S. N. Goenka
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| Pujya Shri Satya Narayan Goenka | |
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| Born | Februrary 7, 1924 Mandalay, Burma |
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Sri Satya Narayan Goenka (born 1924) is a leading lay teacher of Vipassanā meditation and a student of Sayagyi U Ba Khin. He is married to Ilaichidevi Goenka, who sits as co-teacher with him. They have six sons.
SN Goenka emphasises that, "The Buddha never taught a sectarian religion; he taught Dhamma - the way to liberation - which is universal" and presents his teachings as non-sectarian and open to people of all faiths or no faith. Goenka calls Vipassana meditation an experiential scientific practice, through which one can observe the constantly changing nature of the mind and body at the deepest level, a profound understanding that leads to a truly happy and peaceful life
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[edit] Biography
Born in Mandalay, Burma to Indian parents, Goenka was raised a Hindu[1] and, as an adult, became an industrialist and leader of the Burmese Indian community. After developing an interest in meditation in an effort to overcome chronic migraines, he began studying with U Ba Khin, a senior civil servant in the newly independent Burmese government. U Ba Khin was a renowned meditation teacher who had played an important role in the Sixth Buddhist Council of 1954-1956 and was one of the leaders of a Vipassana-centered reform movement that had exerted a positive influence on standards in public life. U Ba Khin had a number of students who teach U Ba Khin's style of vipassana meditation. Goenka became U Ba Khin's most prominent student and went on to found an international network of teaching centers, based at Dhammagiri in India. U Ba Khin's original center continues to function in Rangoon, Burma, guided by Mother Sayamagyi, along with 6 branch centres around the world.
Goenka is a prolific orator, writer and a poet. He writes in English, Hindi and Rajasthani languages. He has traveled widely and lectured to audiences worldwide including at the World Economic Forum, Davos, in the year 2000 and at the “Millennium World Peace Summit” at the United Nations in August, 2000 [2]. For four months in 2002, he undertook the Meditation Now Tour of North America.
Goenka has envisioned a nearly 100-meter-tall Global Pagoda to serve as an inspiration for spreading vipassana meditation around the world. Construction of the dome was recently finished and a one day course for old students in the tradition was held there on December 21, 2008.
[edit] Teachings
Students are encouraged to examine and test their own experience at the experiential level by observing themselves with equanimity, and examining the results. The technique involves adherence to a moral code and the observation of sensations.
To quiet the mind during Vipassana courses, students are asked to have no contact with the outside world or other students, though they may talk to an assistant teacher about questions concerning the technique or to a student manager for any material problems. Mere observation of breath allows the mind to become naturally concentrated, a practice called Anapana. This concentration prepares one for the main part of the practice -- non-attached observation of the reality of the present moment, as it manifests in one's own mind and body. This is the Vipassana practice itself which involves carefully "scanning" the surface of the body with one's attention and observing the sensations with equanimity, becoming progressively more aware of their ever-changing nature.
Goenka explains in his talks that the practice of Vipassana is the essence of the path of Dhamma, the path to Truth. He does not claim that this Vipassana tradition is the only way to Truth, and constantly reminds students of the Universal and non-sectarian quality of this path. However he claims that an authentic tradition survived in Burma, passing from teacher to student in a long lineage from the time of the Buddha to his teacher, U Ba Khin, and now through himself, to the student.
In his courses and lectures Goenka describes Vipassana meditation as a scientific investigation of the mind-matter phenomenon. .
[edit] Meditation centers
The Vipassana Meditation Centers that he has helped to establish throughout the world offer 10-day courses that provide a thorough and guided introduction to the practice of Vipassana meditation. These courses are supported by voluntary donations of people who want to contribute for future courses. There are no charges for either the course or for the lodging and boarding during the course. Only donations made at the end of the course which go towards paying for future new students.
