Bhante Vimalaramsi

Bhante Vimalaramsi (born 1946, USA) is an American Buddhist monk. He is the Abbot and founder of the Dhammasukha Meditation Center in Annapolis, Missouri, USA.
Biography
Bhante Vimalaramsi began with the Burmese style of Vipassana meditation in 1974 at the age of 28. After having successfully led a construction company he became a monk in 1986. He practiced meditation intensively, spending twelve years in Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, Australia, Malaysia and Indonesia. In 1995 he wrote a commentary book on the Anapanasati Sutta, which is one of the most important teachings from the Majjhima Nikaya, the Collection of the Middlelength Sayings of The Buddha. By 2009 more than one million copies had been distributed in seven languages and it continues to be translated into further languages. In 1998 he was given the honorary title of Sayadaw Gyi (Higher Meditation Teacher). Vimalaramsi has developed a mnemonic system of training to help students practice Right Effort at all times.
He travels around the USA, Europe and Southeast Asia teaching a simple method to understand meditation that can be taken into daily life.

In 2006 Vimalaramsi was nominated to become the first USA Representative for the World Buddhist Supreme Summit Council which meets every two years. Upon approval he was inaugurated into this lifetime position on November 1, 2008 in the New Royal Grand Hall of Buddhism in Japan. The Summit represents 32 countries where Buddhism is taught through the three main schools of buddhism. The summit was originally formed in 1998 when H.H. the Dalai Lama of Tibet, Ven. Dr. Enshinjoh of Japan, and the H.H. Sangha Raja of Thailand came together with this idea. The summit seeks to re-examine the fundamental teachings and practice of the Buddha in order to help the three schools of Buddhism to recognize their commonalities in this 21st Century.
Teachings
Bhante Vimalaramsi tries to "return to the 'original' teachings of the Buddha". He teaches meditation directly from the Suttas using the Pali Canon. He considers the most workable English translation to be the work of Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi and Ven. Nanamoli. Generally, Venerable places first emphasis on the texts and references the commentarial works only where they agree with the texts. He teaches by directly reading from the Suttas and expounding what they mean as he goes along. He follows the definitions and drills for meditation that were given by the Buddha to the original group of monks. Therefore, the meditation is taught with Samatha and Vipassana yoked together as advised by the Buddha in the texts. The meditation is taught in very simple and practical terms and is to be used all the time in daily life as well as doing the in-depth work at retreats.
Dhamma Sukha Meditation Center
In the year 2000 Bhante Vimalaramsi returned to the U.S. to teach meditation. In 2003 he began the United International Buddha Dhamma Society. The first project of the Society was to find land and begin a Meditation Center. In 2004 he began the Dhamma Sukha Meditation Center in Lesterville, Missouri. Later land was purchased in Annapolis, MO on in the Ozark Mountain Forest. Today, the center teaches all who come there by personal retreats mainly done from June - October each year. A few daring students come each winter.
Publications
*Breath of Love: A Simple Guideline of Loving-kindness Meditation and Mindfulness of Breathing (2011, Ehipassiko Foundation of Indonesia; 1st edition)

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