Vipassana Newsletter

In the tradition of Sayagyi U Ba Khin as taught by S.N. Goenka Vol. 25, No. 2 • Spring, 1998 P.O. Box 51, Shelburne Falls, MA 01370-0051, U.S.A. Published three times yearly

Words of Dhamma yog± ve j±yat² bh³ri ayog± bh³risa½khayo Truly, from meditation wisdom arises; eta½ dvedh±patha½ ñatv± bhav±ya vibhav±ya ca without meditation wisdom vanishes. tath’ att±na½ niveseyya yath± bh³ri pava¹¹hati Knowing this branching path leading to gain or loss, —Dhammapada 282 one should conduct oneself that wisdom may increase.

A Personal Experience of Vipassana Meditation Meditation is based on the irony, or on the usually can walk forward is to wear blinders to forget it. You can’t do research with your multiplicity of perspectives, that the more like old cart-horses in heavy auto traffic. life and feel: “Only if I’ve found a cure for we pursue universal truth, the deeper we Millions murdered in Iraq. Millions drowned cancer will my life be worthwhile.” The plunge into our karma, our unique, in Bangladesh. Unending warfare in suspense and frustration would crush you. idiosyncratic, fingerprint personality. Tens Mozambique, Rwanda, Ethiopia. Stock- So you have to think: “Pursuing knowledge of thousands of hours, every day, weeks or a piles of nuclear weapons. America’s cities is intrinsically worthwhile. Great discoveries month at a time, I have self-observed the unsafe at night, filled with cocaine and an are often built up on the knowledge of lesser question: what puts me at peace, what ongoing race war of crime and violence. ones. Even if I make only minor distresses me? Real meditation is simply Yet, meditation has removed, not expanded contributions, they will have some value education, learning to modulate turmoil my blinders. It changed my life from one of when they are tallied with the whole. Or through insight into equipoise. In psychiatry, hopelessness, or blind hope, to contentless even if my work goes down a blind alley and unfortunately, where once a value was given hope. Every time I meditate I feel I can draw an entirely different direction proves fertile, to resonant and vaulted self-knowledge up and away, free for a moment or two, able my life still will have been meaningful. I resulting in inward contain-ment, and where to see that all fear or grief is just my own self- inspired others. I challenged them. I grew a psychiatrist was once expected to dispense pity. When I’m not clutching myself, there and developed as a person. My modest time for reflection, poise and resilience, today is only possibility. Who can say what the results represent a fragment of truth, too. in contrast many psychiatrists pride meaning of this teeming, death-clogged You need a critical mass of scientists working themselves on their frantic, faddish world is? When I judge it, that’s only my on a problem before even the genius can conformity in dispensing elixirs at fifteen- own ignorance and arrogance asserting its have a break-through. Science always minute intervals. Of course, I too dispense dominance. Again and again I know I can happens in community.” medication to palliate suffering and contact a pure moment in myself when understand some mental illnesses as having negativity is absent, and I know I am a beam biogenetic roots, but people also suffer or moving through the universe towards an CONTENTS grow from realization of one simple, basic, absolute goodness that will draw at least a A Personal Experience psychological law: whatever brings concord few others behind me in tow. The suffering of Vipassana Meditation (Book Excerpt) ..... 1 and gladness and unites others, will bring in the world seems more enormous than ever Karuna Films Receives Award ...... 2 First Course in Denmark ...... 2 peace to your heart. The peace we yearn for to me, but so does the opening between the Schedule for Long & Special Courses ...... 2 is already within, like the pericardium, a thin clouds. The more clearly I see the vastness Spread of Dhamma—1997 Report ...... 3 but powerful tissue that enfolds the heart. of ignorance, the more clearly I see the path Vipassana Book Project 1998 ...... 4 Every human heart is already enfolded in the out of it and the stronger my motivation to Sitting & Serving in India ...... 4 capacity to feel peace as the direct result of persevere in meditation. Dhamma Outreach Network ...... 5 Conference Proposal ...... 5 loving-kindness, compassion and I used to ponder about nibb±na. Would I Course Schedule ...... 6 truthfulness. attain it, would I not? Fortunately, I’ve been Vipassana Meditation Centers ...... 