With the ever-growing number of people learning Vipassana from these centers, Goenka tries to ensure that the whole network does not become a sectarian religion or cult. He recommends the expansion should be for the benefit of others, not mere expansion for the sake of expansion due to any blind belief -- but with the intention may more people benefit, rather than for the sake of your own organization's growth. Through the application process, however, much effort is made to prepare potential students for the rigorous and serious nature of the intensive 10-day meditation.
People with serious mental disorders have occasionally come to Vipassana courses with the unrealistic expectation that the technique will cure or alleviate their mental problems. Unstable interpersonal relationships and a history of various treatments can be additional factors which make it difficult for such people to benefit from, or even complete, a ten-day course. Our capacity as a nonprofessional volunteer organization makes it impossible for us to properly care for people with these backgrounds. Although Vipassana meditation is beneficial for most people, it is not a substitute for medical or psychiatric treatment and we do not recommend it for people with serious psychiatric disorders.
The organization of the centers are de-centralized and self-sufficient, and may be run by volunteers of varying experience, which may account for differences in attitudes and experiences. In an effort to provide a more uniform experience in all of the centers, all public instruction during the retreat is given by audio and video tapes of Goenka. When asked about problems related to growth and expansion, Goenka is quoted as:
The cause of the problem is included in the question. When these organizations work for their own expansion, they have already started rotting. The aim should be to increase other people’s benefits. Then there is a pure Dhamma volition and there is no chance of decay. When there is a Dhamma volition, "May more and more people benefit," there is no attachment. But if you want your organization to grow, there is attachment and that pollutes Dhamma.[citation needed]
While students practice Goenka's Vipassana technique at the meditation centres, they agree to refrain from practicing any other religious practices. Concerning practices of other religions, Goenka says, "Understand. The names of many practices are all words of pure Dhamma, of Vipassana. But today the essence is lost; it is just a lifeless shell that people perform. And that has no benefit."
[edit] Vipassana Research Institute
He believes that theory and practice should go hand-in-hand and accordingly has also established a Vipassana Research Institute to investigate and publish literature on Vipassana and its effects.
[edit] Documentary: "Doing Time, Doing Vipassana"
A documentary was made about the introduction of S.N. Goenka' Vipassana 10-day classes to Tihar Jail in the early 1990s by former Inspector General of Prisons in New Delhi, Kiran Bedi. Ms. Bedi first had her guards trained, then she had Mr. Goenka give his initial class to 1,000 prisoners.
- The documentary is available as a 52-minute DVD, ISBN 1-928706-26-6 from [1].
- More information about teaching S.N. Goenka's Vipassana in prisons may be found at [2] .
[edit] Notes
- ^ Kesavapany 494
- ^ Wednesday, August 30: Venerable Vipasarachaya Dr. S.N. Yoenka
[edit] References
- Kesavapany, K. (2008) Rising India and indian communities in East Asia. Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. ISBN 9789812307996
[edit] Further reading
- Hart, William (1987). The Art of Living: Vipassana Meditation: As Taught by S. N. Goenka. HarperOne. ISBN 0060637242.
- Goenka, S.N. (2000). The Discourse Summaries: Talks from a Ten-day Course in Vipassana Meditation. Pariyatti Publishing. ISBN 1928706096
[edit] External links
- Vipassana Research Institute.
- Introduction to Vipassana Meditation by S.N. Goenka (video files).
- Podcasts about Vipassana Meditation (audio talks).
- Brief biography of Goenka.
- S.N. Goenka Meditation Now Tour of North America.
- Website for the Global Pagoda project.
- Vipassana meditation centers worldwide.
- Code of conduct for meditation course participants.
[edit] Transcripts
- The Art of Living: Vipassana Meditation based upon a talk given in Berne, Switzerland.
- An Interview with S. N. Goenka Tricycle: The Buddhist Review | Winter 2000
- Universal Spirituality for Peace United Nations General Assembly | August 29, 2000
- Q&A by Goenka BuddhaNet | 1997 & 1999
- Meeting Between Goenka and Krishnamurti BuddhaNet | October 17, 2000
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