TWIM

What is TWIM?

Decondition the causes of unhappiness​ and experience nirvāṇa—freedom of mind.

TWIM is the taught by the Buddha leading to enlightenment or awakening. . . a realignment of mental process that is free of conflict leading to suffering. It leads to a complete reboot of the mind… the cessation of craving, suffering, and rebirth.

The founder of TWIM, Venerable Bhante Vimalaramsi, an American Buddhist monk emphasized, this is not just theoretical—it is the core of what the Buddha taught and freedom of mind that it brings.

Venerable Bhante Vimalaramsi, an American Buddhist monk rediscovered Tranquil Wisdom Insight Meditation (TWIM). He taught meditatio world wide and led hundreds of 10-day meditation retreats. He understood that daily group instruction and daily personal guidance was essential to progress in the stages of meditation and the direct experience of ​nibbāna (nirvāṇa)

What the Buddha Taught

The Buddha’s message was remarkably straightforward. He stated: “I teach nibbāna (nirvāṇa) and the path to nibbāna“. “And what monks is the path leading to the unconditioned? Serenity and insight: this is called the path leading to the unconditioned….”  This is the basis for Tranquil Wisdom Insight Meditation—TWIM.

Imperturbable Equniminity

Nibbāna is not abstract concept but rather a direct experience where craving and aversion completely ceases in a state of imperturbable equniminity. It is through diligent application of the Eightfold Path, the Buddha’s map to awakening and liberation. TWIM practice is a reset of neurology, physiology and mentality to equniminity.

TWIM practice is learning how to recognize and abandon habitual unwholesome thoughts or feeling and then redirect to wholesome choices that reveal through insight the true reality. This meditation practice weakens and dissolves compulsive craving—the root cause and condition that leads to emotional conflict and suffering. Imperturbable equniminity is escape from the matrix he called saṃsāra and experiencing the true nature of reality or dhamma (dharma).

Doug Kraft teaching at a 10-Day Retreat, San Juan Bautista, CA, 2016

Buddha's Map

The Buddha devised a map to understand and practice called the Noble Eightfold path. It is his blueprint for the process of awakening. Ethical conduct in speech and actions support meditation resulting in liberating insight and wisdom. Over the centuries, the original meaning was  wrongly translated resulting in many ethnic Buddhisms and meditation styles that do not lead to the goal. TWIM is the result of Buddhist monk seeking to discover the original teaching and subsequently restore the map that leads the goal of what the Buddha taught.

The Noble Eightfold path leads to stages of liberation as expounded by he Buddha while teaching forty-five years of his life.

  • 1st Stage: Stream-Enterer: (Sotapanna) 
  • 2nd Stage: Once-Returner: (Sakadāgami)
  • 3rd Stage, Non-Returner:  (Anagami)
  • 4th Stage: Fully Liberated:  (Arahant)

Each successive attainment brings greater freedom suffering, greater happiness with freedom of mind. LEARN MORE….

TWIM Practice

Practicing TWIM underscores simplicity and effectiveness by developing the enlightenment factors in perfect balance. Bhante discovered that activating “Right Effort” in meditation in favor of a relaxed tranquility body, collected, and happy mind is the key to letting go, dissolving distractions, and awakening harmonious meditation. ​This is done while in formal practice session and daily life with profound effects. As when learning anything worth while, the best results are based on the dedication to practice and master the requisite skills. 

Direction

The ultimate goal of meditation practice is attaining nibbāna or awakening, as defined by Buddha. He is through consistent practice of the entire Noble  Eightfold Path underpinned by the Buddha’s original teachings. Evaluating practices based on their results ensures that practitioners are heading in the right direction toward liberation. Bhante Vimalaramsi affirmed, that nibbāna is not an esoteric ideal but rather a direct experience by applying the principles taught by the Buddha and reframed as TWIM in contemporary English.

Advantages

TWIM is a systematic self-directed protocol that cultivates mental and emotional balance that releases or clinging

  • easy to understand,
  • integrative in practice, 
  • practical and results-oriented

TWIM practice dissolves habitual cravings and attachments that trigger painful moods and feelings that lead to unhappiness. TWIM meditation deconditions stress reactions resulting in clarity, joy, and contentment. TWIM cultivates and balances tranquility samantha and insight vipassana resulting in the awakening factors for nirvana.

Daily Benefits

TWIM is not about controlling the mind. can be practiced in everyday life. Along with regular daily practice, once learned, TWIM principles can be applied during daily activities such as driving and while walking. With practice, benifits deepen and improve all aspects of daily life.

  • Stress and anxiety are infrequent: conscious relaxation creates tranquility, mental agility, and clairity. 
  • Improved mental composure: Cultivate attention in each moment steadies extend in all circumstances throughout the day and during sleep.
  • Increased awareness:  clarity of intentions, thoughts, emotions, and sensations are patterns to be simply, recognized  and released. 
  • Emotional resilience: tranquility of mind becomes is accepting and consciously responsive resulting in self-assurance  and spontaneity.
  • Openness and compassion: Deeper sensitivity and empathy generates genuine kindness and acceptance towards people and animals.