tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7037385.post1657978314466032195..comments2024-03-04T22:54:13.447+05:30Comments on Remains of the Day: A Critique of Vipassana as taught by Mr S N GoenkaUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger68125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7037385.post-5486051389959332952019-06-06T09:24:49.513+05:302019-06-06T09:24:49.513+05:30I attended the first retreat in sep2017 and on 2nd...I attended the first retreat in sep2017 and on 2nd day I left. I couldn't continue as I was bored and became restless. But after coming back to home I continued anapana meditation and to my surprise my drinking habit started to reduce and by feb2018 I gave up drinking. So I applied for my second retreat in mar2018 and I stayed there till 4th day evening (this time it was due severe pain in my left hip joints and lower back (two accidents and one major surgery on my left leg)and also boredom. So only four days and I had to get treatment for my left leg for nearly 10days. <br /> But I continued with my practice of anapana and vipassana meditation and it's been 15months I ve no thought about alcohol. I've continued my practice and also stretching and exercise for my hip for 14months. This year I've applied again and this time I know I would complete 10days. <br /> What can I say? I think mind is very clever to do things which are very difficult to understand. <br /> I spoke to some people whom I friended during that short stay at the retreat and I found they have done 2 to 3 retreats and they didn't find it difficult at all.<br /> Whether should I appreciate Mr.Goenkaji's effort to spread this technique of Buddha or not is up to u. I did only one session of vipassana in the retreat. My body and mind ran away from the place and situation for which it was not trained. But I knew that this doesn't mean that technique is at fault or i'm not suitable for that technique. <br /> I can't talk about d others experience but I realize that if based on experience if things have to be judged then thousands and thousands and may be even millions have benefited so that testimony has to be trusted than the just few.<br /> And as far as the forced stay is concerned I was let both the times and it would be impossible for them to make me stay because I was bored to the core.<br /> What can I say I don't see cult, I don't see God in Buddha, I don't see Goenkaji as manipulator. I only see teacher in Gautama Buddha and in Goenkaji I find a person's genuine intention to give this technique to everyone. And in both Gautama Buddha and Goenkaji I see the compassion. All the points made in favour or against the technique or the retreat procedure would never be denied by Buddha. Buddha would be most happy when we make our decisions and when v r happy. <br /> I can see lot of compassion in the discussion here. The intention to help others is so much radiant here. <br /> I'm very thankful to all and also very happy. All be happy<br /> Blindianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7037385.post-33978093516759407872018-02-15T16:58:46.676+05:302018-02-15T16:58:46.676+05:30Sharing a nice article comparing "Vipassana a...Sharing a nice article comparing "Vipassana as taught by Mr S N Goenka" versus "Vipassana as taught in Ajahn Chhah tradition or Ajhan Sumedho tradition"<br /><br />https://pldhar.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/comparative-study_revised.pdfVikas Nagpalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01771942786770811650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7037385.post-78636641255138455012017-11-28T21:28:41.817+05:302017-11-28T21:28:41.817+05:30I didn't pay. I applied as 'unwaged' a...I didn't pay. I applied as 'unwaged' and was placed in the 2nd built block of 3, ie not the oldest one. I did not find it particularly deprived. A challenge, yes, but nothing on the scale of, say, training for a marathon. It is only for 10 days after all. I did nothing that overturned my principles and accepted nothing beyond my own findings. Reincarnation? Who knows. Not important. I feel lighter and more centred, able to ride life's ups and downs. I have not been forced to pay or convert others or reject others who don't meditate etc. I can't vouch for whether I'm the average person you're looking for to reply here but I'm nowt special.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13030214893785177393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7037385.post-32202987308497378742017-01-12T15:32:17.147+05:302017-01-12T15:32:17.147+05:30I like what Megan Jones wrote above about Buddhism...I like what Megan Jones wrote above about Buddhism in general.