Birth Centenary Day Message

(The following is a translation of an article by S. N. Goenka published in the 31 March 1999 issue of the Hindi Vipaśhyanā Patrikā)

Last month we celebrated the birth centenary day of revered Sayagyi U Ba Khin. The birth anniversaries of saintly persons are meaningful only if they become a source of inspiration for us, so that we strive to develop their good qualities within us.

Our revered Teacher, Sayagyi U Ba Khin, always considered the organisational aspect of Dhamma secondary and gave full importance to its practical aspect. He practised Dhamma throughout his life and taught his companions and students to enable them to practise Dhamma.

The practical aspect of Dhamma is sīla, samādhi and paññā. To live a life of morality at the physical and vocal level; to gain mastery over the mind by the practice of samādhi; and to purify the mind on the strength of paññā; this is the practical aspect of Dhamma, which is sandiṭṭhiko (to be seen for oneself) and akāliko (giving results here and now).

The mind gives up its wickedness and becomes simple and pure, gentle and humble, so it becomes a means for our welfare here and now. It becomes a means of realisation of one’s own self-interest in the true sense.

When the mind gives up its wickedness, one is saved from the tendency of harming others. One does not harm others even slightly. One is liberated from the stress and strain of egotism. Thus, one saves oneself from misery and avoids becoming a cause for the misery of others.

If the mind is straightforward and pure, one does virtuous deeds, becomes well-spoken, becomes peaceful. When the mind becomes pure, it is filled with fellowship, with mettā. All beings in all the ten directions, living in water or on land or in the sky, whether immovable or movable, small or big, visible or invisible, born or unborn, whether of this world or of other worlds, may all be happy! May all be free from trouble! May all be free from disease! May all be free from misery! May the message of Dhamma reach more and more people. May they practise Dhamma. May they be happy! May they be peaceful! Their body and mind begins to reverberate with these wholesome feelings. They themselves are benefited by this boundless mettā and create an atmosphere that is beneficial for other beings.

Meditators! This is the practical aspect of Dhamma. Therefore, it ought to be done, it ought to be practised.

Though it may take time to attain perfection in this practical aspect of Dhamma, on the auspicious day of the birth centenary of Sayagyi U Ba Khin, let us take inspiration from the exemplary life of our revered Teacher and energetically strive to attain this aim. Let us progress step-by-step on this path. Let us attain our own welfare, even it be only a little. Gradually while progressing on this path and attaining more and more welfare, we will reach the ultimate goal.

In spite of a thousand obstacles, let our enthusiasm to practise the pure Dhamma not be diminished, let our efforts not slacken, in that lies our welfare.

This year while concluding the long courses, Goenkaji announced two important projects:

1. Dhamma Tapovana:

A new Vipassana centre will be constructed on the adjacent land to the west of Dhamma Giri where only long courses will be conducted.

Students who have taken part in long courses will easily understand that this new centre will offer an invaluable opportunity to get established in Dhamma. Those who take part in the Teacher’s Self Course can understand the importance of this new centre even more clearly: how profoundly beneficial it is to meditate in a peaceful silent atmosphere enveloped with Dhamma vibrations. There is no disturbance in meditation because there is no ten-day course being conducted at Dhamma Giri during this period.

Now such a conducive atmosphere will be available for the whole year near Dhamma Giri at Dhamma Tapovana, where not only 20-day, 30-day, and 45-day, but 60-day and 90-day courses will be conducted.

The work of construction is to be started soon so that meditators can benefit from it next year. In the first phase of construction, self-contained rooms with all necessary facilities and meditation cells will be built for 200 meditators. At the completion of this project, these facilities will be available for 500 male as well as 500 female meditators in the centre. The centre will have two pagodas, in which ultimately there will be one thousand meditation cells. Adequate number of meditation halls, dining halls, kitchens, and residences for Teachers and assistant teachers will also be built.

Before holding courses longer than 45 days, Goenkaji wishes that long courses should be conducted at the new centre for a period of at least one year so that 60-day and 90-day courses may be successfully conducted in the year 2001.

Dhamma Tapovana will play an important role in establishing the beneficial teaching of the Buddha for a long time. For the establishment and spread of the true Dhamma in its pure form once more, it is necessary that serious meditators of future generations should establish themselves in the beneficial path of liberation. This is the goal of Dhamma Tapovana. Goenkaji himself will conduct and give the Dhamma discourses for the 60-day and 90-day courses, which will be recorded on tape to enable them to be used for the training of future generations.

This meditation centre will abundantly fulfil the Dhamma wish of our revered Teacher, Sayagyi U Ba Khin, of re-establishing Vipassana in India as well as in the rest of the world.

