February 11, 2026
Dear reader,
I hope you are well.
Between Christmas and New Year, I received an email from the monk U Sirī Dhamma from Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. He reported that he is developing a website dedicated to the Mahasi tradition and that he felt genuine joy to have found our website.
I explained to him that the name Mahasi Sayadaw Foundation has primarily a local meaning for us. That we want to make it clear, in the Netherlands and surrounding countries, that we practice and spread the Mahasi method, in near future preferably in an own retreat center.
I received the following reply:
“After reading your letter, I felt genuine joy, as it seems to me that the True Dhamma already flows naturally within your blood. (. . .) With your sincerity and dedication, I am confident that you will succeed in realizing your aspiration.”
Reason enough for a newsletter. And then early this morning, the latest news came in. Given the topicality, it has become the first item.
1. Walk for Peace
2. The Mahasi Lineage
3. Guest teachers
4. Agenda
With warm regards,
Guus Went
www.mahasi.net
1. Walk for Peace
Yesterday, February 10, according to Cronkite News, a peace march by Buddhist monks arrived in Washington.
The twenty monks and their loyal dog Aloka left Fort Worth, Texas, at the end of October for this 3,700 km peace march. They walked 35 km per day at a mindful pace. The goal of the 120-day march is to raise inner peace and mindfulness in America and around the world.
Today, February 11, the following is on the program (mind you: Washington time is 6 hours earlier than Central European Time)
- 9:30 a.m. (local time): march to the Peace Monument Capitol Hill from George Washington University
- Lunch stop at St. Mark’s Capitol Hill Church
- 13:30 p.m.: March to the Lincoln Memorial
- 14:30–16:00 p.m.: Peace gathering and closing ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial
- 16:30 p.m.–19:30 a.m.: Loving Kindness Meditation with Venerable Bhikkhu Paññakara at the George Washington University Smith Center.
A live stream can be followed on the website of the Dhammacetiya organization. See also the Facebook page.
2. The Mahasi Lineage
Below you will find a ‘family tree’ that begins with the teacher of Mahasi Sayadaw (1904-1982). In the family tree, you will encounter well-known names such as Sayadaw U Pandita, Sayadaw U Vivekananda, Bhante Bodhidhamma, Sayalay Vajirañani and Sayalay Virañani, but also some lay teachers, such as Joseph Goldstein. There are also ‘branches’ to teachers in Thailand and Sri Lanka.
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