Mr. David Johnson has been in residence at DSMC since 2010. He is a long time senior student of Bhante Vimalaramsi and is author of "The Path to Nibbana"
David Johnson
David Johnson
David Johnson became intrigued by meditation during his college years amidst the transformative 1970s, a time heavily influenced by the preceding psychedelic 60s. He embarked on his first Vipassana retreat in 1973, which led to many subsequent 30-day and 90-day retreats dedicated to the Mahasi Style of Vipassana.
In 2006, David reconnected with a former Vipassana colleague who had since become a monk residing in Missouri. It was through this connection that David encountered Bhante Vimalaramsi at the Dhamma Sukha Meditation Center, where he was introduced to a distinctive meditation technique. This practice became a significant part of his life, leading to numerous retreats and profound insights.
Leaving behind the bustling tech industry of Silicon Valley, David relocated to St. Louis to fully engage with the Dhamma Sukha Meditation Center, where he continues to live and work.
Discover more about his journey by watching his recent Guruviking Interviews on YouTube from 2023 below.
On his "To Do" list are just a few items below:
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Authored below "The Path to Nibbana" A complete guide to TWIM
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Manages & teaches- The Online Retreat Program: Online Retreats
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Teaches On-Site Retreats - Retreats at DSMC
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MO Retreats Manager -Manages daily affairs of the center.
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Webmaster, Book Publishing, Social Media
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Co-wrote "A Guide to Tranquil Wisdom Meditation (T.W.I.M.)
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Video Production - produces all films for Bhante V and D Armstrong found on website and YouTube.
Author of "The Path to Nibbana: The Progress of 'Mindfulness of Loving-kindness Meditation through the Tranquil Aware Jhanas to Awakening" 2017 - updated 2023 with new chapters. A complete Meditation Guide to TWIM.
David Johnson was also the Kappiya / personal attendant for Ven. Vimalaramsi. He did a temporary ordination under Bhante Vimalaramsi and put on the robes for 3 weeks as a samenera.
History- Details
David was a student of many Vipassana retreats using the Mahasi method from the age of 19 and is versed in the suttas and all areas of the Tripitaka. He spent nearly 30 years on and off retreat. He has done 10+ retreats with Bhante V. and been his student since 2006. (He now teaches retreats.)
He has archived video footage of and met personally Dipa Ma and Mahasi Sayadaw and previously meditated under Joseph Goldstein, Jack Kornfield and U Silananda. He worked on a video project for Jack Kornfield. He has brought the footage of these great teachers to the internet for all to enjoy.
He was also a Meditation Center Retreat Manager for the Stillpoint Institute, a San Jose, California based Vipassana Center in the mid 70's. Here he assisted in the growth of the center and managed financial and administrative affairs. Interestingly he knew a tall gentleman at the center with long red hair who he would later study under: Bhante Vimalaramsi before he became a monk.
In the 1980's to 2010 he worked in the San Francisco Bay Area at a number of networking companies as a production and logistics manager. He decided to join Bhante in his mission to bring TWIM to the world in 2010 and moved to Missouri on a permanent basis.
You can contact him directly at david@dhammasukha.org.
Thanksgiving Retreat Nov 2017
Temp. Ordination 2013