<br />The Buddha was a neuroscientist with no scientific background, 2600 years before the Common Era, just imagine what he could achieve with his deep introspection capability in the 21st century, it's just amazing. But it's wrong to think the no-soul or anatman is central to Buddhism that branched out from Hinduism based on a primordial being or Brahma whatever you call it, a notion that became nothingness in Buddhism, or a state of no-tension. In a nutshell, no-soul means no Brahma. <br /><br />We all die and our body disaggregates back into atoms. Everybody has a soul, it's pretty much how your limbic system (emotional brain) reacts to external and internal stimuli. The limbic system or the mammalian brain sits on your oldest brain, the reptilian brain that controls automatically your breathing, fight and flight reactions, which is the hardware of your brain, nothing can change it, not you, not the Buddha who was pretty vague about that but extremely clear about Ignorance, i.e., we do not know for sure what happens and why Mother Nature throws us bad stuff that we can't handle with most of the time. Just don't get messed up with Goenka's surgery kindergarten scientific guesses about the frontal cortex above your front that is the seat of your soul, the executive center of your brain that cannot control the amygdala which triggers fear when you see a snake or a saber-tooth, and run for your life. With great and long practice of meditation, you can somehow stop messing up with your emotional and reptilian brains. Read more about the Triune brain which is a fair model or theory to explain how little we can do with our brain up there. <br /><br />Yes, we have a soul, our genetic code we get from our parents, shaped by society. But run for your life when someone tries selling you Goenka's BS.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7037385.post-84257892861428738932016-09-19T09:23:48.946+05:302016-09-19T09:23:48.946+05:30Refutation of the 'implementation' dimensi...Refutation of the 'implementation' dimension:<br />1. In my view, the only way to evaluate the practice is to check if the hypothesized sensations can be perceived or not. If the sensations can be perceived and they are found to ebb and fade away upon dispassionate observation, then the practice is working. If not, then the practice is not working. The proof would be one's mellowed reactions when objects of desire are presented to one' sense doors again. <br />2. The usage of Pali and Buddhist formalities cannot held to be an objection when Goenka has stated that all the theory can be ejected in favor of practice. There is no requirement for anyone to pay attention to the Pali chants or formalities, except adhering to the principles of Sila, Samadhi and Prajna which we sign up for on Day 0.<br />3. The author argues that the practice is a 'dissociative meditation practice' which involves the existence of the soul (Self) separate from the body and that the sensations are 'merely nerves being tingled.' Just as Goenka is entitled to his version of the theory of Vipassana, the author is entitled to his own theory. We are not required to accept any theory unless the author tells us what the results of accepting this theory will be and if these results are measurable. The author does not provide any such information (he tantalizingly tells us that 'The problem of suffering is quite real (thus negating his own 'biased perception' above), but the solution might be quite different than dissociating from this world). Unlike the author, Goenka provides a theory, its implementation and a way to check if the implementation works (mellowed reactions).<br />4. The various objections cited by the author in Section 4.3 - the rigor, the boredom, the 'low oxygen' - are all things that the student signs up for. Also, Goenka's explanation of the experience one may have is presented in a negative way. However, Goenka keeps reiterating that one is expected to perceive ALL experiences one is having with equanimity, which nullifies the authors concern for 'frustration and depression' in the students. Since we did not talk until Day 9, we did not even know what experiences others were having until the end of the course. I would treat Goenka's explanation simply as a milestone to know how far one has come from the start of the course.<br />5. The author's theory is that the practice results in a 'dissociated mind that is a detached observer of phenomena rather than an involved party,' and this is a bad thing from an evolutionary standpoint (as reacting to phenomena is an important survival tool for the human body) or from the standpoint of material progress (creative people/ inventors need a chattering brain). I believe the author is missing the point here as Vipassana is teaching students to be detached observers of objects of desire (i.e., which produce samskaras and subsequent suffering) and not stimuli relevant to life and death. In the angina example, I imagine that a Vipassana student would not panic and call for medical assistance with a calm mind.