“I promised Aung San Suu Kyi and committed myself to work for democracy and human rights in the country as long as necessary. And still it is necessary!” So says Kjell Magne Bondevik, former Prime Minister of Norway and a longtime supporter of Myanmar’s democratic struggle. In this conversation, he reflects on his decades of advocacy for Myanmar, from a surreptitious 1997 visit to Yangon where he first met Suu Kyi, to his post-retirement work at the Oslo Center, which he co-founded to support democratic institutions globally. Bondevik describes Norway’s strategy toward Myanmar as one of principled engagement: opposing the junta while supporting civil society and political parties. Though optimistic during Myanmar’s tentative liberalization in the 2010s, he now concedes that Norway and others may have placed too much faith in the reform of Myanmar’s transition period. The military’s lurking presence was underestimated, ultimately culminating in the 2021 coup. Acknowledging the diplomatic dilemma around formally recognizing the National Unity Government, Bondevik calls for coordinated global action, combining pressure on the military with support for the democracy movement. He critiques ASEAN’s passivity and highlights China’s dual role—economically empowering the junta and holding sway over ethnic armed groups—as a major obstacle to international leverage. Yet he remains hopeful, urging Norway and others to sustain diplomatic efforts and keep Myanmar on the global agenda. “It’s very easy to be pessimistic and to give up… but we know from history that it’s possible to change the situation.”
Oslo's Lost Accord | IMP #369
04.03.2026 11:17 —
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Episode #462: A House Divided — Insight Myanmar
Between the Mountain and the Sea
Dulyapak Preecharush, associate professor of Southeast Asian studies, says Myanmar’s crisis reflects a designed hybrid system, not a failed transition. Elections exist, but the 2008 Constitution entrenches military veto power.
insightmyanmar.org/complete-sho...
04.03.2026 06:55 —
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Simon Billenness, director of the Campaign for a New Myanmar, calls the termination of TPS for Burmese nationals a humanitarian crisis and a policy rupture—pushing students, professionals, and minorities toward dangerous return to Myanmar.
insightmyanmar.org/complete-sho...
04.03.2026 03:00 —
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Help support people affected by Myanmar’s crisis—donate to Better Burma Foundation (501(c)(3)) → https://www.betterburma.org/donation
This episode shares the stories of four foreign residents who chose to stay in Myanmar as COVID-19 emerged, each guided by commitments to family, community, work, and meditation. Their perspectives highlight both the fragility and resilience of life in Myanmar during an uncertain global crisis.
See more about this episode here: https://insightmyanmar.org/complete-shows/2020/7/17/episode-15-sheltering-in-place
For the latest episodes, subscribe in your podcast app: http://insightmyanmar.org/listen
In this episode:
• Explore how four long-term foreign residents in Myanmar decided to shelter in place rather than return to their home countries as COVID-19 spread.
• Hear Swedish yogi Hampus Haraldsson describe continuing his meditation practice near Pyin Oo Lwin after monasteries and meditation centers closed to foreign practitioners.
• Learn how Sa Ba Street Food Tours founder Marc Shortt organized food purchases from Yangon vendors to feed underserved communities downtown and in Hledan.
• Follow Austrian meditator and Uncharted Horizons founder Jochen Meissner as he faces a collapsed tourism season while expanding charitable support in Dalla and Chin State.
• Listen as American meditator Matthew Schojan, founder of Wandering Meditators, explains balancing family life in Yangon with his mental health work during the pandemic.
• Reflect on the fears surrounding Myanmar’s weak health infrastructure and the cautious hope as early COVID-19 case numbers remained low.
