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Meditation Now_Inner Peace Through Inner Wisdom
Question: I heard a famous person speak recently, someone
who was obviously very insightful, very wise, very intelligent,…
person. A blind person cannot show the path to another blind
person. Vipassana helps you first become a healthy person…
a secretion of a particular type of biochemistry, which starts
flowing with the stream of blood. And because of that…
everywhere. Nobody is practicing this. One may call oneself a
Buddhist, but one is not practicing the technique taught by…
coming, and I am a weak person, I’ll succumb to that. If I am a
strong person, I don’t mind any kind of thing coming my
way—I…
will feel so depressed. With this technique, that depression
will go away, so that you really are happy.
Question: Well, it…
works much better. Some of the schools have started this and are
getting very good results. This will become very popular; it…
Vipassana, as much as a very rich person. To me, they are
equally miserable.
Now, for the person who does not get even enough…
to the sensation that is created by taking alcohol, and one
wants that sensation again and again. One has to take
something…
miracle required. Things have gone so bad, let them come out
in a proper way. They will, because Vipassana has started…
But otherwise, there is no possibility of getting into difficulty.
And there’s no possibility of failure. When you say “…
Question: Is there anything you want to emphasize about
Vipassana?
Goenkaji: Vipassana is nothing but an art of living. It…
But as he lifts it out, the scorpion stings him and injects him with
poison, and again falls into the water. Again he helps…
The Universal Message of Peace
Address by S. N. Goenka
to the Millennium World Peace Summit,
UN General Assembly Hall,…
me it seems that if we want peace in human society, we cannot
ignore individuals. If there is no peace in the mind of the…
nature—or God Almighty—starts rewarding me: I feel
peaceful. This too I can observe within myself.
Whatever one’s religion,…
human being is a human being. The difference is that through
their practice they become truly spiritual people, full of love…
Finally Ashoka presents the message of the Universal
Law, the message of Dharma: “Let all listen: Concord is good,
not…
The Meaning of Happiness
The following is adapted from Goenkaji’s address “Is This All There Is?
The Meaning of Happiness” at…
something: a bad business decision, your company being
acquired and the resultant loss of your job, losing a political…
relish my accomplishment. While I experienced success, this was
neither happiness nor peace of mind. I found that peace was…
great super-scientist of my ancient country by which one can
explore the truth pertaining to the mind-body phenomenon at
the…
or unconscious, every mental defilement manifests in the
breath and sensation of that moment. Thus by observing the…
This direct experience of reality within oneself, this
technique of self-observation, is called Vipassana and it is a
simple…
There are two significant aspects of religion, one of which
is the hard core of religion, the quintessence of religion, which…
If people practice this quintessence of religion there is no
reason for any conflict or confrontation among the people of
the…
Such blind faith of the followers of different organized
religions is likely to turn into fanatic fundamentalism. It leads
to…
It is quite obvious that anger arises when something
undesirable has happened, when someone has created an
obstacle in the…
observing all the different kinds of sensations which one
experiences on different parts of the body from time to time
and…
is coming out of anger. However, it is actually only the
surface part of the mind that has come out of anger. Deep
inside one…
understanding does not reach the deeper level of the mind
because of this barrier. When the barrier is broken by
Vipassana…
The Art of Living
Everyone seeks peace and harmony, because these are
what we lack in our lives. From time to time we all…
things do not happen, some obstacles come in the way, and
again I create tension within myself; I start tying knots within…
This solution was helpful; it worked. It still works.
Practicing this, the mind feels free from agitation. In actuality,…
The difficulty is that I am not aware when a defilement
starts. It begins deep at the unconscious level of the mind, and
by…
biochemical reaction starts within the body—some sensation.
Every defilement will generate one sensation or the other
inside…
always looked with open eyes, missing the inner truth. I always
looked outside for the cause of my unhappiness. I always…
keeps reacting in a way which is harmful to oneself and to
others. Then when wisdom arises—the wisdom of observing
the…
physical or vocal, which disturbs the peace and harmony of
others. One cannot work to liberate oneself from defilements in…
one suffers from anger, it is not Buddhist anger, Hindu
anger, Christian anger. Anger is anger. Due to anger, when
one…
How to Defend the Republic
The following is a translation of an article originally published in the
September 1999 issue of…
Once the Buddha came to Ves±l² and stayed at the
S±ra½dada stupa. Many Licchav²s came to meet him and
saluting him, they sat…
whatever clothes he was wearing. There, everyone would sit
together, and after deliberation and discussion, a unanimous…
he is punished. If he is punished in this way, the law breaker
and his family as well as the people in the community will
not…
6. Licchav²s! As long as the Vajjians venerate the
objects of worship inside and outside their republic,
and maintain…
the Vajji republic would prosper. Truly, following these
instructions, the Vajjians remained invincible for a long time…
The danger of destruction caused by internal discord is just as
relevant today. Let the India of today learn a lesson from the…
and goodwill. This is the Dhamma of all; it is not the monopoly
of any one sect. For this, one has to practice a technique…
then he is a good person, a saint. He has the respect of society; his
status is high.
When the false belief in high and low…
Awareness of Natural Respiration
The following has been translated and adapted from the sixth in a series of
44 Hindi…
rolling in thoughts of the future, “This must happen; this must
not happen.”