Generous meditators from India and abroad have started giving dāna for this noble project and construction work is expected to start without delay.

2. Sayagyi U Ba Khin Vipassana Village:

On the adjacent land to the east of Dhamma Giri, an ideal village only for Vipassana meditators will be built, where along with necessary facilities for residence, a good Dhammic atmosphere will be available to meditators, which will help them to develop in Dhamma.

Many meditators staying at Dhamma Giri for a long period realise that after serious meditation or Dhamma service for a long time, it is necessary to live in a peaceful atmosphere. In addition, many retired meditators have the Dhamma wish to spend the rest of their lives peacefully in a secure, comfortable Dhammic environment. Sayagyi U Ba Khin Vipassana Village will prove to be an ideal place to fulfil their aspiration. It will have fifty independent residential bungalows, containing two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living room, a kitchenette and a small meditation room. A commercial restaurant located in the Vipassana Village itself will provide nutritious food at reasonable rates as well as other essential items. In addition, there will be a garden, walking areas, health club, recreation room, library, reading room, and other facilities.

These bungalows will only be given for the lifetime stay of Vipassana meditators. Observance of the five precepts and maintenance of Dhammic environment at all times will be obligatory for the residents of the Vipassana Village. A society will be formed for the management of the village under the guidance of Goenkaji, and the opinion of the resident meditators will be taken for its functioning.

The fees for lifetime stay is Rs 15 lakhs [1.5 million]. A significant portion of this amount will be utilised in the construction of Dhamma Tapovana. As a result, the facility of long courses at Dhamma Tapovana will be made available and the possibility of more people being able to take part in ten-day courses at Dhamma Giri will increase. Thus, the dāna pāramī of the meditator acquiring a bungalow at the Sayagyi U Ba Khin Vipassana Village will increase abundantly.

The allotment of bungalows and selection of location according to choice will be on first-come-first-served basis.

Meditators wanting more information about Sayagyi U Ba Khin Vipassana Village or Dhamma Tapovana may please contact:

Mr Radhe Shyam Goenka / Mr Om Prakash Khemka,
Green House, Second floor, Green Street, Fort, Mumbai-400 023.
Tel: [91] (022) 266 3388, 266 4039, 266 307;
Fax: [91] (022) 266 4607;
e-mail: rsgoenka@vsnl.com

Those who wish to earn merits by giving dāna for the construction of Dhamma Tapovana or wish to book a bungalow in the Sayagyi U Ba Khin Vipassana Village may contact the following [or Centre Manager, Dhamma Giri, Igatpuri-422 403]:

Mr Giridhari Lal Bajaj, ‘Pramukh’ 6th Road, J.V.P.D. Scheme,
Vile Parle (W), Mumbai-400 056.
Tel: (022) 620 9392, 620 9250.

I wish to book a bungalow for lifetime stay in the Sayagyi U Ba Khin Vipassana Village. I am sending a bank draft of Rs one lakh [one hundred thousand] for this purpose favouring Sayagyi U Ba Khin Memorial Trust.

Name:
(If married) Name of husband/wife:
Full address:
Tel: Off. Res.
Mobile: Fax: E-mail:

The Vipassana Pagoda, which is being constructed at Dhamma Pattana, Goraigaon, Mumbai on the auspicious occasion of the centenary year of Sayagyi U Ba Khin will serve as a symbol of pure Dhamma and provide authentic information about the true teaching of the Buddha. Those who wish to share in the merits of construction of the Pagoda may send dāna to the following address:

Global Vipassana Foundation, C/o Khimji Kunverji and Co.,
Suite 52, Bombay Mutual Building, Sir P. M. Road,
Fort, Mumbai-400 001.
Tel: 266 2550, 266 1270; Fax: 266 4045.

Bank of India (Mumbai branch)
Savings account No. 11244.

New Vipassana Centres

Dhamma Vaṭī

The first Vipassana course in Nashik Road Central Prison was successfully conducted from 7 to 17 March 1996. Goenkaji visited the prison on the tenth day of the course and gave mettā to the hundred prisoners who participated in the course followed by a Dhamma talk to all the inmates and prison-staff.

Since then, Vipassana courses have been regularly organised here with the help of the prison authorities and the State Government for the benefit of the inmates. The place and the facilites that have been made available for Vipassana courses has been named Dhamma Vaṭī.

Dhamma Rakkhaka

A ten-day Vipassana course was conducted at the Police Training College in New Delhi from 5 to 16 March, 1999. One thousand and twenty-one Delhi Police personnel including the principal of the College participated in the course which was conducted simultaneously in three meditation halls with the help of 14 assistant teachers.