9 I am not liberated from ordinary irritations able to let go of the question. Every medical World Contacts ...... 10 P±li Workshops ...... 10 and moods. The world seems increasingly, student wonders . . . someday . . . will I win Vipassana Newsletter—Financial Overview11 not decreasingly sad to me. The only way we the Nobel Prize? But after a while you have Teacher Appointments ...... 12 1 In the same way, nibb±na is the goal of It has now been sold to a number of public Long and Special Courses Vipassana, yet whether I will or won’t obtain television stations in the U.S. and in several 1998­99 Schedule it is irrelevant. I’m walking in the direction other countries. After being shown on Israeli Dhamma Giri, Igatpuri, India of truth; I don’t need to impose a time-limit television, an overwhelming demand for July 11 - August 1 20-day course and I don’t know how far I will walk before courses developed in that country. August 19 - 30 Special 10-day course I die. I’ll still be meditating as I die. My The film is inspiring many old students as Aug. 31 - Oct. 1 30-day course whole life is aimed at expelling my own well as newcomers. It has succeeded in November 4 - 15 Special 10-day course ignorance, living as peacefully and Dec. 1 - Jan. 1 Teacher's self-course opening doors that were closed till now in Jan. 13 - Feb. 13 30-day course constructively as I can. I feel now I couldn’t the U.S.A., helping to make possible the first Jan. 13 - Feb. 27 45-day course live any other way. It’s my temperament, or jail courses there. Dhamma Khetta, Hyderabad, India rebirth karma, the impulse of my personality. Doing Time, Doing Vipassana is now August 4 - 25 20-day course I’ve caught fire from a few meditator-friends, available from the Pariyatti Book Service, October 3 - 14 Special 10-day course and I hope a few others will catch fire from P.O. Box 15926, Seattle, WA 98115-0926, Oct. 15 - Nov. 15 30-day course me. Oct. 15 - Nov. 5 20-day course U.S.A.; or www.vrpa.com/bookstore/; or ( Dhamma Thal², Jaipur, India Vipassana can sound solitary and imper- (800) 829-2748. It is also available from Aug. 13 - Sept. 13 30-day course sonal, but it’s always a part of a community Dhamma Books in Australia. Aug. 14 - Sept. 4 20-day course of teaching, learning, practicing together. Karuna Films has also recently produced November 17 - 28 Special 10-day course It’s a continuity bigger than those who are a new 12-minute film to help explain Jan. 18 - Feb. 18 30-day course Jan. 20 - Feb. 10 20-day course carrying it forward today. From the upper children’s courses to educators. Copies are Dhamma Sindhu, Mandvi, India level of a meditation pagoda in India, I once now being distributed to centers worldwide.♦ watched students far beneath me flowing July 9 - 20 Special 10-day course Sept. 1 - Oct. 2 30-day course slowly down the central aisle of the campus September 2 - 23 20-day course grounds, their white clothes rippling in the First Course in Denmark The last issue of the newsletter contained an November 18 - 29 Special 10-day course wind, and I realized they were current droplets Jan. 19 - Feb. 19 30-day course in a river that has been, and will be, flowing article by Goenkaji describing his first course Dhamm±laya, Kolhapur, India for thousands of years. This effort of in India. In it he talked about the importance Jan. 23 - Feb. 13 20-day course awareness and equanimity—in what of spreading the Dhamma at this time and Dhamma Bodhi, Bodh Gaya, India historical era, on what planet, in which how important it was to hold noncenter November 3 - 14 P±li workshop (Hindi) November 15 - 26 P±li workshop (English) galaxy, would it be less than precious? courses to help do so. The following is an Dharmashriºga, Kathmandu, Nepal Through Vipassana I feel part of the flow of account of the first course in Denmark, held April 2 to 13. July 25 - Aug. 25 30-day course truth and peace. November 9 - 30 20-day course Reprinted by permission of Jeremy P. We just came home from a very well Dhamma Kamala, Thailand Tarcher, Inc., a division of The Putnam organized and successful first course in July 16 - Aug. 16 30-day course Publishing Group, from Cultivating Inner Denmark. There was so much enthusiasm Dhamma Dhar±, Shelburne, U.S.A. July 1 - Aug. 1 30-day course Peace by Paul R. Fleischman, M.D. before, during and after the course; it was September 2 - 13 Special 10-day course Copyright (c) 1997 by Paul R. Fleischman, really very inspiring. With 45 students, most of whom were Danish, and with most of the February, 1999 30-day course M.D.