Never forget that the Buddha taught the Cessation of suffering!

Practice to achieve this and share it with  others. 

The Buddhist American Forest Tradition was officially announced worldwide in 2008 at the 5th World Buddhist Council Summit in Kato, Japan even though the group had been active since 2004.  After spreading on the internet, within one year, requests came in for this training to be taught in many other countries and much translation work began online.  To date over 35 retreats have been done outside of the USA in Asia and in Europe and the number continues to grow. The demand for teachers is growing and more people are needed to train for teaching positions in the future.

TWIM training leads us to practice in earnest Right Effort precisely as it is described in the texts all the time through a Harmonious Practice of observation, release, relaxation of tension in body and mind, and significant realization of the truth.  With reduced stress, one's mind moves naturally towards more compassionate work for others and as both physical and mental energy shift, we begin to pursue Observing, Practicing, Preserving and Sharing this original Buddha Dhamma with others.

Trained in the proper way, a student naturally becomes a conduit for the buddha's words, drills and training.  The original instructions are found in the Pali suttas and passed along as completely as possible. There is no question this training leads to a more happy and compassionate life.  A person must be honest and open during their training in order to face their deepst craving and clinging and let go of it.

As the true nature of how everything works unfolds for us,  we uncover our inherent strengths to help others.

This practice and other supports programs also assist disabled persons who come into the center for solitary retreat time and a gentle meditation training. A Universal Peace Cabin has been donated by the Burmese community in New York and constructed with the hope of hosting Veterans who need to get away to some solitude for periods of time with help to learn supportive meditation to help them in life. This project began in October 2009.

The nuns ordination program is dedicated to producing FULLY TRAINED nuns who will understand, and will be able to clearly explain the teachings within the suttas in simple English to others.  As more women are taught as equally as  male counterparts and are able to discuss Dhamma openly and honestly, they will gain respect of elder Sangha members through the results of their work with lay people.  It is the Dhamma that will make all things possible.

The Vinaya is followed as closely as possible in this frontier area. Students do use the commentaries for reference within their study cirriculum. The practice seeks to help people reclaim their childlike curiosity, lightness,in life, contented happiness, and balance in life. As people begin to smile again, they naturally find a more useful productive peaceful co-existence in their daily life in monastic or mainstream society.

How do we study?

The Tradition supports the continuation of this Dispensation of the Buddha Dhamma through faithfully giving ear to (listening to), memorizing and repeating to others the Dhamma very clearly and precisely in English.

The meditation practice is basically easy to understand, immediately effective, and it creates unshakable confidence in the Buddha's Teachings. The original texts encourage investigation through meditation, continual questioning of the teacher, and testing of all that is taught through personal contemplation adn actions.  This is the establishment of knowledge and vision.

Nothing is blindly accepted here! Each person comes to see for themselves the Dhamma as it unfolds. Their view shifts over into an impersonal perspective as they embrace Anatta and understand it clearly. Your study is guided by Venerable Vimalaramsi and you are introduced properly to members of the Sangha who are also interested in the development of equal training and who wish to discuss the future of this Dhamma worldwide.  There are opportunities for travel and further study abroad after sufficient discipline and training are accomplished.

English Programs for Sangha members.

It is with great respect that we also offer to teach Dhamma ENGLISH training to assist foreign monks and nuns in their ownTradition's  Dhamma work.  Offering equality in training, based on compassion, respect, and sincere effort was the original intention of the Buddha and this is continued here today according to the guidelines of a sutta found in the Majjhima Nikaya which describes who a teacher should spend time teaching.  MN 15 - called "Inference" lays it all out clearly.  We attempt to follow these guidelines.  

Livelihood

Our mission is to see clearly how things actually work. We begin by practicing smiling which lightens up our minds and by reducing tension and tightness in mind and body. This helps us get to the remarkable potential of clear, pure mind.  This is what arose for the Buddha within the original Buddhist Meditation Practice.  Renunciation means releasing ourselves from the householders life, responsibilities and worries, leaving mainstream society and the stress of it's responsibilities behind. This gives us more dedicated time to train  properly. We commit ourselves to exist only on  Dana/donations from lay people and monastic communities and organizations throughout the world. We support and teach peaceful co-existence through uncovering and understanding the true nature of suffering, how to detect it's root cause in CRAVING, how it manifests, the cessation of this suffering, and the path to that cessation which the Buddha precisely taught.

Refreshing Adventure

This project truly is a new approach to Buddhism and most people agree it's a refreshing new angle to learning Buddhism and how to live it all the time. This group holds in great respect the entire World Buddhist Sangha and all teachers of the Buddha Dhamma. We look forward to the Sangha's support and enthusiasm as we all attempt to train new teachers who are also willing to intelligently and gently use critical analysis to improve the communicative presentation of Buddhism in this 21st Century as a priceless asset for Modern developments in our world.

To date the remark heard most often from students who come to study with our American Abbot is "Oh WOW!" or

"At last, Buddhism has finally come home 'clearly' to the West! It's not confusing anymore. It is like one beautiful tapestry interwoven together which actually still works in daily life today!"

 

This is followed by sincere smiles and much happy energy for this wonderful discovery of how to live in the present moment with joy and once again smile in life.

 

One student commented, "It's true! One CAN actually live in a smile and it changes everything! It is great fun to watch people figure this out. Come and see!"  C.F./Australia

 

"For me coming to find Dhamma Sukha and the nuns project was like finally seeing Buddhism come home in the West! Wonderful!" S./ England

 

Donations for this work can be made to the United International Buddha Dhamma Society (UIBDS): 

Support Us.