Austin Sarner
I discovered Tranquil Wisdom Insight Meditation (TWIM) in 2019, and from the very first retreat I knew I had found a practice that spoke directly to the heart of the Buddha’s teachings. Since then, TWIM has become the cornerstone of my life—guiding me not only in meditation but in how I live, relate, and meet each moment with more ease. I’ve had the good fortune to train with Bhante Vimalaramsi, Doug Kraft, David Johnson, and Delson Armstrong, and to spend time on retreat where the depth of this practice really comes alive. My practice now is about deepening this path and sharing it with others—so more people can discover how simple, approachable, and life-changing meditation can truly be.
- AUSTIN SARNER, Meditation Coach, Software Engineer
- INSTRUCTION: Zoom retreat Instructor, Online retreat guide for Dhamma Sukha Meditation Center
- LOCATION: Virginia, United States
- CONTACT: austinsarner@me.com
Austin has long been fascinated by consciousness, but his introduction to sustained spiritual practice began after he got sober in 2016. With the support of a spiritual community, he opened to new ways of relating to the world and began exploring more deeply.
After an earnest search through various paths and methodologies, he encountered Tranquil Wisdom Insight Meditation (TWIM) and experienced a level of relief he had never thought possible. Since then, he has sat many retreats with teachers including Bhante Vimalaramsi, Doug Kraft, David Johnson, and Delson Armstrong.
The Buddha Dhamma has become the cornerstone of his life. Today, he leads online retreats and sitting groups in the TWIM tradition, sharing the practice with warmth and supporting others on their path. Austin is especially passionate about helping people discover the direct experience of relief and joy that meditation can bring.
Alongside Buddhism, Austin continues to explore and integrate perspectives from Vedanta, Shamanism, and other resonant spiritual traditions. A software engineer for more than 20 years, he also enjoys designing playful user interfaces. When not exploring the mind or writing code, he can often be found immersed in community and enjoying the natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
He recalls one evening, sitting by a river in meditation after months of struggle, when a wave of relief arose—unlike anything he could have imagined. In that moment, all concepts of what Buddhism should be fell away. What remained was the heart of the teachings: the simple, direct experience of release and peace.
Testimonial
“I did a 3 day Zoom TWIM retreat with Austin and it was a fantastic experience. I had sat various 10-day in-person retreats over the years, but in the months prior to this retreat, my practice had gotten a bit inconsistent. When I saw that there was going to be a 3-day Zoom retreat, I immediately registered with the hope that it could help me re-establish and deepen my practice again. And it delivered. I was honestly quite surprised by how deep I was able to go in such a short period of time. Austin was wonderful with his guidance, warm and receptive while providing helpful pointers that led to various needed subtle shifts in my practice and perspective. Needless to say, I was very pleased and grateful to have had such an experience.
For anyone considering giving TWIM a try, these 3 days Zoom retreat provide a perfect space to experience the Dhamma firsthand, while also keeping it balanced so you don’t have to travel far or take much time off from work, etc. And for experienced meditators, it’s a great opportunity to deepen your practice and bring it back into daily life.”
With metta, John 9/15/25