Biography of S N Goenka

[findlaymcarthur]

all round nice guy

[rockerpizza]

I respect s n goenka for what he did.

Buddhas glorious teaching has been helpful for people around the globe..

[Nitin0105]

Can someone translate this in English?

[2ht]

It is a very brief biography of S N Goenka. He was born in Mandalay city in Burma in 1924. He got married when he was 18. After WWII, he became a very successful clothes trader of MarYaWarYi Trading in Burma. He set up businesses named Bandola blanket factory and cooking oil factory. He was very clever in business. His hobbies are reading and art. He suffered Migraine disease for so many years and tried to get cured by the doctors in Burma and abroad.

[2ht]

Continue............. No one could not cure his disease. Judge U Nyan Tun gave him an advice which was to do meditation at the Sayagyi U Ba Khin's meditation centre. He started meditation course on 01/09/1955 and wanted to run away from the centre on his second day but did not and tried hard. His migraine disease was completely gone and he understood the most precious Dhamma from meditation. He used to have a big temper which was gone small as well.

[2ht]

Continue................He volunteered as a translator for Sayagyi U Ba Khin to be able to teach meditation to Indian people.He taught Indians meditation with Hendi language. His mother was gone very ill in India and he went back to India on 21/06/1969. He taught his family meditation. In 1969, he taught the first meditation course in Bombay in India. People liked it and very interested in it and wanted it more. He did so many courses every week.

[2ht]

Continue................At first, there was no meditation centre and he used schools, churches, hendi monastery and islam monastery as meditation centres. In 1974, his pupils bought 30 aces of land and built a meditation centre named Dhamma Giri. There is no cost at all for all students to learn meditation. The centre publish Vipassana Journal every month in Hendi language. There are 124 meditation centres in worldwide till 14/09/2004.

[2ht]

Continue..............The 15 centres are still building. There are over 1,000 assistant teachers helping to teach Vipassana meditation in the centres worldwide.

I translated it for you with my little english as far as I can.

[DrJeanine]

I love Goenka!! Just back from 10 day retreat!

[marieno28]

@DrJeanine

with absolutely no disrecpect whatsoever for Mr Goenka, you don't need to "love Goenka" - only the method he's teaching, and keep applying it in your everyday life.

bless

[mycal64]

Just finished a 10 day course. I studied Zen for 8 years (4 in Japan). All I can say is `Do it`. My understanding of what Buddha was trying to communicate has now been experienced within my own body-mind and nothing will shake my belief that Vipassana was the technique Buddha taught.

[SabineBe]

mycal64, thank you very much for your comment. I have been 3 times so far and never had any doubt. Reading your comment has just been another reconfirmation I do not need ;-). But still very much appreciated. Bless you, Sabine

[lxvlx]

Hehe.. A friend has been training in Zen for 10 years.. he is on his first Vipassana course right now.. I have told him after this he will drop Zen.. he has his doubts.. I'm looking forward to see what happens :)

[LinktothepastZ]

Well did he? :)

[lxvlx]

hehe, nah he didn't give up Zen. Tried his best to find any reason not to like Vipassana.. Came up with lots of silly little things..."The guy next to me was laughing all the time and the teacher never shut him up, that would never happen in Zen"..."Goenka makes stupid jokes".. etc etc... I think he was just jealous.. ;)

[tomtomttom]

I believe Vipassana Meditation was first mentioned in the Veda. Later Hindus ignored it, but it was brought back by Buddha. To Hindus Buddha was a amazing reformer.

[dodgetheeruff]

Goenka's practise is negligent to put it politely. The vipassana people do not care about the failures either. So much for compassion.

[Ravenvipassana]

elaborate on that. Negligent how? Failure?

[dodgetheeruff]

Where are the cured alcoholics and drug addicts who have taken courses? Are they still cured after 10 years?

[Ninyae1]

I do not remember the word cure being used in discourses, but after having been a long term drug addict, I have not used drugs or alcohol for over 18 years. For 17 and a half years of that, I have been following Vipassana in this tradition.

[Goldenshowerpower]

Have you undergone formal Vipassana training?

Have you conducted any studies which support your doubt for the Vipassana practice?

[carlosmangela]

A man of peace, a very noble soul. Incredibly simple human being, preaching something extremely genuine without any pomp,false promises, self-glorification, idolatry and self-worship. He is bound to succede.

[dodgetheeruff]

false promises? he makes claims which cannot be proven. Self Glorification? he is the next in line for a new Buddha isnt he? Selfworship? He doesn't need it because he has many followers. He is bound to succeed? What is success? Religion always fails us flesh and blood persons.

[carlosmangela]

its not 'religion' per say. Its only about meditating by observing your own breath ( which has no religion) and attaining inner peace ( greatest proof of his succes. People of all 'religions' come to meditate under him ( seen it with my own eyes) to attain something universal ( inner peace), while other 'elite' gurus have their share of self-worship ( Goenkaji teaches no worship at all).

[carlosmangela]

What he is teaching is genuine ( I've been to his course) and is in the line of Buddha, who was also another human being like him. He could well Buddha's rep in this era for his ingenuity.

I am not a Buddhist, nor am I his spokes person or ardent devotee, but I believe that wisdom can never be anyone's property. Why don't you try it for yourself to see if its real or not.That is the best way...to discover for yourself.

[carlosmangela]

And besides, he has no special 'cult' following with followers going by the herd instinct, with common codes, vocabulary, greetings, gestures and symbols etc. There is no scope for all that because there is no philosophy, just your breath. But the best way to answer oneself is to experience it. An apple has no taste unless you eat it or atleast take a bite. But most of all remember, all branches of wisdom have asserted that there is absolutely no compulsion.

[MsDhamma]

@carlosmangela I am totally agree with You. He is precious for all of us. Love & peace to You!!!!