Chapters
00:00:00 Listener-supported intro & COVID montage
00:03:30 Series overview & four expats’ choices
00:05:49 Hampus Haraldsson: retreat life in Upper Myanmar
00:23:42 Marc Shortt: Sa Ba Street Food & community relief
00:44:42 Supporting the COVID special episode series
00:46:42 Jochen Meissner: tourism shutdown & local aid
00:57:48 Jochen’s Sayagyi U Ba Khin practice & Dalla charity
01:04:03 Matthew Schojan: family, mental health & staying put
01:29:19 Closing reflections, caveats & credits
COVID-19 in Myanmar: Sheltering At Home | IMP #15
04.03.2026 02:40 —
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The Adhikara podcast is an important, new voice in Burmese media, aiming to build not just a movement but a resilient community against oppression. Created by Maw Nwei and Morgen after the 2021 military coup, Adhikara provides a platform for expression and education, especially around human rights. The podcast allows the creators to connect with the Burmese people without the barriers of traditional in-person training, offering flexible and accessible content to circumvent the economic and social restrictions of the military regime. The podcast focuses on fostering an intellectual revolution, encouraging listeners to rethink issues like patriarchy, cultural norms, and religion's role in society. Maw Nwei challenges traditional values and questions whether they align with modern, human rights standards. With content in Burmese and plans to include ethnic minority languages, the Adhikara team aims to address linguistic diversity and ensure broad inclusivity. Adhikara also addresses the tension between Buddhist teachings and the military's actions, calling out the concept of 'military Buddhism' and promoting the idea that true Buddhist values should align with human rights. By questioning and exploring the linguistic dimensions of human rights, Maw Nwei emphasizes the importance of understanding these concepts deeply within Myanmar's cultural context. More than just a podcast, Adhikara represents a transformative effort to democratize knowledge and foster a resilient community in Myanmar. As Maw Nwei says, "This is the best time for the Burmese people to talk about human rights... People are very eager and hungry to listen."
More Than Words
03.03.2026 09:35 —
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Help support people affected by Myanmar’s crisis—donate to Better Burma Foundation (501(c)(3)) → https://www.betterburma.org/donation
This episode shares the firsthand stories of four foreign meditators who were forced to leave Myanmar just as COVID-19 closed borders and monasteries, throwing their lives and practice plans into disarray. Their reflections on instability, loss of support, and renewed resolve illuminate how crisis can deepen urgency for Dhamma practice and reveal what truly sustains us.
For the latest episodes, subscribe in your podcast app: http://insightmyanmar.org/listen
In this episode:
• Follow Jose Molina from an apparently untouched Yangon through a frantic 72-hour departure, a tearful goodbye to Chan Myay Yeiktha Monastery, and the struggle to maintain practice back in the US.
• Hear how Emily Rothenberg’s Fulbright work with Mandalay’s MCDC, her rescue of street dog Lucy, and her hopes for retreats at Chan Myay Myaing gave way to an unexpected return to Chicago and a self-led retreat at home.
• Learn how meditation teacher David Sudar, shaped by years as a monk under Sayadaw U Tejaniya at Shwe Oo Min, adapts his “awareness plus wisdom” approach to support more than 100 yogis online during lockdown.
• Trace Gary Leung’s eight-month Dhamma pilgrimage through Kyasawa Monastery, Hpo Win Daung Caves, Chan Myay Myay and Thabarwa Monastery to sudden quarantine in his childhood bedroom in Sydney.
• Explore how each practitioner confronts the loss of monastic structure and visible Saṅgha, and what it means to “fight for Dhamma” within more materialistic home cultures.
• Contemplate the shared theme of impermanence and urgency as these four exiled expats re-evaluate jobs, plans and priorities in light of the pandemic.
Chapters
00:00:00 COVID in Myanmar series introduction
00:03:34 Four exiled expats and Dhamma themes
00:08:39 Jose Molina leaves Yangon and practice hub
00:33:48 Introducing Emily and Mandalay during COVID
01:00:33 Support for the Insight Myanmar podcast
01:02:29 David Sudar on practice in daily life
01:26:19 Gary Leung’s retreats, ordination and return
01:48:17 Production notes, thanks and closing
COVID-19 in Myanmar: Exiled Expats Edition | IMP #14
03.03.2026 02:50 —
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Help support people affected by Myanmar’s crisis—donate to Better Burma Foundation (501(c)(3)) → https://www.betterburma.org/donation
Former forest monk Zach Hessler (Bhikkhu Obhasa) recounts a near-death encounter in a remote tribal area of Myanmar that forced him to face his own mortality with mindfulness and compassion. His story brings the Buddha’s forest traditions, monastic code, and teachings on conditionality vividly into the present day.
For the latest episodes, subscribe in your podcast app: http://insightmyanmar.org/listen
In this episode:
• Trace Zach Hessler’s journey from ordaining under Sayadaw U Tejaniya to living alone in a bamboo hut in the forests of Upper Myanmar.
• Discover how time at Wat Pah Nanachat and guidance from a Thai forest elder monk taught Zach practical skills like robe-stitching, broom-making, and bowl-cover weaving.
