A gentle and effective way of practicing meditation based on the original teachings of the Buddha. It was revived and shared widely by Venerable Bhante Vimalaramsi, an American Buddhist monk who dedicated his life to studying the early suttas (discourses of the Buddha).
Unlike many meditation methods that focus only on concentration, TWIM combines Loving-kindness (mettā) and insight (vipassanā) together. This makes the practice balanced, natural, and joyful. The special method used in TWIM is called the 6Rs: Recognize, Release, Relax, Re-smile, Return, and Repeat. By using these gentle steps, one learns how to let go of distractions, relax tension in mind and body, and bring up a smiling, light mind that can clearly see reality.
TWIM is very useful because it does not push or force the mind. Instead, it develops loving-kindness (mettā) and other wholesome states, which naturally lead to calmness, wisdom, and happiness. Practitioners often find that stress, anxiety, anger, and restlessness reduce very quickly. It also improves relationships and daily life, because one learns to meet every situation with kindness and understanding.
The Buddha himself taught meditation as a path to end craving and suffering. TWIM follows this original path, using loving-kindness meditation to develop deep collectedness (jhana) and then using that calm mind to see the true nature of life: how everything arises and passes away due to causes and conditions.
The benefit of TWIM is very practical. A meditator feels lighter, more peaceful, and more compassionate day by day. With steady practice, one can progress toward Nibbana, the complete freedom from suffering, which was the final goal taught by the Buddha.