Meditation

Meditation

Meditation has probably been the most significantly transformative practice on my personal journey. After many years of experience with various techniques, my absolute favorite is TWIM.

Tranquil Wisdom Insight Meditation (TWIM) is a practice that blends mindfulness with loving-kindness, creating a relaxed and joyful pathway to deeper tranquility and insight. Rooted in the teachings of the Buddha, TWIM makes the process of meditation approachable for beginners while offering profound benefits for experienced meditators.

At its heart, TWIM emphasizes the practice of metta, or loving-kindness. This gentle focus on cultivating warm and positive feelings—first toward yourself and then extending to others—creates a foundation of ease and joy that naturally supports mindfulness and concentration. Rather than requiring intense effort or sharp focus, TWIM encourages a light, natural attention that starts with goodwill and radiates outward.

One of the most distinctive features of TWIM is the “6Rs,” a practical guide for navigating distractions during meditation. Whenever the mind wanders, you:

1. Recognize the distraction,
2. Release it gently,
3. Relax any tension it created,
4. Re-smile to restore a sense of lightness,
5. Return to the meditation object, and
6. Repeat the process as needed.

This approach helps make meditation an enjoyable experience by fostering kindness and patience instead of struggle or force.

By cultivating a tranquil mind through TWIM, meditators are naturally led to insight (vipassana). With a calm and joyful awareness, it becomes easier to observe the impermanent, interconnected nature of reality and to let go of craving. This gentle combination of serenity and insight lays the foundation for true liberation.

Ultimately, TWIM is more than just a meditation practice—it’s a way of life. Through consistent practice, it fosters joy, balance, and freedom, weaving kindness and wisdom into every aspect of daily living.