• Hear how a spontaneous walk toward a jagged peak led Zach to a mountaintop Pa Auk monastery where two monks were teaching vipassana to a community of sayalays (ten-precept nuns).
• Follow Zach and an experienced dhutaṅga forest monk as they wander through remote valleys in search of a revered 90‑year‑old monk, entering a tightly controlled tribal area by mistake.
• Witness the tense standoff as about forty armed tribal villagers, suspecting the two monks of being government spies, interrogate them while Zach practices calm mindfulness emptying his alms bowl item by item.
• Reflect on the Dhamma insights Zach draws from this ordeal—about death, conditionality, the Vinaya’s brilliance, the uncertainty of alms food, and how stepping beyond comfort zones can deepen both monastic and lay…
Chapters
00:00:00 Podcast intro and listener welcome
00:01:32 Zach introduces his near-death story
00:07:42 Setting the scene and travel companion context
00:08:26 Life in a remote forest hut in Myanmar
00:13:22 Training at Wat Pah Nanachat in Thailand
00:20:32 Learning forest monk crafts and skills
00:25:03 Dhutaṅga practice and village suspicions
00:37:29 Tribal confrontation, death, and conditionality
01:29:52 Lessons on Dhamma and shaking complacency
01:32:34 Credits and podcast closing
Myanmar Dhamma Diaries: Empathy for the Executioners | IMP #13
02.03.2026 02:05 —
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Help support people affected by Myanmar’s crisis—donate to Better Burma Foundation (501(c)(3)) → https://www.betterburma.org/donation
This episode offers a rare window into how five foreign monks in Myanmar are living through the coronavirus pandemic, balancing disrupted plans with deepened Buddhist practice. Their stories illuminate how monastic communities, village families, and dhamma practitioners are meeting fear, instability, and material hardship with wisdom, compassion, and practical support.
For the latest episodes, subscribe in your podcast app: http://insightmyanmar.org/listen
In this episode:
• Explore how U Viveka at Dhamma Vibhajja in Yangon used news-fueled anxiety and fear of death as a doorway to deeper insight and steadier meditation practice.
• Follow Ashin Sarana’s journey from teaching Burmese doctors in California and Fresno to navigating quarantine, xenophobia, and strict COVID-19 rules on his return to Myanmar.
• Hear Pabhassaro Bhikkhu recount leaving Mahasi monastery, losing an ideal forest retreat in Thailand due to visa and lockdown issues, and treating these upheavals themselves as his core Vipassana practice.
• Learn how Ashin Dhammasadho moved from ITBMU exams to a rural monastery refuge, weighing the risks of Myanmar’s hospital conditions against the dangers of COVID-19 while seeking a safe place to practice.
• Discover how Bhante Mokkhita and the Muditā Foundation support monastic schools and eco-farms in Sagaing Hills and Inle Lake, including emergency food distributions to village families living hand-to-mouth.
• Reflect on the common Dhamma themes these five bhikkhus share about instability, acceptance of death, and using pandemic disruptions as a unique opportunity for personal and communal practice.
Chapters
00:00:00 Intro, mettā blessing & COVID montage
00:03:40 Framing the Monastic Edition & common themes
00:08:12 U Viveka: lockdown at Dhamma Vibhajja
00:26:57 Ashin Sarana: US retreats & quarantine in Myanmar
00:57:35 Pabhassaro Bhikkhu: visa loss & practice in upheaval
01:23:40 Mid-episode message on supporting the podcast
01:25:46 Ashin Dhammasadho: ITBMU exams & seeking refuge
01:38:03 Bhante Mokkhita: Muditā Foundation & village relief
02:00:50 Closing caveats, reflections & donation appeal
COVID-19 in Myanmar: Monastic Edition | IMP #12
01.03.2026 02:07 —
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Help support people affected by Myanmar’s crisis—donate to Better Burma Foundation (501(c)(3)) → https://www.betterburma.org/donation
This episode brings together four women whose lives are intertwined with Myanmar’s monasteries to share how COVID-19 is reshaping Buddhist practice and community support there. Their stories show both the vulnerability and resilience of Burmese monastic life, and how meditators around the world are responding with generosity, reflection, and renewed commitment to the Dhamma.
