Entering the Stream with Bhante Nalaka

The first stage of Awakening is called "Stream-Entry" (sotāpanna) - because, just as a stream flows unerringly towards the ocean, a stream-enterer moves unerringly towards complete liberation. By understanding the characteristics of a stream-enterer, we can work on developing those same characteristics within ourselves, so that we can attain the same height of wisdom. Bhante Nalaka was raised in western New York state. He was first inspired to become a Buddhist monk in 1972. After college, he read Zen Mind, Beginners Mind by Shunryu Suzuki and began practicing meditation every day. In 1981, he was introduced to the vipassana meditation technique taught by Mahāsi Sayadaw, and attended his first ten-day intensive retreat at IMS using the Mahāsi method. In 1983, he was ordained at the Vipassana Meditation Center at Kanduboda in Sri Lanka. Currently he resides at the Austin Buddhist Vihāra in Texas.