Vipassana is a Pali word meaning insight, seeing things as they really are. It is not a blind faith or philosophy and has nothing to do with sectarian religion. Instead, Vipassana is a practical method that can be applied by anyone of average intelligence. Its goal is to purify the mind, to eliminate the tensions and negativities that make us miserable.
Vipassana meditation was taught by Shri Satya Narayan Goenka and his assistant teachers. Courses are held regularly in different parts of India and abroad. People come to these camps from every caste, community, and background. For ten days they live together in harmony, intent on acquiring this ancient spiritual treasure of India.
Vipassana Meditation-The Art of Living is the first book to appear in English that accurately describes at length, for the general reader. Vipassana meditation as taught by Shri S. N. Goenka.
Sri Satyanarayanji Goenka was born in Mandalay, Myanmar in 1924. Although he topped the list of all successful candidates in the whole of Myanmar in the tenth class he could not continue his studies further because of financial constraints of his family. At a very early age, he set up many commercial and industrial institutions and earned fabulous wealth. He also established many social and cultural centers. Because of the tension, he became a victim of migraine, which could not be cured by doctors in Myanmar and other countries in the world. Then someone suggested he take a course in Vipassana. Vipassana has done well not only for him but it has also been benefiting many others.
He learned Vipassana from Sayagyi U Ba Khin in 1955. Sitting at the feet of his teacher he practiced it for fourteen years He also studied the words of the Buddha during this period. He came to India in 1969 and conducted the first vipassana course in Mumbai. After that, a series of courses were held. In 1976 the first residential course of vipassana was held in Igatpuri and the first center of vipassana was established here. Up till now, 165 centers have been established all over the world. New centers also are coming up. At these centers, 1200 trained teachers teach vipassana in 55 languages of the world. Not only ten-day courses are conducted at these centers but also at some centers 20-day, 30-day, 45-day, and 60-day courses are conducted. All courses are free of charge. The expenses on food and accommodation etc are met by the self-willed Dana given by those who benefited from the course. Seeing its benevolent nature vipassana courses is held not only for the inmates of jails and school children in the world but also for police personnel, judges, government officers, etc.
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