For the latest episodes, subscribe in your podcast app: http://insightmyanmar.org/listen
In this episode:
• Explore how COVID-19 is affecting monasteries and meditation centers across Myanmar, and why their situation is hard to see from abroad.
• Hear British meditator Katie L’Estrange describe leaving Mandalay for her family home in Wales while continuing her Holding Umbrellas relief work for Mandalay’s poorest families.
• Listen as Lithuanian nun Sayalay Piyadassii recounts life under lockdown at Shan State Buddhist University in Taunggyi and the deep sense of mutual support she witnesses in Myanmar.
• Follow Polish backpacker-turned-meditator Dominica Bastrzyc as she moves from volunteering at Thabarwa Monastery to choosing to remain at a remote monastery north of Yangon during the pandemic.
• Learn how Lithuanian meditator Inga Bergman, now in Chicago, was inspired by a Goenka-lineage pilgrimage to Myanmar and later organized a $1,500 fundraising drive with her guide Myo Myo to send food and supplies to…
• Reflect on how mettā practice, contemplation of death, and nightly self-review help these four women meet uncertainty with clarity, purpose, and compassion.
Chapters
00:00:00 Intro and website resources
00:01:04 Global COVID-19 soundscape
00:03:22 COVID-19 in Myanmar & women’s edition
00:06:23 Katie L’Estrange: Mandalay, Wales & relief work
00:29:39 Sayalay Piyadassii at Shan State Buddhist University
00:55:18 Support for this coronavirus podcast series
00:56:56 Dominica Bastrzyc: staying in a Myanmar monastery
01:15:39 Inga Bergman’s Goenka roots and Myanmar visit
01:28:31 Outro, credits and contact information
COVID-19 in Myanmar: Women's Edition | IMP #11
28.02.2026 08:05 —
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Help support people affected by Myanmar’s crisis—donate to Better Burma Foundation (501(c)(3)) → https://www.betterburma.org/donation
This episode shares a rare, candid account of how Burmese monastics and lay practitioners rallied around a European businessman in the depths of alcoholism, guiding him from a chaotic night in Yangon to refuge and practice at Webu Sayadaw monastery in Ingyinbin. Through this story, Joah and Zach highlight how Dhamma in Myanmar can meet people exactly where they are, challenging rigid ideas about who is “qualified” for serious practice.
For the latest episodes, subscribe in your podcast app: http://insightmyanmar.org/listen
In this episode:
• Follow Joah as he recounts hosting a European businessman in his Yangon Airbnb under five-precept house rules.
• Witness how a drunken crisis on a Yangon street leads to a heartfelt conversation with Dutch monk Wagga and a clear cry for help with addiction.
• Hear Zach describe his day-long visit as a forest monk, confronting the guest’s denial and introducing Dhamma through honesty and sila.
• Trace the guest’s journey to Webu Sayadaw monastery in Ingyinbin and the remarkably open-hearted response of Ashin Mandala (U Mandala).
• Explore how simple routines at the monastery—waking at 4 a.m., sweeping, and gently watching the breath—offered a tangible path out of alcoholism.
• Reflect with Joah and Zach on Western “gatekeepers,” Myanmar’s Dhamma “buffet,” and what it means to make spiritual practice accessible to everyone, including those in deep struggle.
