Mental development

Meditation and mindfulness training

I can guide you to practice many types of mindfulness and meditation, either as part of the early Buddhist tradition, or in a secular manner including:

• the divine abodes of love, compassion, altruistic joy and equanimity
• mindfulness of breathing for tranquility
• meditation in the style of Mahasi Sayadaw
• walking meditation and mindfulness in everyday life activities

Tips

Tips for meditation and mindfulness:

• Remedies for restless minds
• Noting the Object
• Nine ways to Sharpen the Controlling Faculties – Indriyas

I intend to produce and upload audio and video files with instructions for mediation and mindfulness.

Background

Buddhist monk in Thailand 1982-84

I trained in mindfulness and developing insight in the meditation tradition of Mahasi Sayadaw. This is a meditation and mindfulness practice based on the Buddha’s teaching of the Four Establishments of Mindfulness. I participated in many month long and three month long retreats during this period. I met Buddhadasa Bhikkhu and stayed at Wat Suan Mokh several times.

Lungpor Jodok, the former head of Section five, Wat Mahadhatu in Bangkok Thailand ordained me as a bhikkhu (Buddhist monk). Lungpor Jodok was the most senior vipassana (insight) teacher in Thailand during his life and a Jowkun (a senior rank in the government of Thailand’s religious organization). I ordained at Wat Bunsrimunikorn, which was an insight meditation center managed by Ajahn Khao Titawano during the 1980s and 1990s.

Kalyaano – my name

As a bhikkhu (monk), I was known as Kalyaanadhammo. Kalyaano is a Pali language word meaning, good, beneficial, and beautiful. Kalyaano is often in heard in conjunction with mitta, as kalyaanamitta – good friend or benefactor. In 2004, I legally changed my second name to Kalyaano to reflect my wholesome aspirations.

Meditation retreats and travel 2005-2019

In 2006, a Myanmar Buddhist friend, encouraged me to meditate intensively so I did a one week meditation retreat at a temple in Canberra with Sayadaw U Lakkhana (1935-2014). During this retreat I saw phenomena rising and falling more clearly than before.

Inspired by Sayadaw U Lakkhana, I decided to practice regular meditation at home and to read more Dharma books. This was excellent and important self-healing therapy during one of the stressful periods of my life.

I began reading the Majjhimanikaya and Dighanikaya in new English translations by Bhikkhu Bodhi and Maurice Walshe. I later read more discourses of the Buddha translated by Bhikkhu Bodhi (Samyuttanikaya and Anguttaranikaya) many times. I still read or listen to audio-book versions of these excellent texts every year. I highly HIGHLY recommend these books to everyone interested in Buddha Dharma.

In 2007, I went on on a 7 week mediation retreat in Myanmar with Chanmyay Sayadaw. Again I saw the rising and falling of phenomena. Chanmyay Sayadaw was very kind and encouraged me a lot. Unfortunately, the Sayadaw’s monastery was also occupied by monks who did not follow the vinaya (discipline for monks) very well and this distracted me and other meditators there.

In 2008, I left Canberra, worked briefly in Perth, and then traveled overseas for about 15 months. During that time, I went to Myanmar for 5 months for a 3 month retreat at Saddhamrangsi monastery with Sayadaw U Kundala and then a 1 month retreat at the Mahasi Center in Yangon with Sayadaw U Jatila (brother of Sayadaw U Lakkhana). On these retreats I maintained a relatively stable high of insight knowledge for over a month but without a breakthrough to the first level of awakening (see the 16 stages of insight).

I then went to Thailand and visited Section 5 at Wat Mahadhatu and did a 1 month and then 2 month residential retreat with Pi Yai in the basement of Section 5. I practiced hard but was still unable to make a breakthrough.

Buddhist pilgrimage 2009

In December 2009, I went to India for a pilgrimage to Buddhist places for one month. This was very inspiring and one of the highlights of my life. Although this was my first time in India, I chose to travel alone, and independently, so I had freedom to choose when and where to go at any time. Here are some blog posts with stories and pictures of the pilgrimage.

• India, Kolkata, Bodhgaya, Gaya, Rajgir
• Sarnath, Varanasi, Gorakphur, Kushinagar
• Lumbini
• Shravasti (Saavati) and Patna Museum
• Vaishali and Kesariya
• Ananda Stupa – Ramchaura Mandir
• Rajgir: Isigili, Sonbhandar Caves
• Nalanda, Jethian, Bodhgaya
• Gurpa – Kukkutagiri – Peacock’s Foot Mountain
• Gaya, second time
• Delhi, Chennai, museums, book shops

I would like to visit India again one day. There are many Buddhist places that I have not yet visited. India is a large country with many fascinating places to visit and people to meet.

Mindfuless of breathing retreat 2010

From India, I went to Sri Lanka to visit Bhikkhu Nyanatusita, the editor of the Buddhist Publication Society.

I also did a 5 month retreat at Nauyana Aranya with Bhante Ariyananda who is a follower of Pa Auk Sayadaw. At this time I changed my primary meditation method from Mahasi method vipassana meditation to anapanasati (mindfulness of breathing) meditation with the goal of developing jhana (meditative absorption). This change in meditation technique was a consequence of reading and understanding the early Buddhist texts. Although the Mahasi method helped me a lot in the past. I will not practice that way again.

Contact

Please contact me by using the contact page.