sometime later, she decided to accept the offer and traveled to Aurangabad in Maharashtra.
During her visit, she met Dr. Ananda Bhante. He welcomed her warmly and introduced her to Jetvan Buddha Vihara near Yavatmal. Sitting in that peaceful atmosphere, a noble thought arose: Why not invite Bhante Vimalaramsi to teach in India by conducting a retreat right here at Jetvan?
Dental Care, Ayurveda, and the Doors Open
Around this exact period, Sister Khema and I (Bhante Dhammagavesi) were busy organizing regular TWIM retreats for Bhante Vimalaramsi in Malaysia. We really wanted Indian practitioners to experience this gentle, sutta-based practice, but we needed the right conditions to align.
Interestingly, the final push came through healthcare needs!
One of Bhante Vimalaramsi’s long-time students invited him to Chennai, Tamil Nadu, to receive specialized Ayurvedic treatment. At the very same time, Sister Khema also needed to undergo dental treatment, and Chennai was the best place for it.
Since Bhante was already traveling to India for his health, he happily agreed to stay longer and return the following year to teach meditation retreats!
Organizing the Very First Historic Retreats
Once Bhante gave his blessings, the team worked hard to make it happen.
Saurabh Kapoor, a dedicated student of Bhante Vimalaramsi, coordinated closely with me to organize a residential retreat at the serene Deer Park Institute in Bir, Himachal Pradesh. At the same time, I worked side by side with Dr. Ananda Bhante to manage all the arrangements for the retreat at Jetvan Buddha Vihara in Maharashtra.
Because of these collective efforts, Bhante Vimalaramsi successfully conducted his very first retreats in India! He introduced local practitioners to the 6Rs (Recognize, Release, Relax, Re-smile, Return, Repeat) and showed them how to meditate with a light, smiling mind.
Expanding Across Maharashtra and Beyond
The response from Indian meditators was overwhelming. People were deeply moved because they didn’t have to force or strain their minds on the cushion.
By the following year, the demand grew so much that we expanded the program further. Along with Jetvan Buddha Vihara and Deer Park, we added a new retreat venue at Vajradhatu in Pune.
Many practitioners joined these sits. They learned how to dissolve physical tightness in the brain (paṭippassaddhi) and experience the deep, peaceful states of jhāna as described directly in the original Suttas. A strong, warm community of TWIM meditators began to flourish across the country.
The Final Retreat and Passing the Torch
Bhante Vimalaramsi’s final retreat in India took place at Deer Park Institute in early 2020, just a few weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic triggered global lockdowns.
We had full plans to bring him back to India for more courses. However, the pandemic restrictions and his gradually declining health prevented any further international travel. Sometime later, Bhante passed away peacefully, bringing a close to a remarkable chapter in the modern revival of the Buddha’s teachings.
Life continued to move like passing clouds. Sister Khema later traveled to Poland to share the teachings with eager European students. Eventually, she became seriously ill and was transferred to a hospice in Budapest, Hungary.
Carrying the Torch Forward Today
When I reflect on that casual meeting in a Kuala Lumpur temple, I am filled with immense gratitude. A short talk between Sister Khema and an Indian professor set off a chain reaction that brought Bhante Vimalaramsi to India and changed hundreds of lives.
From those humble beginnings, we have walked a great path together. To organize and expand this sacred work, we started a public charitable trust called the Samatha Vipassana Trust. So many dedicated volunteers have stepped forward, and certified teachers have been trained to share this wonderful meditation practice.
This method is designed completely on the solid foundation of the Brahmavihāras, keeping Mettā (Loving-kindness) as the primary object of meditation without adding anything extra. Because it is so pure and practical, people see real change in a very short period of time—just as the Buddha said: Ehipassiko (“come and see for yourself”).
To take this mission even further, we recently initiated a Section 8 NGO called MettaInsight Foundation. Through this platform, we share this wonderful method of TWIM under the name Mettā Vipassanā Way.
It fills my heart with joy to see so many people getting involved and deriving true peace from this practice. May this pure Dhamma continue to spread for all time, bringing freedom and happiness to every searching heart!
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