Chapters
00:00:00 Intro and podcast welcome
00:01:30 Launching the Myanmar Dhamma Diaries
00:03:14 Yangon Airbnb, five precepts, and a new guest
00:07:28 A drunken arrival and a night of chaos
00:10:37 A Dutch monk hears a last cry for help
00:18:29 Zach the monk confronts denial with Dhamma
00:22:19 Choosing Ingyinbin and Webu Sayadaw monastery
00:32:49 Journey north and life at U Mandala’s monastery
00:41:18 A way out of suffering and a lasting friendship
00:49:25 Dhamma for everyone and Myanmar’s ‘buffet’
01:00:16 Gatekeepers, agency, and closing reflections
Myanmar Dhamma Diaries: Sobering Up in Ingyinbin | IMP #9
27.02.2026 02:05 —
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In this episode, we hear from two compelling voices grappling with the human and political costs of authoritarianism in Southeast Asia. Raoul Manuel, the youngest elected member of the Philippine Congress, describes how his work on education reform and youth rights intersects with a broader transnational resistance against repressive leadership. He draws on his experience in grassroots organizing and progressive legislation to explain how state violence, economic injustice, and environmental crises are linked across borders. For Manuel, democratic engagement must be paired with community action, especially as governments increasingly retreat from human rights responsibilities. Looking ahead to the Philippines’ upcoming ASEAN chairmanship, he remains skeptical of official rhetoric and stresses that real accountability will come only through persistent pressure from civil society. Han Htoo Khant Paing, a former student activist turned educator, provides a sobering reflection on Myanmar’s ongoing crisis. Since fleeing the country after the 2021 coup, Han Htoo has helped displaced youth continue their education. But his outlook is grim: he sees no viable resolution in the near future and believes ASEAN’s Five-Point Consensus has been irrelevant from the start. He calls instead for pragmatic, human-centered approaches—reducing suffering, cutting arms flows, and documenting atrocities. Han Htoo also challenges the resistance to evolve, urging a move from radical means to sustainable strategies. In revisiting an earlier statement in which he welcomed the coup for exposing democratic illusions, he now expresses deep regret, acknowledging the overwhelming loss and trauma that has followed. “To give up is unthinkable,” he insists, even as sorrow and exhaustion weigh heavily on his words.
EP #367 Degrees of Resistance
26.02.2026 10:53 —
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Episode #462: A House Divided — Insight Myanmar
Between the Mountain and the Sea
Dulyapak Preecharush, associate professor of Southeast Asian studies, says Myanmar’s crisis reflects a designed hybrid system, not a failed transition. Elections exist, but the 2008 Constitution entrenches military veto power.
insightmyanmar.org/complete-sho...
26.02.2026 04:38 —
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Help support people affected by Myanmar’s crisis—donate to Better Burma Foundation (501(c)(3)) → https://www.betterburma.org/donation
This conversation offers a rare, detailed look into the inner and outer life of a Western woman who became a Buddhist nun in Myanmar. By tracing Sayalay Piyadassii’s transformations—from Soviet Lithuania to Goenka retreats, a cave in Spain, and now Shan State Buddhist University—it shows how practice, study, and culture all shape a monastic path, including the realities of gender bias.
For the latest episodes, subscribe in your podcast app: http://insightmyanmar.org/listen
In this episode:
• Trace Sayalay Piyadassii’s journey from Soviet-era Lithuania and Christian youth to silent Goenka vipassana retreats in Europe.
• Follow her decision to ordain as a Buddhist nun in Myanmar in 2013 and the physical and mental challenges of three and a half years of intensive meditation.
• Hear how a period living in a cave in Spain, practicing mettā, helped her restore balance and rethink her life in robes.
• Learn how studying Abhidhamma and now attending Shan State Buddhist University in Taunggyi under Oxford Sayadaw has reshaped her understanding of pariyatti and practice.
• Examine her candid reflections on gender discrimination facing nuns in Burmese Buddhist society and the humility she cultivated by taking alms in Europe as “just a beggar.”
• Appreciate the ways Myanmar’s culture, faith, and simple lifestyle have nourished her practice, as unpacked further in a post-interview reflection with Joah and former monk Zach Hessler.
Chapters
00:00 Opening: burnout and a cave in Spain
01:02 How Burmese culture supports her practice
01:15 Shan State Buddhist University and Oxford Sayadaw
01:25 Behind the scenes of the Insight Myanmar podcast
01:28 Reflecting with Zach on Sayalay’s journey
02:19 Joah’s intro and how the interview happened
05:58 From Soviet Lithuania to Goenka retreats
12:37 Ordination and years of intensive practice
17:33 Illness, Europe break, and rebalancing with study
34:41 Building a flexible toolkit of meditation methods
44:07 Life in robes and the joy of simple living
52:34 Being a nun amid monk privilege in Myanmar
Sayalay Piyadassii | IMP #3
26.02.2026 02:18 —
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Help support people affected by Myanmar’s crisis—donate to Better Burma Foundation (501(c)(3)) → https://www.betterburma.org/donation
This conversation traces how Thabarwa Sayadaw transformed from a stressed Yangon businessman into the founder of a radically inclusive monastery that shelters thousands on the margins of Myanmar society. It also shows how his mission survived political pressure and near-eviction, helped by the country’s recent opening and a freer press, and closes with a reflection on why his critical, unconventional approach matters today.
