Opening Film for TWIM-Con 2022
Photo Gallery
Presentations from TWIM Con
| twim-con_agenda_and_sessions_4-12_sj.pdf |
| Early_Bhante_Vimalaramsi__slides.pdf |
| Koen: Suttavada presentation |
| David: Online_retreats_presentation.pdf |
| David: My_history_- the early_years.pdf |
| David: DSMC_activies_building_growth.pdf |
| Online Retreats Performance by Russ.pdf |
| guide_update._russ_edits.501_3_c.pdf |
| Nat-Compiling all of the TWIM Resources.pdf |
| Vietnam_Update.pdf |
Full Notes from Nat on what happened with more presentations.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bNuN0_4MH6XIPR45hsE8Uvp8AqADSe51UPuVO9ucKBk/edit
Photos from TWIM-CON 2022
https://photos.app.goo.gl/U3TAFXCz3BHSptzw9
Day 1: April 21st - Conference attendees arrived at Dhamma Sukha, followed by a light dinner. This was a chance for TWIMers to meet with each other, and for some, the first in-person opportunity to connect.
David showed his film “The History Of TWIM” which captured the early days of the Stillpoint Institute, teachers, and Bhante as a layperson.
Day 2: April 22nd - David presented a montage of photos, notes and information about Bhante from his birth, childhood, family, his pre-ordination days, the determination to become a monk, how and what he was trained in, his discovery of TWIM in the suttas and his return to the United States.
Mark and Antra Berger talked about the very early days of TWIM, and the change in Bhante when he came back from Asia, that he was now their teacher. They discussed early TWIM retreats and how these were different than previous practices.
David Johnson talked about how the Stillpoint institute was founded, and how Bhante contacted David after his return from Asia and how DSMC was founded. David talked about the rustic conditions that DSMC started with, and how they slowly built up the property with cabins and the mediation hall.
Drew, Jordan, Adam, Lyling and Delson all discussed their personal experiences in their searches, how they came to find Bhante and the TWIM practice. Lyling talked about the TWIM support group on Facebook that she created - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1459875340958642
International Activities - Part One
Koen and Syl discussed what activities the Suttavada Foundation has done since its founding https://suttavada.foundation, retreats that have been delivered and plans for future growth. There is a lot of interest in retreats in Europe and Asia they are finding out about - and are working to meet those needs.
Brenda ie McRae - https://dhammasukha.or.id/ presented what she’s done with TWIM in Indonesia. Her organization has grown considerably since its founding. There are teachers, support staff, community outreach programs, health and wellness initiatives and of course retreats.
Day 3 - 23 April
David and Kristen talked about the current state of activities at DS - Zoom and in-person retreats, adding more cabins, and a transition strategy to include multiple teachers. Discussed the important of, and impact of, having monastics at DS and what the future for monastics would look like. Talked about Bhante’s vision of having a separate housing building for female monastics located where the old barn currently is.
David, Kristen, Russ and Teri presented information on how online retreats are run, resources for teachers, and the growth that they’ve seen. Russ provided data points on student success with forgiveness and practice progress. Teri has led many online retreats, with many students, and talked about best practices for teachers based on her extensive experience. Khin talked about her global sitting group, which has been running for over two years now - https://www.suttavada.foundation/gtog-weekly-sessions/
Nat and Russ presented on the TWIM teacher and student resource network, which is a platform that has been developed to aid teachers in delivering retreats and providing back-end IT support. Russ discussed the development of a 501c3 that US-based teachers and organizations could leverage, to include hosting retreat. This resource network is in beta, and will go live later in the year.
There was a group round-table discussion about ideas for the sustainability, continuity and growth of TWIM not only at DS, but world-wide. Russ presented information about the typical meditator - demographics, background, etc.
International Activities - Part Two
Venerable Obhasa presented information on her background, ordination, work in Hong Kong, India, United States and her travels with Bhante. She discussed the organizations that she’d set up, and her Pali studies in Sri Lanka.
Sister Khema joined us via Zoom to talk about the work that had been done to date in India, and the success that she’s seen teaching TWIM. Her work in India has touched thousands - which was new information to many of the attendees. https://www.dhammasukha.in/ & https://www.dhammasukha.in/svt-updates-dreams-and-goals
Rev. Dhammagavesi https://www.quora.com/profile/Dhammagavesi-Bhikkhu-1 joined us via Zoom as well, and discussed his activities in Sri Lanka where he currently resides.
There were discussions about codifying the TWIM practice - so that all teachers are teaching the same technique, and to prevent the loss of what Bhante re-discovered. The idea of having a monthly cadence where students would check in with a teacher was also talked about which would help meditators with their practice. Syl said she already does this with her students - that they have lifetime permission to contact her after a retreat. Delson suggested we might develop video playlists from existing content, and edit them into shortever videos, but as part of a series. We also talked about options for retreats - there is a group on Southern California that would like to have a retreat.
