Written by Dan Kaminsky I hope we can learn to practice dialoguing together about our successes and failures on, and off, the cushion in a respectful, equanimous and loving way. And considering Goenka has passed, learning how to talk about these issues respectfully now is of extreme importance for the tradition’s future as we become …
Category: Personal Experiences
Wisdom In My Own Words
The 10-day course developed by U Ba Kin and Goenka has successfully travelled around the world teaching the fundamentals of dhamma to all walks of life. It's amazing that the combinations of rules, instructions, and discourses that Geonka put together has been translated into so many different languages to conduct successful courses. I understand the …
In response to “treat it like a black stone” or “just observe”
Written by Dan Kaminsky There are, at this point, a few very predictable responses to certain types of concerns being raised. And those responses are valid. There is a ton of wisdom in observing your own baggage and working to not be consumed by it. Yet, I think those responses aren’t always appropriate. Often, when …
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Is Old Student Dialogue Helpful?
Open discussions are rare in the Goenka tradition for good reason. The tradition's focus is on encouraging people to meditate, and intellectual discussions can lead to confusion and doubt that detract from the personal journey experienced on the cushion. There's also the problem of determining who is advanced enough in their development to share their …
The Importance of “Why”
Written by Dan Kaminsky This tradition is very clear in its views of blind faith. Goenka repeatedly instructs people to never operate out of blind faith, and it seems that he feels strongly that operating out of a place of experiential wisdom is crucial in safeguarding a non-sectarian tradition. I think increasing transparency about the …
Is Goenka Vipassana Universal?
Goenka seems to present two different paths. First, he shares that sila (morality), samadhi (concentration through breath awareness), and panna (wisdom through body sensation awareness) are the three universal components of the path towards ultimate truth. Second, he shares that the ultimate goal is to liberate the mind from the cycle of birth and death. …
3 Challenges I’ve Faced in Goenka’s Vipassana
Written by Dan Kaminsky Hello! My goal with this blog post is to lay out some of the challenges I have faced after ten years in the Goenka tradition. I would like to preface these challenges by saying that these critiques are coming from a place of gratitude and understanding of the immense benefits I …
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Where Do I Go From Here?
Now 38 years old and over 10 years into my Vipassana journey, my wife, Maria, and I have just welcomed Baby William into our family. Long courses and long-term service have helped me mature as a compassionate human being, but they can no longer be my guiding compass. With any thoughts of a monastic life …
The Next Generation of Goenka Meditators
50 years ago, S. N. Goenka started teaching Vipassana to a new generation of meditators. Thousands of his inspired pupils became meditation teachers, carrying his instructions around the world. Now seven years after Goenka’s death, there is an entire generation of Goenka followers that never met him. The first generation of Goenka students have become …
Set your mind to it.
Following is a line from the 1981 Hindi movie Umrao Jaan, from the song Dil Cheez Kya Hai. It's one of my favorite quotes. मुश्किल नहीं है कुछ भी अगर ठान लीजिये। Pronounced: Mushkil nahi hai kuchh bhi agar thaan lijiye. Translation: Nothing is hard if you commit to it. I often tell myself and complain …