For the latest episodes, subscribe in your podcast app: http://insightmyanmar.org/listen
In this episode:
• Trace Thabarwa Sayadaw’s journey from a Burmese youth of Chinese ancestry denied citizenship rights to an independent Yangon shopkeeper.
• Explore how rapid business success, pride, and mental breakdowns led him to seek relief in Mogok, Thae Ingu, and Goenka vipassana courses at Dhamma Joti.
• Follow his full ordination in 2002 and the creation of a meditation center that initially occupied half an apartment building on 45th Street in downtown Yangon.
• Learn how a move to undeveloped land in Than Lyin across the Yangon River evolved into a refuge for thousands of elderly, sick, displaced, and mentally ill people dependent on Thabarwa volunteers.
• Examine the tense confrontation between Thabarwa Sayadaw, senior members of the Saṅgha, and government authorities who sought to close the Than Lyin center and evict its residents.
• See how Myanmar’s political opening and especially the freedom of the press shifted public perception, easing existential threats to the monastery and ushering in a new phase of growth.
Chapters
00:00:00 Opening montage: business and Goenka
00:02:40 Host intro and midnight meeting in Yangon
00:14:28 Family roots, lost citizenship and first business
00:26:39 Business success, pride and mental breakdowns
00:30:01 First retreats in Mogok and Thae Ingu traditions
00:43:35 Goenka at Dhamma Joti and leaving business
00:56:20 Ordination and early teaching in Yangon
10:06:56 Zach and Joah reflect on Thabarwa’s uniqueness
13:40:40 Closing reflections and podcast credits
66:06:00 Founding the 45th Street apartment center
78:16:00 From city closure to rough land in Than Lyin
89:01:00 Caring for thousands on society’s margins
93:01:00 Showdown with authorities and power of the press
99:48:00 Joah’s wrap-up and Zach’s introduction
Thabarwa Sayadaw | IMP #2
25.02.2026 02:29 —
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Sallo Polak, founder of the Philanthropy Connections Foundation (PCF), has spent decades building a grassroots approach to humanitarian aid in Thailand, Myanmar, and Cambodia. Motivated by a lifelong desire to address global inequality—first sparked by a formative journey to India at age 18—Polak established PCF in 2011 to serve under-resourced communities through trust, dignity, and local leadership. “I always wanted to do good, to help people,” he explains, a conviction that continues to guide the foundation’s work. PCF supports 25 to 30 projects annually, reaching over 15,000 people. Rather than implement projects itself, PCF partners with local groups who understand their community’s needs. “We do not implement any of the projects ourselves,” Polak notes. “We believe in the power of the local communities and local leadership.” The organization avoids formal application processes and instead actively seeks marginalized communities that lack access to other funding sources. Among its standout initiatives is a multilingual education program that helps children from ethnic minority groups transition into Thai-language instruction, enabling greater educational and economic opportunities. Though PCF operates a diverse fundraising strategy, including embassies, private donors, and corporate partners, financial limitations remain its biggest constraint. “I want to win the lottery,” Polak jokes ruefully. Then he adds, “Maybe it’s not winning the lottery, but if we can, through your podcast, get some more sponsors… that would be awesome!”
Schooling the System | IMP #366
24.02.2026 11:17 —
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Episode #489: Choosing the Red Pill — Insight Myanmar
The Price of Staying Human
Also worth listening to this recent episode from @insightmyanmar.bsky.social with Neo, A rapper turned resistance fighter in Myanmar.