We agreed that the first TWIM-CON is just that start - that we will all continue to stay connected with regularly scheduled events so that this momentum continues.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bNuN0_4MH6XIPR45hsE8Uvp8AqADSe51UPuVO9ucKBk/edit
Photos from TWIM-CON 2022
https://photos.app.goo.gl/U3TAFXCz3BHSptzw9
Day 1: April 21st - Conference attendees arrived at Dhamma Sukha, followed by a light dinner. This was a chance for TWIMers to meet with each other, and for some, the first in-person opportunity to connect.
David showed his film “The History Of TWIM” which captured the early days of the Stillpoint Institute, teachers, and Bhante as a layperson.
Day 2: April 22nd - David presented a montage of photos, notes and information about Bhante from his birth, childhood, family, his pre-ordination days, the determination to become a monk, how and what he was trained in, his discovery of TWIM in the suttas and his return to the United States.
Mark and Antra Berger talked about the very early days of TWIM, and the change in Bhante when he came back from Asia, that he was now their teacher. They discussed early TWIM retreats and how these were different than previous practices.
David Johnson talked about how the Stillpoint institute was founded, and how Bhante contacted David after his return from Asia and how DSMC was founded. David talked about the rustic conditions that DSMC started with, and how they slowly built up the property with cabins and the mediation hall.
Drew, Jordan, Adam, Lyling and Delson all discussed their personal experiences in their searches, how they came to find Bhante and the TWIM practice. Lyling talked about the TWIM support group on Facebook that she created - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1459875340958642
International Activities - Part One
Koen and Syl discussed what activities the Suttavada Foundation has done since its founding https://suttavada.foundation, retreats that have been delivered and plans for future growth. There is a lot of interest in retreats in Europe and Asia they are finding out about - and are working to meet those needs.
Brenda ie McRae - https://dhammasukha.or.id/ presented what she’s done with TWIM in Indonesia. Her organization has grown considerably since its founding. There are teachers, support staff, community outreach programs, health and wellness initiatives and of course retreats.
Day 3 - 23 April
David and Kristen talked about the current state of activities at DS - Zoom and in-person retreats, adding more cabins, and a transition strategy to include multiple teachers. Discussed the important of, and impact of, having monastics at DS and what the future for monastics would look like. Talked about Bhante’s vision of having a separate housing building for female monastics located where the old barn currently is.
David, Kristen, Russ and Teri presented information on how online retreats are run, resources for teachers, and the growth that they’ve seen. Russ provided data points on student success with forgiveness and practice progress. Teri has led many online retreats, with many students, and talked about best practices for teachers based on her extensive experience. Khin talked about her global sitting group, which has been running for over two years now - https://www.suttavada.foundation/gtog-weekly-sessions/
Nat and Russ presented on the TWIM teacher and student resource network, which is a platform that has been developed to aid teachers in delivering retreats and providing back-end IT support. Russ discussed the development of a 501c3 that US-based teachers and organizations could leverage, to include hosting retreat. This resource network is in beta, and will go live later in the year.
There was a group round-table discussion about ideas for the sustainability, continuity and growth of TWIM not only at DS, but world-wide. Russ presented information about the typical meditator - demographics, background, etc.
International Activities - Part Two
Venerable Obhasa presented information on her background, ordination, work in Hong Kong, India, United States and her travels with Bhante. She discussed the organizations that she’d set up, and her Pali studies in Sri Lanka.
Sister Khema joined us via Zoom to talk about the work that had been done to date in India, and the success that she’s seen teaching TWIM. Her work in India has touched thousands - which was new information to many of the attendees. https://www.dhammasukha.in/ & https://www.dhammasukha.in/svt-updates-dreams-and-goals
Rev. Dhammagavesi https://www.quora.com/profile/Dhammagavesi-Bhikkhu-1 joined us via Zoom as well, and discussed his activities in Sri Lanka where he currently resides.
There were discussions about codifying the TWIM practice - so that all teachers are teaching the same technique, and to prevent the loss of what Bhante re-discovered. The idea of having a monthly cadence where students would check in with a teacher was also talked about which would help meditators with their practice. Syl said she already does this with her students - that they have lifetime permission to contact her after a retreat. Delson suggested we might develop video playlists from existing content, and edit them into shortever videos, but as part of a series. We also talked about options for retreats - there is a group on Southern California that would like to have a retreat.
We agreed that the first TWIM-CON is just that start - that we will all continue to stay connected with regularly scheduled events so that this momentum continues.
