Does it ever feel like you’re just... skimming the surface of spiritual traditions? I’ve definitely been there—hopping from one meditation app to the next, searching for an immediate flash of enlightenment, but always ending up back at square one with a mind that won't shut up. In a world that’s constantly yelling at us to move faster and buy into the latest "five-minute fix" for inner peace, it’s honestly exhausting. Our preoccupation with achieving a breakthrough often causes us to neglect the present moment.
For this reason, the legacy of Sayadaw U Kundala feels particularly significant. He was never the type of guide who desired a high public profile or having a million followers. He was an authentic practitioner—a calm and unwavering figure who saw no necessity in using complex or decorative language. He was not the right choice for anyone in search of an easy spiritual bypass. With a profound foundation in the Mahāsi Vipassanā school, his whole vibe was about something we usually try to run away from: staying put.
I appreciate the directness of his technique, even though it may seem intimidating at the outset. He discouraged any attempt to "refine" or "glamorize" one's practice or to simulate tranquility while their physical sensations were quite difficult. The focus remained purely on: phồng, xẹp, walking, and physical pain. There were no distractions and no diversions. He guided individuals in the art of remaining with discomfort and confronting it squarely. There’s something so incredibly brave about that, don't you think? His lack of words, arguably, had more impact than the most eloquent speech.
The difficulty is that we are deeply accustomed to being active saddhammaramsi sayadaw —adding new techniques, trying new rituals— that we ignore the potency of reducing everything to the basics. The central tenet of Sayadaw U Kundala’s view was: stop trying to be "better" and start being more present. He would explain that wisdom grows at its own pace, similar to the ripening of fruit. You cannot demand that a piece of fruit reach maturity ahead of its natural schedule, can you? It demands its own necessary time, and the path of insight is no different. It requires this weird, beautiful mix of grit and total humility.
Truthfully, one comes to understand that real commitment does not involve a sudden or theatrical transformation of one's life. It is a much more minute and, in some ways, more demanding task. It is the decision to maintain sincerity even in the face of boredom. It’s choosing to look at your own messy thoughts instead of scrolling through your phone for an escape.
While Sayadaw U Kundala may not have established a "brand" or a prominent public image, but he left something much better: a reminder that the quiet path is often the one that actually leads somewhere. Each inhalation, every footstep, and every minor irritation serves as a potential doorway to insight. The process is not always pleasant, and it is certainly not rapid, but man, there’s a real sense of freedom in finally deciding to just... stop running.
I'm curious, does the idea of "slow-ripening" wisdom resonate with where you're at right now, or do you find yourself caught in the modern desire for a rapid breakthrough?