I learned about Mr. S. N. Goenka when I wanted to learn the Vipassana Meditation technique. His teaching method and the meditation technique was the best I learned in my life.
About S. N. Goenka
Some background about Mr. S. N. Goenka, from the Dhamma website:
Although Indian by descent, Mr. Goenka was born and raised in Myanmar (Burma). While living there, he had the good fortune to come into contact with Sayagyi U Ba Khin and to learn the technique of Vipassana from him. After receiving training from his teacher for 14 years, Mr. Goenka settled in India and began teaching Vipassana in 1969. In a country still sharply divided by differences of caste and religion, the courses offered by Mr. Goenka soon attracted thousands of people from every part of society. In addition, many people from countries around the world came to join courses in Vipassana meditation.
Over a period of almost 45 years, Mr. Goenka and the teachers appointed by him taught hundreds of thousands of people in courses in India and other countries, East and West. Today, meditation centers established under his guidance are operating in Asia, Europe, the Americas, Africa and Australasia.
The technique taught by S.N. Goenka goes back two and a half millennia to the Buddha. The Buddha never taught a sectarian religion; he taught Dhamma – the way to liberation – which is universal. In the same tradition, Mr. Goenka’s approach is totally non-sectarian. For this reason, his teaching has had a profound appeal to people of all backgrounds, of every religion and no religion, and from every part of the world.
Mr Goenka, died on 29 September 2013 (aged 89) in Mumbai, India.
My favorite quotes, stories and prayers from S. N. Goenka
Quotes
The Gautama Buddha never taught a sectarian religion; he taught Dhamma – the way to liberation – which is universal and presented his teachings as non-sectarian and open to people of all faiths or no faith.
I am sure that this Summit will help focus the world’s attention on the true purpose of religion:
“Religion sets us not apart; it teaches peace and purity of heart.”
I am not against conversion. In my speech at UN, the first thing I said was that I am for conversion, but not from one organised religion to another, but from misery to happiness, from bondage to liberation.
May all beings find real peace, real harmony, real happiness.
Metta Prayer
I first heard this prayer when I was taking the Vipassana course. The following prayer is borrowed from the Wildmind Buddhist Meditation website:
May all beings be well and safe, may they be at ease.
Whatever living beings there may be, whether moving or standing still, without exception, whether large, great, middling, or small, whether tiny or substantial,
Whether seen or unseen, whether living near or far,
Born or unborn; may all beings be happy.
Let none deceive or despise another anywhere. Let none wish harm to another, in anger or in hate.
Stories
I will keep adding stories as I remember them, but for now I remember the following:
If you also look upon Mr. S. N. Goenka and would like me to add more of his stories and quotes to this page, then please contact me.
You may also like:
One Reply to “Metta Prayer and other quotes of wisdom – In the memory of Mr. S.N. Goenka”