<br />6. The author concludes with the statement: 'The technique provides an unusual experiencing of bodily sensations, and does not foster real understanding of suffering and of one’s mind.' The first part of the statement is correct, and Goenka says that one has to attend theory classes to understand the basis of the technique (so the second part is only partially correct). In the meantime, Goenka says that one can abandon the theory if one is unsatisfied with it, as long as one is deriving the measurable benefit of calmer reactions by practicing the technique (by observing sensations produced in response to sense objects and watching the sensations ebb and fade away). Surely the author can have no objections to this.Arunhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13224055608268302123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7037385.post-52893721972704270072016-09-19T09:22:04.864+05:302016-09-19T09:22:04.864+05:30I recently attended a 10-day Vipassana retreat (my...I recently attended a 10-day Vipassana retreat (my first) and wanted to refute this critique on the basis of my experience. The critique is built on 2 dimensions - theory (i.e., the author does not agree with the underlying principles of Vipassana) and implementation (i.e., the method does not produce the effects it promises). Although the author makes mistakes in his critique based on the 'theory' dimension, I believe this is ultimately of no consequence as Goenka clearly states that one can abandon the theory if one is unsatisfied with it. In my view, the litmus test of the practice is whether it produces the effects it promises or not, and whether this is measurable or not. On this dimension, I believe the practice does indeed deliver on its promises.<br /><br />Refutation of the 'theory' dimension:<br />The author makes several mistakes in his assumptions behind the theory of Vipassana:<br />1. He says that the first assumption: 'There is suffering and sorrow in life, and nothing but suffering and sorrow in life' is a biased perception. This is actually the first noble truth of Buddhism (http://www.buddhanet.net/4noble4.htm) and the 'suffering' is defined clearly: There is suffering, dukkha. Dukkha should be understood. Birth is suffering, aging is suffering, sickness is suffering, dissociation from the loved is suffering, not to get what one wants is suffering: in short the five categories affected by clinging are suffering.' The author may not agree that birth, aging, sickness, dissociation from loved ones and falling short of one's expectations can be termed as suffering, but he cannot deny that these five events are present in every person's life. Buddha calls this suffering and one should accept this at face value.<br />2. Buddha did not indulge in metaphysical philosophy but always endeavored to stay within the realm of experience. So the author needs to provide a reference for his statement that 'The freedom from suffering lies in a timeless, formless, non-sensory state of bliss and not in the temporal, tangible and sensory realm.' Buddha said the exact opposite ('Society and Religion: From Rugveda to Puranas,' Jayant Gadkari, pp. 108) - 'that his mission was to expose the cause of suffering and to seek the ways of overcoming them, and not to enter speculative discussions as to the existence of the soul, eternal nature of the universe, etc.' For Buddha, the path to nibbana was simply 'overcoming lust (desire) and attaining equanimity of mind.' <br />3. Vipassana hypothesizes that the method of overcoming lust (desire) is to observe the sensations produced within your body by the object(s) of desire (using a specific body survey technique) and allow the sensations to ebb and fade away by not reacting to them. The author objects that 'There is no proof of Gautama taught this technique in this form' and that 'Mr Goenka and the Vipassana Research Institute give a specific meaning to the word vedana (sensation) used in Buddhist texts to suit this technique of Vipassana in which one focuses on bodily sensations to the exclusion of other sensory and mental experiences.' In Goenka's defense, there is a reason why he says that the technique of Vipassana was 'lost' - if it was known to everyone and 'codified in some discourse or text' - then it would not be lost. In my view, this objection really doesn't matter - the important thing is whether one can perceive sensations within the body by using the technique or not. Goenka has clearly stated that the theory can be ejected as long as the practical benefits are being realized. Nitpicking the theory due to lack of references is no reason to abandon the practice.<br />4. Saying things such as 'Unverifiable, and most probably incorrect' reveals the author's own prejudice against the technique. If a claim is unverifiable, then one cannot comment, with any degree of Bayesian probability, if it is correct or not.Arunhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13224055608268302123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7037385.post-88104821968722841332016-09-03T22:29:24.879+05:302016-09-03T22:29:24.879+05:30Haha. That's so cute of you Pratik.Haha. That's so cute of you Pratik. Beduhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10517978959199351994noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7037385.post-63624556672332227072016-02-28T07:50:43.407+05:302016-02-28T07:50:43.407+05:30Pour une critique du "système Goenka" en...Pour une critique du "système Goenka" en français voir mon expérience d'un stage 10 jours ici :<br /><br />https://docs.google.com/document/d/12yXqtn17XGZUYTrKfuBq5IY1tRz_yuXaIJwOV0zMUR8/edit#bookmark=id.r7ku6v4z35klAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07319201119911607791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7037385.post-84740754282716452462016-01-11T02:27:13.697+05:302016-01-11T02:27:13.697+05:30I just completed the 12-day course, I am so glad I...I just completed the 12-day course, I am so glad I stopped meditating after 7th day, I was just fantasizing closing my eyes for the mandatory 3 hour sessions, I knew getting out at that point would be useless. Thanks a ton Harmanjit, Can't believe I fell for this phony scheme and donated money and my time and I am really happy I could wake up to this the very next day. I ate sumptuously and watched comedy movies to get my brain back to senses.<br /><br />[Clock of Dhamma has started, bullshit, someone said 2500 years ago, Buddha's biography was written only after 500 years after his death, anybody can tell anything] <br /><br />It might bring peace, but the life is gone. I see the ATs are lifless people, where is the smile of child in their faces, they are so grim and out of reality. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7037385.post-36762484157277899362015-11-07T11:47:09.977+05:302015-11-07T11:47:09.977+05:30Goenka obviously draws upon ideas that are so anci...Goenka obviously draws upon ideas that are so ancient and out of date they are laughable, but overall I think his method of delivery is fine, but I am educated on Buddhism. I can see how people with few other points of reference or little education could be caught up in the religious side of Goenka's training, but perhaps we are in an age of new religions. Affective states that exceed normal human experience are part and parcel of religions, and it seems to me that in comparison to the affective states claimed by practitioners of transcendental meditation and Zen and Tibetan Buddhism, the ones suggested by Goenka are very, very tame. <br />By the way, one of the fundamental tenets of Buddhism is anatman, non-self. There is no such thing as the soul in Buddhism. But that is not the only mistake you have made. Liberation is a state of mind - a process some would say. The outcome of achieving and living in a state of enlightenment is the termination of the cycle of rebirth (samsara). Enlightened people are not reborn (unless they choose to be - as is the case with Mahayana and Tantra - hence people like the Dalai lama). Whether you believe in reincarnation or not, without giving the things in Buddhism that need to be given their due, you can't understand the philosophy. <br /><br />You are thinking that there is some substance other than the impermanent material mind and body you see before you that needs to be liberated. There is not. And what Buddhism liberates you from is the ignorance of thinking that you are made up of some kind of permanent substance essence. Trust me, you will figure out impermanence for yourself. When you actually face death, if you haven't already, you'll figure that out. Mortality gives people a lot of discomfort. Buddhism has a particular solution to that which is quite distinctive from most other religions. <br /><br />We have other neo-Theravada organizations here that teach Insight Meditation. Most seem highly doctrinaire in comparison to Goenka's tradition and have set themselves up to participate with their practitioners in a much more accessible and daily way than Goenka's centres have. Some of the practitioners from those Theravada organizations come across as pious to me, whereas Goenka's retreats are hugely social events with lively discussion about everything including spirituality and life in general. Personally, I think you should just let this type of grassroots flowering be. These people are doing no harm. <br /><br />I think the emphasis on giving dana as a form of merit making is inappropriate, but the local organizations here run pretty much like non-profit community associations. Religious organizations do not qualify for any type of government funding so Christian organizations engage in massive public drives for donations. Vipassana does not seek external funding. <br />I don't think it's cult-like behaviour to turn to a congregation for financial support. All religions do this. I see nothing wrong with paying to cover the cost of my lodgings and food for the duration of a course. <br /> <br />There are plenty of troubled people who go to the centres for one reason or another and are surprised to find that they have rules and are not hippy enclaves. Good, quite frankly, that Goenka introduces the precepts. Many people who attend his retreats believe in new age spirtuality and practice some form of religious syncretism. It can include the use of drugs or what they think are tantric sexual practices. I have met people who are so lost in worlds of their own making that they believe they are blue people - aliens. What better way to get them to stop thinking that Buddhism is some grand hallucinogenic, psychedelic, Dionysian hippy trip than to slap them with its orthodox roots. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01523373338792474498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7037385.post-88228646757576795502015-08-29T15:53:28.837+05:302015-08-29T15:53:28.837+05:30Superb analysis of this so-called mindfulness medi...Superb analysis of this so-called mindfulness meditation practice. At best it’s a cult for guru-disciples born followers, at worst it’s a cult of personality for Goenka himself. I find his chanting to be very distracting, and ‘gross’ when he scratches and vibrates his vocal cord endlessly. How equanime is that? <br /><br />The most pernicious aspect of his manipulative teaching leads to altruistic desensitization, emotional numbness to others’ feelings, pain and distress; he called it Equanimity.<br /><br />The Buddha perfected this mind liberation technique to steer away from our ego when it goes wrong, people like Goenka took advantage of it, and build blind faith around it for fame and maybe for fun! He had fun with his chanting and thousands of followers worldwide worshipping him like a god. Note that in India, there are temples of rats, and millions of gods. India also produced great minds like Gandhi and the Buddha, don’t get me wrong here!<br /><br />Here some reading suggestions to learn about sound and safe evidence-based meditation techniques: Richard Davidson, Kabat-Zinn, Rick Hanson… it’s the same techniques but without goenkian bs. <br /><br />Thanks for your great post!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7037385.post-35273447964046232912015-03-15T16:44:07.718+05:302015-03-15T16:44:07.718+05:30Very brilliantly written post! I really enjoyed bu...Very brilliantly written post! I really enjoyed but I do not understand why so called memetics and cultism aspect of Vipassana are wrong over here? If it is so then science and even complete educational system are wrong. The jargon term "MEME" which is coined by Richard Dawkins has not freed from memetics. In fact, entire scientific terminologies are derived from either Greek and Latin which were dead long before. For example the names of element and the name of species are still given in Greek and Latin. Not even in science but social sciences and philosophies too, we see so many terminologies having been invented out of Latin and Greeks. It is hard to say but it is true that in modern sciences too full of cult. Cargo cult science was coined by famous Richard Feynman. French philosopher and anthropologist Bruno Latour argues that there is minimal difference between science and religion in terms of cultism. Besides, dogma in science still in same place. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKHUaNAxsTg. This video has been removed by Ted for some obvious reasons but still major of points are valid. Sakyasinghhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07364053469387187039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7037385.post-86052100393474111922014-07-11T11:06:45.878+05:302014-07-11T11:06:45.878+05:30Hi
I read through this blog regarding reservations...Hi<br />I read through this blog regarding reservations about the teachings of goenka its retreat and practices.If you keep on trying to figure out the shortcomings in any technique,there are many in each of them.Ofcourse vipassana by goenka is no exception.<br />Do you thing buddha was accepted by everyone during his tenure?<br />Now there are more than 25 spiritual gurus in southindia alone with slight difference in teachings leading to various goals in life i.e. happiness.I personally feel goenka retreat is similar with differences like experential knowledge,morality discipline,egolessness,teacher worship.In this way i feel goenka has an edge over others,but if you follow others too you may be liberated who knows.essence is to practice the teachings rather than always finding excuses and corrections.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7037385.post-62322429991063109732014-07-11T11:06:25.830+05:302014-07-11T11:06:25.830+05:30Hi
I read through this blog regarding reservations...Hi<br />I read through this blog regarding reservations about the teachings of goenka its retreat and practices.If you keep on trying to figure out the shortcomings in any technique,there are many in each of them.Ofcourse vipassana by goenka is no exception.<br />Do you thing buddha was accepted by everyone during his tenure?<br />Now there are more than 25 spiritual gurus in southindia alone with slight difference in teachings leading to various goals in life i.e. happiness.I personally feel goenka retreat is similar with differences like experential knowledge,morality discipline,egolessness,teacher worship.In this way i feel goenka has an edge over others,but if you follow others too you may be liberated who knows.essence is to practice the teachings rather than always finding excuses and corrections.