In the heart of Burmese Theravāda monasteries, meditation forms the backbone of daily life—etched into the schedule even before dawn. Three approaches tend to steal the limelight:

1. Ānāpānasati (Mindfulness of Breathing)
   • Often nicknamed “breath counting,” this technique invites attention to the gentle rise and fall of the abdomen or the subtle passage of air at the nostrils.
   • In bustling Yangon and remote hill‐country monasteries alike, monks begin with a few minutes of silent in-and-out awareness, gradually extending sessions until the mind settles like still water.

2. Vipassanā (Insight Meditation)
   • Popularized by masters such as Mahasi Sayadaw and Ledi Sayadaw, this “noting” practice involves mentally tagging sensations—“rising, falling,” “hot, cold,” “itching, thinking.”
   • Walking meditation plays a starring role: each footstep becomes an anchor for gentle investigation. Recent retreats even stream live Vipassanā sessions, feeding global interest via apps like Insight Timer.

3. Jhāna Training (Absorption Practices)
   • Brought to the spotlight by Pa-Auk Sayadaw’s tradition, this method cultivates deep concentration through kasina exercises (e.g., a colored disc) before weaving in insight.
   • Practitioners report entering blissful states of rapture (pīti) and equanimity (upekkhā), developing both tranquility and discernment in tandem.

Seasonal retreats during Uposatha days mix these core techniques with chanting and Dhamma talks. Since the 2021 monastic protests, digital dhamma platforms have flourished, connecting laypeople worldwide to Burmese forest‐monk teachings. Even urban youth, grappling with social media fatigue, have flocked to weekend-guided sits in Mandalay—proof that these age-old practices still strike a chord.

Whether seated under a banyan tree in Sagaing Hills or tuning into a livestream from a Yangon monastery, the emphasis remains the same: cultivating a grounded awareness that turns every moment—walking to the shrine, washing bowls, sipping tea—into a doorway for insight. No fancy props, no frills—just breath, body, and the steady torchlight of mindfulness.