SL Byrne is an American fiction and non-fiction writer who focuses on social commentaries across a wide range of subjects, including philosophy, economics, politics, literature and human rights. He also writes about modern applications of Buddhism and spirituality. He undertook a yearlong solitary meditation retreat in absolute seclusion where he studied and practiced ancient Buddhist texts. He wrote the book The Heart Blooms in Silence, published under his Buddhist name Dhammadasa  (available on Amazon.com). The book recounts his retreat experiences and reflections. He lives in Virginia, USA and New South Wales, Australia.