♦ Dhamma Mah±vana, North Fork, U.S.A. Dhamma workers also being Danish, we Oct. 18 - Nov. 8 20-day course think Dhamma has had a good start here. Karuna Films Receives Award Dhamma Kuñja, Ethel, U.S.A. The driving force behind the course was July 12 - Aug. 2 20-day course In April, 1998, Karuna Films’ video, Doing a 73-year old Danish lady. To publicize it Oct. 21 - Nov. 1 Special 10-day course Time, Doing Vipassana, about the transfor- she contacted a journalist from one of the Dhamma D²pa, Hereford, U.K. mation brought by Vipassana to prisoners in Sept. 14 - Oct. 5 20-day course foremost newspapers in Denmark and Delhi’s Tihar Jail, won the ‘Golden Spire’ October 20 - 31 Special 10-day course showed the film, Doing Time, Doing award at the prestigious San Francisco Dhamma Bh³mi, Blackheath, Australia Vipassana. An excellent two-page article International Film Festival, in which over September 4 - 25 20-day course was published two weeks before the start of 1600 entries from 58 countries competed. Dhamma Rasmi, Queensland, Australia the course. She received about 30 phone December 1 - 22, 20-day course With the award went the following calls from readers of the article but, due to Long courses are open only to serious students citation: “The jury was moved by this the short time before the start of the course, committed to this technique who have completed insightful and poignant exposition on only four could attend immediately. a minimum of five 10-day courses and one Vipassana. The teaching of this meditation Satipaµµh±na Sutta course, and have been Plans for a course next year have already as a transformation device has many practicing regularly for at least two years. The been made. The same site will be rented in implications for people everywhere, special 10-day course is for students who have case a bigger place cannot be found. There providing the cultural, social and political previously taken a 30-day course or who have will be a large course in the Swedish province institutions can embrace and support its met the requirements for a 30-day course for of Skane this June as well, to which Danish some years. The 30-day course is a requirement liberating possibility.” students can come. Meanwhile, translation for the Teacher’s self-course. Special application In conjunction with the film festival a work on discourses and instructions is in forms, necessary for these courses, are available special screening of the film, which several progress. at all centers and on the old student web page. hundred people attended, was arranged at Dhamma has taken a wonderful first step the Roxie Cinema in San Francisco . into Denmark. May it keep on growing for the good of many!♦ 2 Spread of Dhamma—1997 Annual Conference Report Ehi-passiko Regional Developments The year 1997 was marked by a rapid and charge to institutions, research scholars and been held at Dhamma Kamboja during those substantial spread of Dhamma throughout interested recipients.♦ months, even though schoolchildren and not only India but the whole world. Even India: A total of 256 10-day courses were many government workers have holidays at though there are now over 43 established conducted in 1997. This includes 50 courses this time. At present, courses are held at centers and 400 teachers and assistant in 10 prisons. The first ever 10-day Vipassana another location during the monsoon months, teachers, the demand for Vipassana courses course exclusively for people with leprosy but the site is very limited. still outstrips the ability to provide them. and two 10-day courses exclusively for the Fortunately land has been purchased for There are many factors responsible for the visually handicapped were held in Mumbai. three new sites. One of these, close to growth of Dhamma, including thousands of The city of Bangalore and the state of Kerala Phnom Penh, will eventually replace the students around the world giving service in in South India showed a marked increase in current center and will resolve the seasonal many ways; but the single most important the number of courses and students during problem. factor is the quality of Dhamma itself, the the year. At Dhamma Giri, 21 10-day courses Japan: VRI’s Tipiµaka CD-ROM was quality of ehi-passiko— “come and see.” and 9 old student courses were held, attended presented at an international Buddhist by 7,350 new and 2,892 old students. This conference in Kyoto. The CD project is Grand Vipassana Pagoda year numbers of applications for courses helping to introduce the activities of the On October 26, a ceremony was held to lay have been staggering: between 1500 and Japan Vipassana Centre to respected P±li the foundation stone of the Grand Vipassana 2000 appli-cations for 500 student places are scholars and reinforces the center as a serious Pagoda in Mumbai. On this historic occasion being received for the regular 10-day courses. meditation retreat site where the authentic the Maha Bodhi Society of India presented Nepal: 47 courses were held, serving technique of Vipassana is being taught and Buddha relics to be enshrined in the structure. 