MEDITATION
Today, Vipassana courses, as taught by
S.N. Goenka in the tradition of Sayagyi
U Ba Khin, are held at 341 locations in
94 countries . Although Indian by
descent, Mr. Goenka was born and
raised in Myanmar (Burma). Mr. Goenka
settled in India and began teaching
Vipassana in 1969 and is a recipient of
many awards and honors in his lifetime,
including the prestigious Padma
Bhushan Award from the President of
India in 2012. It is also taught in prisons
both in India and abroad.
It has been found to be genuinely
helpful, great emphasis is put on
preserving the technique in its original,
authentic form. It is not taught
commercially, instead is offered freely.
No person involved in its teaching
receives any material remuneration.
There are no charges for the courses -
not even to cover the cost of food and
accommodation. All expenses are met
by donations from people who, having
completed a course and experienced the
benefits of Vipassana, wish to give others
the opportunity to benefit from it also.
The 10 days course is highly regimental,
waking up at 4 am and sleeping at 9:30
pm daily. Of the 17.5 hrs one is awake,
12 hrs is spent in meditation and
listening to teachers’ discourses. One of
the participants dropped the badge
with the pin on it and I actually heard
the Pin Drop, sound. This is not like
watching Netflix or Prime video non
48 www.yogicherald.com Oct./Nov. 2019