welcome to Dharma Bites!
Thank you for being here!
Who’s writing?
I’m Sunisa Manning. I was ordained in the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism by my teacher Anam Thubten in August 2024. One day he asked me if I would teach. I low-key said no the Asian way, by asking if I could think about it, but then he insisted. I’m just a new dharma teacher finding my feet in this turbulent world. Maybe we can do it together.
When I teach, I do my best to let the lineages I hold come through me. The dharma has been a life-changing path for me. Like many of us, I was born into circumstances that taught me the grip of samsara. Luckily, growing up in Thailand, I learned to meditate as a child. This became a practice that altered my consciousness.
In my 20s I encountered Tibetan Buddhism. On the rational level, I was drawn to it because it collapsed some of the gendered hierarchies I experienced growing up. Truly though, I felt in my body that this was my path. I spent a few years getting myself in front of many lamas on many continents before I found my teacher, Anam Thubten. I’ve been a student of his for about 12 years.
Anam Thubten trained me in the dharma. I eventually did ngondro, the preliminary practices for the Vajrayana. Now I do Chod, a wild wisdom path that I love so much. It was originated by Machig Lapdron, a woman and mother in 8th century Tibet. I am honored to practice it.
Through hearing the dharma I got to learn, explicitly, how to work with and transmute my neurotic tendencies. I’m passionate about Buddhism because it has been the way for me to begin to transcend my dualistic thinking and start to live in a state of spaciousness. It worked for me! I believe this freedom is available to all of us.
I am mixed-race Thai and White American, born and raised in Bangkok. I’m a wife and a mother to two young boys. I teach as the dharma comes through my lived experience of doing the dishes, being late for school drop-off, juggling work and travel and staying connected to my husband. I hope this is relatable! We are all in the same trenches. They can be pretty great with the right company.
Sit with me
I founded and lead Heart Sangha in Philadelphia, PA. We currently meet in person but we’re transitioning to sitting in the formless Zoom mandala.
Sign up for Heart Sangha emails to sit with me.
Read along
Here are some posts that are indicative of what it’s like in my dharma lane.
Don’t Get Stuck, the inaugural post
Girls Who Don’t Listen — I was really dorking out, and it turns out to be the most popular post so far! Hurrah for the bookish
Thank you
If Dharma Bites is resonating with you:
Please consider liking, commenting, and re-stacking my posts.
All posts are free and will stay free! There are no subscriber benefits. We are all equally entitled to the dharma.
If it’s in your means, would you consider upgrading to a paid subscription?
It would support my work turning the wheel of the dharma.
Thank you 🙏🏼