3,079 students. There are now three centers, practiced. The pagoda will have an information gallery and students from many countries come to China: Recent efforts to arrange courses with an exhibit on the life of the Buddha and Nepal to take Vipassana courses. led to the successful completion of the first the benefits of the practice of Vipassana. It Myanmar: Course attendance is growing 10-day course in Hong Kong at the end of will also contain an expansive Dhamma hall steadily. Ten thousand students have taken 1997. Newly recorded materials in Cantonese capable of seating approximately 10,000 courses at Dhamma Jyoti in Yangon in the were also used for the first time. meditators. Construction of the pagoda is four and a half years since it opened. Mongolia: Two 10-day courses were held expected to be completed by the end of At Dhamma Ratana in Mogok there are for the first time using specially prepared 1999, a fitting tribute to Vipassana as it 15 courses per year with a full attendence of bilingual teaching materials. st enters the 21 century. The project will also 75 for each course with waiting lists. An Iran: A group of 48 students traveled to mark the centenary of the birth of Sayagyi U adjacent 40 acres has been donated so that Dhamma Giri to take a 10-day course with Ba Khin. the center can expand to try to meet the Goenkaji present. New teaching materials in At the inauguration, Myanmar and Taiwan demand for courses. Farsi were used for the first time. were represented by large groups, including There are constant requests for noncenter Russia: Ten-day course material is being monks and nuns, who, following the courses throughout the country and more recorded in Russian and a Vipassana World ceremony at the Vipassana Pagoda, centers are planned. Contact has been appointed for the territories participated in concurrent 10-day courses in Thailand: The first long course was held of the former Soviet Union. Goenkaji’s presence at Dhamma Giri. at Dhamma Kamala and work has begun on Israel: There has been a surge of interest On the same occasion, the CD-ROM of a pagoda/cell complex for 160 persons. after the showing of Doing Time, Doing the P±li Tipiµaka was officially presented. Recently two additional center sites have Vipassana on national television. Five Produced by the Vipassana Research been donated, one in north central Thailand courses were held in 1997, and hundreds Institute, this is the world’s first CD-ROM near Visnulok, the other in Chumporn in the have their names on the waiting list for containing the entire Tipiµaka and allied south. Both are currently under development. future courses. literature in Devanagari, Roman and Cambodia: From November 1996 to France: 18 meditation cells have been Myanmar scripts. It is based on the March 1997, seven 10-day courses were built at Dhamma Mah², with another 12 to be authoritative text of the Sixth Buddhist held at Dhamma Kamboja, each filled to completed shortly. A studio has been set up Council, held earlier in this century in capacity. Children’s courses have been very to record course materials in various Myanmar. The CD-ROM preserves the heavily attended, with many children as languages. The Cambodian community has authentic words of the Buddha in modern young as ten making the trip and taking the purchased a property east of Paris where electronic form. It makes easy the task of two-day course on their own. regular group sittings are held. searching through this voluminous literature, Recent reports from Phnom Penh indicate and is thus a valuable research tool. It is Britain: A long-term development plan a major surge of interest in Vipassana. The being distributed worldwide without any for the site at Dhamma Dipa is in progress center, however, is located on low-lying and preliminary construction has started. land and cannot be used in the monsoon Italy: A very active search is continuing months from May through October when for a site for a center or Dhamma house. water levels rise. Until now courses have not Austria: The first course was held. 3 Canada: Students in British Columbia There are two sites for Vipassana has important implications for meditators purchased land for a new center in western meditation on