The meditator observes this present reality: he…
thoughts. Of what type are these thoughts? The meditator sees
that there are only two types of thoughts. Whether the mind…
An example: A plate of food is served to a mad person who
has been hungry since many days. He is happy because he was
very…
the nostrils objectively without reacting to it. In such a
moment, the mind is free from craving, aversion, and
delusion; it…
impurities within, it produces an explosion. Because of that,
the meditator will feel restless. This is another reason why…
Walk the Path Yourself
The following has been translated and adapted from the seventh in a series
of 44 Hindi discourses…
from within that is known as an ajapa japa (unchanted chant).
This takes the form of a fine string and the string itself…
soon as he starts the work. At home, one cannot do this work
continuously. Also, one will not be able to do this work…
Influenced by Vipassana, Patanjali, an Indian sage who
lived a few centuries after the Buddha, said, “DraŒµa
d¥s²matra”—In…
keeping one’s body clean. Who else will do it? Is one inflating
the ego by bathing daily? Where is the question of inflating…
Why would any unseen force generate defilements in the
minds of all living beings and make them miserable? One has…
hesitant to ask when others are present. I am glad that you are
alone today. With your permission, I will ask my question.”…
“Have you severed all connections with Rajagaha?”
“No sir. I still have relatives and friends there. I have
business there. I…
further and you will reach the stage of liberation, you will
experience the Ultimate Truth.
“I explain the path very clearly…
The Importance of Daily Meditation
The following has been translated and adapted from a discourse by
Goenkaji to about 5000…
Every meditator has to develop the strength to face the ups
and downs of life. For this, it is necessary to meditate one hour…
bankrupt person finds a treasure. And he discards it and
becomes bankrupt again. A hungry person gets delicious
food. And he…
teacher a favor; you are doing yourself a favor. This is such a
great teaching. When one starts feeling sensations on the…
and death and can improve not only this life but also future
lives ultimately leading to full liberation.
“But we do not have…
impermanent. It would have increased and overpowered one
completely. Now it becomes weaker and weaker and passes
away. It is…
Awaken in Wisdom
These two articles about wisdom were originally published in the Hindi
Vipaœhyan± Patrik±. They have been…
Yatha½ saye: when we lie down, we lie down with
awareness.
Whether sleeping or awake, arising or sitting, in every
state, we…
Meditators! In the destruction of ignorance alone is our
welfare, our happiness, our liberation (nibb±na).
The Essence of…
wisdom is based on direct experience and therefore is truly
beneficial.
To develop bh±van±-may± paññ±, it is essential to…
Practicing diligently, we gradually begin to experience
gross or subtle sensations on every part of the body. The
sensations…
or constant, which can be called “I” or “mine,” or which we
can claim to control.
In this way, we begin to learn to observe…
mind is purified of all defilements. And progressing on this
beneficial path, we achieve the pure state of the ariyas (noble…
Work Out Your Own Salvation
The following article has been condensed from a discourse given by S. N.
Goenka during a three-…
will take you to the final goal, just surrender to me; I will do
everything.”
You are responsible for your own bondage. You…
and the unconscious mind. But even if your conscious mind can
now feel those sensations that were previously felt only by the…
This is what the Buddha wanted you to do: practice the
Noble Eightfold Path. Practice s²la so that you can have the
right…
with reality: all vibrations are nothing but a flux, a flow. This
realization removes the deep-rooted habit pattern of…
Dhamma develops our understanding, so that we free
ourselves from the habit of reacting and understand that
craving is…
body, you are not practicing the Buddha’s teaching. If you
work only with the body and forget the mind, again you are
not…
Buddha teaches us to observe reality. Every addiction will
be undone if we observe the truth of the sensations on the body…
Let there be no agitation. Purify your mind. Then every action
you take will add peace to the universe.
Purify your mind:…
Freedom from Addiction
The following is the closing address by S. N. Goenka at the Seminar on
Vipassana for Relief from…
generate negativity in the mind, the mind influences matter,
and this reaction which starts within your material structure…
person, a fully enlightened person. You must realize the truth
for yourselves, and here is a process by which you realize the…
understand what this matter is. As you proceed further, the path
will lead you to the stage where you can experience the dance…
mind helps matter to arise and dissolve. You will also notice
that at times matter arises from the mental conditioning of the…
And not only passion but also fear, anger, hatred, and
craving—every type of impurity that comes in the
mind—simultaneously…
unconscious mind. When you practice Vipassana you break this
barrier. Without Vipassana the barrier remains.
At the conscious…
characteristic of arising and passing, arising and passing. By
this understanding you start to change the habit pattern of the…
found by their experience that there is a change for the better in
their behavior.
When we talk of addiction, it is not…
maybe a part of the mind has started reacting, but by
observing the sensation, their minds become equanimous.
Then whatever…
you cannot know the reality of what is happening within the
framework of the body. There is darkness in your mind. You
cannot…
sensation is present at that time. And they have found that
they are coming out of their addictions. They may not be…
are doing it to oblige yourself; for your own good, for your own
benefit, for your own liberation. And the process is such…
The Merits of Dana
The following is a translation of an article originally published in the
September 1995 issue of the Hindi…