I’ve been sitting here tonight thinking about Bhante Gavesi, and his total lack of interest in appearing exceptional. One finds it curious that people generally visit such a master carrying various concepts and preconceived notions derived from literature —wanting a map, or some grand philosophical system to follow— but he just doesn't give it to them. He appears entirely unconcerned with becoming a mere instructor of doctrines. Rather, his students often depart with a much more subtle realization. Perhaps it is a newfound trust in their own first-hand observation.
There is a level of steadiness in his presence that borders on being confrontational for those accustomed to the frantic pace of modern life. I have observed that he makes no effort to gain anyone's admiration. He consistently returns to the most fundamental guidance: maintain awareness of phenomena in the immediate present. In a society obsessed with discussing the different "levels" of practice or pursuing mystical experiences for the sake of recognition, his way of teaching proves to be... startlingly simple. It’s not a promise of a dramatic transformation. He simply suggests that lucidity is the result from actually paying attention, honestly and for a long time.
I contemplate the journey of those who have trained under him for a decade. There is little talk among them of dramatic or rapid shifts. It is characterized by a slow and steady transformation. Long days of just noting things.
Awareness of the abdominal movement and the physical process of walking. Not rejecting difficult sensations when they manifest, and not chasing the pleasure when it finally does. This path demands immense resilience and patience. Gradually, bhante gavesi the internal dialogue stops seeking extraordinary outcomes and settles into the way things actually are—the impermanence of it all. It’s not the kind of progress that makes a lot of noise, nonetheless, it is reflected in the steady presence of the yogis.
He’s so rooted in that Mahāsi tradition, with its unwavering focus on the persistence of sati. He consistently points out that realization is not the result of accidental inspiration. It comes from the work. Hours, days, years of just being precise with awareness. He has lived this truth himself. He didn't go out looking for recognition or trying to build some massive institution. He simply chose the path of retreat and total commitment to experiential truth. Frankly, that degree of resolve is a bit overwhelming to consider. This is not based on academic degrees, but on the silent poise of someone who has achieved lucidity.
Something I keep in mind is his caution against identifying with "good" internal experiences. Specifically, the visual phenomena, the intense joy, or the deep samādhi. He says to just know them and move on. See them pass. It seems he wants to stop us from falling into the subtle pitfalls where mindfulness is reduced to a mere personal trophy.
This is quite a demanding proposition, wouldn't you say? To wonder if I’m actually willing to go back to the basics and abide in that simplicity until anything of value develops. He does not demand that we respect him from a remote perspective. He’s just inviting us to test it out. Sit. Witness. Continue the effort. The way is quiet, forgoing grand rhetoric in favor of simple, honest persistence.