the World Wide Web. The from abroad who wish to sit or serve in India. Canada, and construction of buildings is New Student Homepage at http:// The following guidance is given to help old currently being planned. www.dhamma.org/ contains the Code of students make best use of their visits. United States: A program is underway to Discipline, The Art of Living, and a schedule Sitting: introduce Vipassana courses to North of 10-day and ¾n±p±na courses around the —Send application forms in good time American prisons. In November the first world. The Old Student Homepage (only for (eight weeks ahead for Dhamma Giri, two prison course to be given in the West was old students) is at http://www.dhamma.org/ weeks for other centers or sites). successfully conducted in a jail facility in the os. When accessing it, the username is —Check course dates before applying U.S. state of Washington, and a course for "oldstudent" and the password is "behappy." and reconfirm them, as changes often take women was held at the same site in February It contains the worldwide schedule of all place on short notice. 1998. More courses are being planned and a courses as well as many articles of interest to —Be sure that the course will be conducted film based on these courses is being produced. students of this tradition.♦ (or teaching materials will be available) in a Latin America: In all, 500 students language you understand. attended 13 courses in six countries. Plans Vipassana Book Project 1998 —You will need confirmation of a place for 1998 include courses in 10 countries. A new book about Vipassana for the general on the course; therefore, please give adequate Bolivia: The first course was held. public in the West is in preparation. It will be details to allow this information to be sent to you. Communication to and within India can Venezuela: The first children’s day course published in 1999, the year of Sayagyi U Ba Khin’s birth centenary. The provisional title be difficult—persevere if you fail to get an in Latin America took place here. answer. Brazil: The Hill of Dhamma video was of the book is Everybody’s Gotta Change Sometime—Vipassana Meditation in Action. —It is advisable to apply for long courses produced with Portuguese subtitles and is several months in advance to avoid disap- Old students are invited to contribute now available for distribution. A Spanish pointment. Long course students who have material based on their personal experience version of the Vipassana website was created sat at Dhamma Giri before may, at the time and linked to the old student homepage. of Vipassana for possible inclusion in the of application, be asked to take one of the Australia: The newest center, Dhamma book. Accounts in the following areas would concurrent 30-day courses held at the Jaipur, ¾loka, has been established in the state of be particularly valuable: How I came to Hyderabad or Kutch centers in order to give Victoria. The center is near Melbourne, which Vipassana, The experience of taking a course, newcomers a chance to meditate at Dhamma has long been the home of a strong group of What I have gained from practicing Giri. old students. The center completed its first Vipassana, Vipassana in the modern world— Serving: personal viewpoints on the application of full year of operation in 1997. —Opportunities for foreigners to give Vipassana in fields such as education, heath, Ten-day teaching materials were recorded Dhamma service in India are limited. There social reform, business and administration, in Mongolian, Cantonese, Marathi and Farsi. are a number of reasons for this: much of the etc. International tape distribution has now been work, like cooking and cleaning, is usually established via centers in the U.S.A., France, Please submit your material as soon as done by paid labor, and course management Japan, Australia and India.♦ possible (deadline October 31, 1998), is undertaken by local meditators. As well, including your name, address and contact Dhamma worker accommodation is in short details, in case follow-up is required, to: supply and orientation and training take time Dhamma on the Internet Vipassana Book Project 1998, c/o Vipassana to be effective. To date the Vipassana website information Meditation Centre, Dhamma D²pa, —At Dhamma Giri, only foreign students for new students has been translated from Harewood End, Hereford HR2 8JS, United with specific skills and experience are now English into Spanish, German, French, Kingdom. Fax [44](1989) 730-450 accepted to serve. Italian, Swedish and Japanese. Anyone can E-mail [email protected]♦ —At other centers, especially