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7037385.post-76844675450299818782013-08-18T02:27:08.233+05:302013-08-18T02:27:08.233+05:30I very much enjoyed your detailed analysis. I wish...I very much enjoyed your detailed analysis. I wish I had read it before taking a 10 day course myself this summer. I only posted a small part of my observations at https://morespiritualmatters.wordpress.com/2013/08/15/the-10-day-vipassana-retreat-a-warning/<br />Chrishttp://morespiritualmatters.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7037385.post-15812827481986303722013-07-15T11:41:53.419+05:302013-07-15T11:41:53.419+05:30It is important and practical to study the teachin...It is important and practical to study the teachings of the Buddha first before jumping straight to vipassana meditation as it might confuse you further. I hope you guys will have a clearer understanding of what vipassana meditation is all about. If you are looking for any new age stuff or short term benefits, so as to make you feel relaxed or happy, then vipassana meditation is not for you. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7037385.post-82544696436977402542013-02-13T19:20:18.832+05:302013-02-13T19:20:18.832+05:30Thank you so, so, so much for posting this critiqu...Thank you so, so, so much for posting this critique. It has really helped me on my path to mental and emotional recovery from my recent 10 day retreat. <br />Before I entered the retreat, I felt good, energized about life and ready to leave a positive mark on this planet until I leave it…Yet the retreat lead me into a different space, a darker space, a space of mentally self-imposed misery (I’m not saying I don’t experience suffering in my own life but Goenka did a great job at brainwashing me that I was a sorry individual stuck in this physical realm). Thus, I actually regressed in my search for peace and happiness.<br /> I entered the retreat with very little knowledge of what to expect, that was my mistake...all I knew is that it was "challenging" and would "clean my mind of its impurities" (whatever that could mean). My experience was most difficult because of the memetic and cultist aspects of the retreat. Why did I stay? I stayed because "something must be wrong and weak with me if I just leave" but in retrospect, I was not doing myself a favor. I struggled very much trying to understand the philosophical teachings Goenka gave us each night, to make sense of them within my own worldview, but, without a space to discuss it or ask questions, I was left to figure it out on my own, which probably made it worse. I could go on and on about the reasons I found it to be hurtful to me but you did a great job shedding some logistical light on the aspects that Goenka teaches but promises are logical and non-sectarian, which lead me to the depression I entered. It's been over 2 weeks and I am still suffering from the negative thoughts and ideas that were borne from that retreat. Sure there "looks" to be potential in meditating, and it's because my logistical mind believes this that I continue to explore it. However, Goenka claims on the superiority of his technique, coupled with this worldview that only focuses on the self, essentially leaving the rest of the world to fend for themselves, leaves little space for exploring what love and compassion (what I expected to be a product of a good meditating practice) can do for the world to make it a better place. In fact, there’s no interest in this since, according to what Goenka teaches, we should all be concerned with exiting this existence…I just wish the retreat taught the technique and only the technique. The extra talk only confused me.<br />Again, my qualms were clarified with your critique and I am eternally grateful for that.<br /><br />-onewu2Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7037385.post-38969364228843385912013-01-18T11:45:42.591+05:302013-01-18T11:45:42.591+05:30People don't seem to understand the method Goe...People don't seem to understand the method Goenka teaches. It is very simple at it's core. <br />1. Observe yourself, examine yourself. <br />2. See what makes you miserable. <br />3. And then stop doing what makes your miserable<br /><br />As you do this exercise, you yourself will notice that<br />1. It so happens that misery is caused by our habits of reacting to sensory phenomena, either by craving or aversion. <br />2. Once you stop reacting, you find your misery get's less and less<br />3. Not reacting is a habit. At some point, this habit will fall away completely just like any other bad habits like alchoholism, or good habits like exercising regularly drop away with neglect. When the habit of reacting drops away completely, that is the extinction of misery.<br /><br />What is so difficult to understand about that? What is so wrong about that? What part of that is incorrect? What part of that is goenka not teaching? I never hear any debunkers invalidate/criticise this core concept. Instead i hear all sorts of inconsequential arguments.Acquantancehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07159695383253162732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7037385.post-47471459468422083432012-12-07T01:00:20.683+05:302012-12-07T01:00:20.683+05:30One key question and a comment:
Nowhere in my rea...One key question and a comment:<br /><br />Nowhere in my reading have I come across recommendation to not act in face of atrocity or unfair treatment. Do you know of Budhha's teachings that preach so? (Not interpretations by others over the hundreds of years) <br /><br /><br />In the passing, I would recommend reading or even easier, listening to free podcasts available online of Dr. Paul R. Fleischman on related topics. VERY useful material. <br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7037385.post-30444377754357136722012-10-08T01:42:35.639+05:302012-10-08T01:42:35.639+05:30A video critique of the Vipassana in the tradition...A video critique of the Vipassana in the tradition of Geonka/U Ba Khin by someone else:<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSnadJDVZmU&feature=context-vrec<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7037385.post-12546443329580257492012-05-19T23:30:16.438+05:302012-05-19T23:30:16.438+05:30The benefits of Vipassana far outweigh the hardshi...The benefits of Vipassana far outweigh the hardship one may have to go through for a while.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7037385.post-75954550099932537452012-04-29T17:08:08.060+05:302012-04-29T17:08:08.060+05:30Dear Harmanjit and others,
I see all of your views...Dear Harmanjit and others,<br />I see all of your views but one thing which each one of you misses is that what Goenka method is the pristine form of vipassna, which was taught in Budhha period. Rest is upto you how you take it. But In my view if one wants to learn something it should be in diluted form and not mixed. Casey had written that there is different accomodation for different people, but when you learn vipassna, each one of us is given exact same instruction, same food and same treatment, so I don't see Casey point here. You learn vipassna and then it is upto you if you want to continue this or do some other form of practise. <br /><br />Hope people will learn something practical.<br /><br />Let us learn what is insight and rest not fight on some other petty issues.rparkeshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10590181945200877348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7037385.post-40417526738731339032012-04-15T11:52:47.711+05:302012-04-15T11:52:47.711+05:30Hello and happy eastern,
I get in touch by vip. 1...Hello and happy eastern,<br /><br />I get in touch by vip. 12 years ago, and first i was highly impressed by the energetic change in my life. And i sit course by course in europe centers. After some service courses i get deeper in their structure and this was interesting, and changes my view of the organization and her order in world<br />The technique itself may be good. But i got problems with the meaning of "purity" and "clean" and "operation of brain", and all these retorical stuff.<br />After some time, i always feel "dirty" and try to avoid contact with normal persons, who didn´t meditate. Now i leave these practique after more than 10 years and i feel,like i lost half of my life. I am tired of any "awarness" or "spiritual" community forever. Because i believe, it is just another way of surpress and structure the human beiings in another way to make them convienience for the 3.millenium and its challenge for the world.<br />with best regards and maybe see you on blogspot again. J.StockAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7037385.post-75929325686433831292012-04-14T09:49:33.628+05:302012-04-14T09:49:33.628+05:30Thanks for your impressive analysis. I almost read...Thanks for your impressive analysis. I almost read it all. It helped me a lot, after a whole night of internet research, to decide to postpone those 10 days. Saved my soul? I hope that was the right decision. <br /><br />And in the end, Osho helped, too, funny as usual (-: http://www.satrakshita.be/osho_on_vipassana_and_goenka.htm<br /><br /><br />I am however still very interested in a meditation retreat, be it 3 days or 5 days. In Europe.<br /><br />And now I know: The less religious the better. There must be meditation disciplines which are not exclusive for any specific and <br />compatible with all other religions, and which are taught with gentle compassion.<br /><br />And I guess I am not alone in that.<br /><br />Please point us to a couple of cleaner meditation retreats.<br /><br />Thanks!<br /><br />Value your precision!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7037385.post-7410978288368474562011-11-28T04:13:52.462+05:302011-11-28T04:13:52.462+05:30thanks for this,
just to keep memory,
normal to...thanks for this,<br /><br />just to keep memory, <br /><br />normal to have no friends there,<br />if this body and mind only deserves <br />rejection: not me, not mine, not i,<br /><br />A.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com