Most of the participants were young men belonging to the age group of 20-30 years. The rigorous schedule of the course involving long hours of sitting meditation was quite a contrast for the trainees used to heavy physical exercises. Nevertheless, most of them tried their best to practise earnestly, and benefited from the course.

A special message from Goenkaji for the police personnel was played after mettā bhavanā. It described the importance of Dhamma in the security forces in great detail, including a historical account of the army maintained by Emperor Ashoka, who conducted regular exercises of his huge army out of compassion for the neighbours lest they should mistakenly invade his kingdom and suffer the consequences.

At the end of the course, a new Vipassana centre was inaugurated in the Police Training College so that the Police Department can continue to gain benefit from the practice of Vipassana. Goenkaji has named it Dhamma-Rakkhaka. The authorities have requested a course at this centre for 25 women police officers at soon as possible.

Dhamma Saritā

An Old People’s Home has been established with the help of the State Government near Mumbai, close to Khadavli railway station, on the scenic bank of a river. A Vipassana centre has been built on the adjacent land, where not only the residents of the Old Peope’s Home, but also other people of the area can take part in courses. Goenkaji has given it the name of Dhamma Saritā. Vipassana courses for about 50-60 people are being organised here since the past three months.

Dhamma Aṭala

A new centre named Dhamma Aṭala has been establised in the northern part of Italy, where regular courses are being conducted.

Dhamma Maṇḍapa and Dhamma Maṇḍala

Construction of a permanent centre in Mandalay city in north Myanmar has begun. It has been named Dhamma Maṇḍapa.

Land had been acquired near Mandalay city for another centre, Dhamma Maṇḍala. Construction work is expected to start soon.

Dhamma Ābhā

This is the second Vipassana centre in Thailand after Dhamma Kamala. Construction is nearly complete and courses will be organised here soon.

Dhamma Suvaṇṇa

A Vipassana centre named Dhamma Suvaṇṇa is being built on the Thailand-Myanmar border region, which used to be called Suvaṇṇabhūmi in ancient times.

Dhamma Aṅkura and Dhamma Samudda

Courses are already being conducted in Cambodia at Dhamma Kamboja. The meditators of that country have so much enthusiasm that in spite of the economic crisis and many other difficulties, two more centre are being built there. The site for Dhamma Samuddha comprises a whole mountain with a view of the ocean near Kep in Kampot Province. It is covered with virgin forest with many kinds of ancient trees including a massive banyon tree at the top. A site near this tree has been prepared for building the Dhamma Hall and accommodation. Dhamma Aṅkura comprises 200 square metres of mango orchard land in Kandieng District, Pursat Province on the highway between Phnom Penh and the Thai border.

New Responsibilities 1999

Ācaryas

1. Ven. Bhikkhu Sanghabodhi

To serve Dhamma Kamboja, Dhamma Aṅkura, Dhamma Samudda (Cambodia)

2. Mr Radhe Shyam Goenka

Publication, Tipiṭaka CD-ROM, Internet (India) & to serve Dhamma Tapovana

3. & 4. Mr Satyendra Nath & Mrs Laj Tandon

Teaching of Pali & to serve Dhamma Sota

5. Dr Dhananjay Chavan

To serve Vipassana Research Institute and Taiwan

6. & 7. Mr Prakash & Mrs Shubhangi Borse

To serve Dhamma Sarovara (Dhule)

8. & 9. Dr Narayan & Mrs Sharda Wadhwani

To serve Ratlam, Indore and Dhamma Pāla

10. & 11. Mr Thomas & Mrs Tina Crisman

To serve Dhamma Sirī (Texas), Spread of Vipassana in Govt. Administration & business executives, Worldwide Dhamma Websites and Internet