those that access the same information in any of these attract many students from abroad, such as languages with a computer. In 1998 the web Sitting and Serving in India Dharamsala, Delhi, Jaipur, Dehradun and pages will also be available in Hebrew and Bodh Gaya, there may be more opportunities Hindi. Starting in 1995, the website was A brief guide for non-Indian for students from other countries to give contacted in the order of 100 to 300 times per students of Vipassana service. day from perhaps a dozen countries. In Many old students naturally want to come to —To apply to serve, you need to complete 1996, the same Internet site was visited by meditate in India, the land of the Buddha. a Dhamma worker’s application form and from 500 to 1,000 people per day from 20 to Since Goenkaji conducted the first course in send it well ahead of time to the center 30 countries. During 1997, between 1,000 India in 1969, Vipassana has spread rapidly. concerned. Leave a return address for and 2,000 contacts per day were received There are now almost 30 centers in India confirmation that your application has been from over 50 countries throughout the world. (operational or under construction), and more accepted. Additional requirements for Month after month, more and more people than 20,000 students attend courses there Dhamma service include previous serving are accessing information about Vipassana annually. At Dhamma Giri, the principal experience on courses or at a center, and a center, the stream has become a flood, with in our tradition from our website. Course note of recommendation from an assistant applications more than doubling the 500 registrationby e-mail is also steadily teacher who knows you.♦ places on each 10-day course. The pace and increasing. scale of this expansion in Vipassana activity

4 Establishing the Dhamma Outreach Network Following the 30-day course at Dhamma when he brought the technique back to India. improved to facilitate the exchange of Giri this past winter, Goenkaji met with Later, at the request of these old students, information and also to reduce duplication several students to discuss the growth of Goenkaji conducted numerous courses in of effort. As a result, the Dhamma Outreach Vipassana meditation around the world. Europe and North America. Mailing List has been formed. This Although Vipassana is spreading rapidly in Almost three decades have passed since computer-based mailing list is an online India and throughout Asia, awareness has Goenkaji began teaching and he is now group discussion conducted entirely by e- grown more slowly in the West. encouraging us to increase our outreach mail. Every subscriber to the Dhamma The re-introduction of Vipassana to the efforts in the West. In the recent meeting at Outreach Mailing List auto-matically world began almost 100 years ago. Early in Dhamma Giri several ideas were discussed: receives every e-mail message sent to the this century Saya Thetgyi, a student of Ledi publishing articles about Vipassana in group. The e-mail list currently has about 75 Sayadaw, became the first layman in many magazines and newspapers, holding members involved in outreach com-mittees centuries to teach this technique. seminars, and helping to promote Karuna and projects throughout North and South Ledi Sayadaw had the wisdom and vision Films' award-winning video, Doing Time, America, Europe, Oceania and Africa. to see that Vipassana meditation must be Doing Vipassana, filmed at Tihar Prison in The Dhamma Outreach Mailing List is available to lay people—and taught by lay New Delhi and other penal institutions in proving to be a valuable forum for outreach teachers—for it to spread widely. India. Other ideas included creating a public workers who are using it to brainstorm new Word of Saya Thetgyi's teaching drew speakers’ bureau, producing high-quality ideas, discuss what has worked in the past Sayagyi U Ba Khin, who in turn taught the research papers that would stand up under and what hasn't, offer solutions and provide technique to Goenkaji. Sayagyi U Ba Khin Western scrutiny, and encouraging private mutual support. was the first person to teach Vipassana companies to conduct courses for their As outreach expands in the West, new key meditation to Westerners, who occasionally employees. Local outreach committees can people are needed to help with the work. If came to his International Meditation Centre also increase the public’s awareness of their you would like to get involved in outreach or in Yangon, Myanmar. Although Sayagyi's centers by distributing press releases, know more about the e-mail listserve, please strong desire to teach Vipassana in the West announcements and posters for newsworthy contact the Outreach Committee at the center was never realized, Goenkaji was able to events and special courses. nearest you.♦ teach large numbers of Western travelers It was also recognized that communication between outreach workers needs to be

