I’ve been sitting here tonight thinking about Bhante Gavesi, and his total lack of interest in appearing exceptional. It is interesting to observe that seekers typically come to him armed with numerous theories and rigid expectations from their reading —looking for an intricate chart or a profound theological system— yet he offers no such intellectual satisfaction. He has never shown any inclination toward being a teacher of abstract concepts. On the contrary, practitioners typically leave with a far more understated gift. Perhaps it is a newfound trust in their own first-hand observation.
His sense of unshakeable poise is almost challenging to witness for those accustomed to the frantic pace of modern life. I perceive that he is entirely devoid of the need to seek approval. He persistently emphasizes the primary meditative tasks: maintain awareness of phenomena in the immediate present. In a world where everyone wants to talk about "stages" of meditation or some kind of peak experience to post about, his way of teaching proves to be... startlingly simple. It’s not a promise of a dramatic transformation. It is just the idea that clarity can be achieved through the act of genuine and prolonged mindfulness.
I consider the students who have remained in his circle for many years. There is little talk among them of dramatic or rapid shifts. It’s more of a gradual shift. here Extensive periods dedicated solely to mental noting.
Observing the rising and falling, or the act of walking. Accepting somatic pain without attempting to escape it, while also not pursuing pleasant states when they occur. It’s a lot of patient endurance. Ultimately, the mind abandons its pursuit of special states and anchors itself in the raw nature of existence—impermanence. It’s not the kind of progress that makes a lot of noise, yet it is evident in the quiet poise of those who have practiced.
He embodies the core principles of the Mahāsi tradition, that relentless emphasis on continuity. He is ever-mindful to say that wisdom does not arise from mere intellectual sparks. It comes from the work. Commitment to years of exacting and sustained awareness. His own life is a testament to this effort. He never sought public honor or attempted to establish a large organization. He just chose the simple path—long retreats, staying close to the reality of the practice itself. Frankly, that degree of resolve is a bit overwhelming to consider. It is not a matter of titles, but the serene assurance of an individual who has found clarity.
I am particularly struck by his advice to avoid clinging to "pleasant" meditative states. Specifically, the visual phenomena, the intense joy, or the deep samādhi. He instructs to simply note them and proceed, witnessing their cessation. He is clearly working to prevent us from becoming ensnared in those fine traps where we turn meditation into just another achievement.
It’s a bit of a challenge, isn’t it? To ponder whether I am genuinely willing to revisit the basic instructions and abide in that simplicity until anything of value develops. He is not interested in being worshipped from afar. He’s just inviting us to test it out. Sit down. Watch. Maintain the practice. It is a silent path, where elaborate explanations are unnecessary compared to steady effort.