12. & 13. Mr Rick & Mrs Gair Crutcher

To serve Dhamma Kuñja (Washington) and Prison courses in USA

14. & 15. Mr Barry & Mrs Kate Lapping

To serve Dhamma Dharā (Massachussets) and Archives

16. Ms Floh Lehmann

To serve Germany

Senior Assistant Teachers

India

* Mr Ramdayal Asava, Pune
* Fr. Peter D’Souza, Pune
* Mr Jayesh Soni, Igatpuri
* Mr Vishwambhar &
* Mrs Nalini Dahat, Nagpur
* Mr Goverdhandas Kela, Nagpur
* Mr Shashikant &
* Mrs Sharda Sanghvi, Mumbai
* Mrs Pushpa Shah, Mumbai
* Ms Vanita Mehta, Mumbai
* Mr Prakash Mahajan, Ahmednagar
* Mrs Ashalata Thorat, Rahuri
* Mr Mahavir &
* Mrs Anjana Patil, Kolhapur
* Mr Anil &
* Mrs Sunita Dharmadarshi, Gandhinagar
* Mr Revchand Shah, Ahmedabad
* Mrs Dhanuben Raol, Baroda
* Mrs Sajjandevi Dhariwal, Ajmer
* Mr Suresh Khanna, Jaipur
* Mr Omkar Lal &
* Mrs Ratnaprabha Lokhande, Bhopal
* Mrs Jaya Sangoi, Bangalore
* Mrs Gita Kedia, Calcutta
* Mr Laxmi Narayan &
* Mrs Pushpa Todi, Calcutta
* Mr Praveen Bhalla, Delhi
* Larry Jack &
* Ruth Senturia, Igatpuri

Nepal

* Mrs Manohari Acharya
* Mr Sheel Bahadur Bajracharya
* Brig. Gen. Purna Prasad Dhakal
* Mrs Gyani Dhakhwa
* Mr Suman Dhakhwa
* Mr Om Prakash &
* Mrs Anju More
* Mr Adiratna Shakya
* Mrs Nani Maiju Shakya
* Prof. Keshav Lal Shrestha
* Mr Narayan Prasad Tiwari

Thailand

* Ms Jittinun Jewcharernsakul

Japan

* Mr Itagaki Atsushi (to assist Mr John & Mrs Gail Beary)
* Ms Toni O’Hare

Australia

* Mr Michael &
* Mrs Linda Dahm
* Mrs Georgie Hammersley
* Mr Nicolae &
* Mrs Julienne Iftene
* Mr Ron &
* Mrs Helen Ranke

America

* Mr Rudy &
* Mrs Sophia Wisener
* Ms Evie Chauncey
* Mr Tim &
* Mrs Karen Donovan
* Mr David &
* Mrs Amanda Crutcher
* Mr Mario Desharnais &
* Mrs Martine Gariepy
* Mr Normand Williams &
* Mrs Francine Gingras
* Mr Michael Jordan &
* Mrs Leslie Gray
* Mr Ben Turner &
* Mrs Kathy Henry
* Dr Daniel Mayer
* Mr Ian McCrorie

Europe

* Mr Allain &
* Mrs Shigeko Ando-Hirsh
* Mr Heinz Bartsch &
* Mrs Brunhilde Becker
* Mr Pierluigi Confalonieri
* Mr Philippe Fromont
* Mr Steve &
* Mrs Jessica Griffin
* Mr Gerard Mol &
* Mrs Els Jeurissen
* Dr Myo Nyunt Oo
* Mr Y S

New Appointments 1999

Assistant Teachers

* Dr Ganga Prasad Pathak, Delhi
* Dr Jay &
* Mrs Chetana Sanghvi, Bhuj
* Mrs Kanchan Ramnik Mehta, Bhuj
* Mr Meghji Rajgor, Bhuj
* Mrs Jyoti Sheetal Savla, Bhuj
* Dr Ramji Prasad Yadav, Gorakhpur
* Mr Harilal Sahu, Raipur
* Anagarika Sujata (Shakya), Nepal
* Mr Moti Kazi Bajracharya, Nepal
* Mrs Nani Chhori Bajracharya, Nepal
* Mr Akkal Dhwaj Gurung, Nepal
* Mr Howald John Marcel, Nepal
* Mr Bhakta Prasad Poudyal, Nepal
* Mr Jaya Ram Ranjitkar, Nepal
* Mrs Rita Tamang, Nepal
* Mrs Parasuram Gotama, Myanmar
* Mrs Gabrielle Rann, U.K.
* Mr Peter &
* Mrs Teri Kerr, U.S.A.

Bhikkhu Teacher

* Ven. Bhikkhu Pragyatissa, Delhi

Children Course Teachers

* Mr Haresh Khemani, Dhule
* Mrs Prema Suresh Sarda, Dhule
* Mrs Niranjana Shah, Bhusaval
* Mr Bhaurao Ghole, Bhusaval
* Mr Arunchandra Gaikwad, Chandrapur
* Mrs Bharati Vijay Dhande, Nagpur
* Prof. Bhavanrao Thorat, Rahuri
* Dr Om Prakash Gupta, Kanpur
* Mr K Ravikumar Reddy, Eluru (A.P.)
* Mr Brett &
* Mrs Jacquie Stephens, Australia

Released from the Responsibility of Bhikkhu Teacher

* Ven. Bhikkhu Suman Vanno, Ballarpur

Released from the Responsibility of Assistant Teacher

* Mr Suman Desai, Mumbai
* Mr K. C. Govil, Nashik