(For those who like Myanmar resistance Hip-hop Neo's tracks are absolute 🔥
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bwc3...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ywfg... )
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22.02.2026 21:31 —
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“The Buddha lives and teaches for the welfare of the world, for the happiness of the world,” says Bhikkhu Bodhi. “He does live for the welfare and happiness of human beings. And so now, when we look at contemporary conditions, the question arises as Buddhists following in the footsteps of the Buddha, how do we live for the welfare and happiness of other human beings?” Bhikkhu Bodhi, a renowned Buddhist scholar and advocate of Engaged Buddhism, has dedicated his life to making Buddhist teachings accessible and relevant in contemporary society. His translations of the Pāḷi Canon have provided invaluable access to the Buddha’s words, bridging the gap between ancient wisdom and modern seekers. Beyond his scholarly contributions, he founded Buddhist Global Relief, an organization addressing hunger, poverty, and educational inequality, an embodiment of Buddhist ethics in action. He has consistently emphasized that Buddhist practice should extend beyond just meditation and personal transformation, the tenor it has taken on in the West, and address systemic suffering and injustice in the world as well. He critiques Western Buddhism’s tendency to focus on individual well-being while neglecting broader, ethical concerns as a “Buddhist Disneyland.” In discussing Myanmar’s crisis, he highlights the responsibility of Buddhists to engage with the harsh political and social realities of the Burmese people’s struggle for freedom, especially given the prominent place Burmese Buddhist traditions hold regarding the spread of mindfulness worldwide. Reflecting on his legacy, Bhikkhu Bodhi sees his work as part of a larger movement to ensure that Buddhism remains a force for wisdom and compassion in the world. He calls for practitioners to apply Buddhist principles to real-world challenges, advocating for a flexible yet principled approach to the Dharma. “I came to see that it’s necessary to adopt adaptations of the Buddhist teachings... applying them in ways that deal very realistically and in a very even heads-on way with the challenges and problems and injustices that we're facing in today's world.”
Awakenings and Uprisings
22.02.2026 10:39 —
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Episode #458: ASEAN in the Balance — Insight Myanmar
When the Region Must Decide
Lilianne Fan, Myanmar analyst and former adviser to the ASEAN Special Envoy, argues ASEAN’s Five-Point Consensus was never about resolving the coup—but denying the junta legitimacy, excluding Min Aung Hlaing, and expanding engagement with resistance actors.
insightmyanmar.org/complete-sho...
21.02.2026 11:45 —
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Episode #489: Choosing the Red Pill — Insight Myanmar
The Price of Staying Human
One of my favorite hip-hop tracks from Myanmar resistance was "Lat Than vs Gun" by Neo, 2? more tracks came out but then he went quiet.
@insightmyanmar.bsky.social just released this interview with him, now a resistance fighter with Cobra Column trying to hold on to humanity in the midst of war.
21.02.2026 09:16 —
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Ben’s simple words resonate strongly: “If I could do something small for one person, why would I not?” This episode brings together Ben and a Burmese student who goes by the moniker Little Activist. Together, they discuss the profound impact of individual gestures and transnational solidarity. Ben, who worked briefly in Myanmar with a UN agency, was moved by an episode that Insight Myanmar Podcast aired last year, in which Little Activist described how he was documenting military atrocities and sharing online information. Compelled by Little Activist’s courage and the sacrifices he was making, Ben decided to offer a monthly donation to support him and his mission. For Ben, this act was more than charity; it was a way to honor the kindness he experienced in Myanmar and to inspire others to stand in solidarity with those aspiring for democracy. Little Activist’s response underscored the far-reaching effects of Ben’s generosity: to him, the donation was more than a lifeline, as it provided not only material support but also a morale boost. Not content to keep the fund for himself alone, Little Activist distributed portions of the donation to others in need, reflecting his enduring commitment to collective well-being. The conversation also addresses the worsening conditions in Myanmar under the junta, from economic and educational crises to escalating violence and airstrikes. Despite these challenges, Little Activist remains steadfast in his mission to document the junta’s atrocities and keep Myanmar’s plight visible to the world, despite censorship and surveillance. In closing, Little Activist expressed deep gratitude, emphasizing that even in the absence of robust international intervention, solidarity from individuals like Ben provides hope. His final words capture his resolve: “Even if the international giants don’t care about us, we’ll continue our fight, knowing there are people out there who do.”
The Ripple Effect
21.02.2026 08:57 —
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Mon Zin, a founding member of Global Myanmar Spring Revolution, warns Myanmar’s military-run election is designed to launder junta power, not reflect public will. Rigged systems, banned opposition, and false legitimacy risk deeper violence and repression.
insightmyanmar.org/complete-sho...
19.02.2026 08:25 —
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Episode #461: From Halo-Halo to Milk Tea — Insight Myanmar
Marching to the Beat of a Different Dictatorship: The Revolution Will Be Remembered
Myanmar’s resistance gives Gus Miclat real hope: a people-led, youth-driven movement with deep ethnic unity. The Initiatives for International Dialogue co-founder draws lessons from Timor and Mindanao on why this moment is different.
insightmyanmar.org/complete-sho...
19.02.2026 01:48 —
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