Proposal for an International Conference in the West Of the many ideas emerging from this past program of prison courses now starting up in Dhar±, P.O. Box 24, Shelburne Falls, MA winter’s meetings in India, one of the most the West. Together these offer convincing 01370, U.S.A., or e-mailed to international- far-reaching is a proposal to hold an evidence of the value of Vipassana [email protected]. international conference in the West on the meditation. Anyone interested is also invited to attend model of the conferences held in India for a Of course this is only one of the ingredients the annual meeting at V.M.C., Massachusetts, decade or more. These events have attracted of a successful conference, and the others on August 1 and 2, when this and other key figures in such fields as education, may be more difficult to provide. One of the outreach topics will be discussed. business, government and Buddhist studies. challenges is attracting prominent figures to If an international conference can be Participants attend a 10-day meditation take part in both the 10-day course and the successfully organized, Goenkaji has said course followed by a two- to three-day conference itself. Another is providing the that he would do his best to attend. It could program of presentations on the theory and physical facilities at a Vipassana center in thus be another opportunity to benefit from applications of Vipassana. Many have been the West. Still another is the task of organizing his presence in the West.♦ deeply impressed by the experience and and publicizing such an event. Last is the have gone on to open doors for the spread of question of financing this major initiative. Dhamma. This partly explains why These are all sizable challenges. Although ¾o logoª jagata ke Vipassana has been so successful in reaching none of them is impossible, they all require various sectors of Indian society, from considerable effort. For this reason, before caleª Dharama ke pantha. homeless children to high government any further steps are taken, all Vipassana Isa patha calate satpurusha officials. students are invited to reflect on the feasibility isa patha calate santa. A conference in the West could have a of the proposal, and to offer their thoughts similar impact. We have much to highlight: and suggestions. Particularly useful would Come, people of the world! the latest version of the Tipiµaka on CD- be input from meditators with skills or Let us walk the path of Dhamma. ROM from the Vipassana Research Institute; contacts that would be needed for organizing On this path walk holy ones, the way the practice of Vipassana clarifies such a large-scale event. on this path walk saints. the word of the Buddha; the programs Comments may be sent to the International Hindi Doha working with drug offenders; and the Conference Committee, V.M.C., Dhamma

5 Schedule of Vipassana Meditation Courses • 1998 All courses listed below are conducted by assistant teachers of S. N. Goenka. In addition to these, there are courses held at other centers and rented sites in the Indian subcontinent. For information, contact the appropriate center listed on page 9.

NORTH AMERICA Texas contact: Florida see World Contacts, U.S.A. Southwest Vipassana Meditation Center Dec. 27 - Jan. 7 10-day course California contact: Dhamma Sir² California Vipassana Center P.O. Box 190248, Dallas, TX 75219 Minnesota contact: Midwest Vipassana Association Dhamma Mah±vana ((214) 521-5258 or (972) 932-7868 P.O. Box 1167, North Fork, CA 93643 Fax (214) 522-5973 c/o Julie Rasmussen 2925 Monterey Ave. ((209) 877-4386, Fax 877-4387 E-mail [email protected] E-mail [email protected] July 1 - 12 10-day course St. Louis Park, MN 55416 (612) 922-1701 June 10 - 21 10-day course August 5 - 16 10-day course (Hindi/English) ( June 27 Children’s day4 September 2 - 13 10-day course E-mail [email protected] July 1 - 12 10-day course September 17 - 20 ¾n±p±na course1 September 2 - 13 10-day course July 15 - 26 10-day course Sept. 30 - Oct. 11 10-day course North Carolina contact: July 29 - Aug. 9 10-day course Oct. 21 - Nov. 1 10-day course 2 Jo’sun and Laurie Bell August 14 - 23 Satipaµµh±na Sutta course November 11 - 22 10-day course 7126 Kepley Rd. Aug. 27 - Sept. 7 10-day course December 4 - 13 Satipaµµh±na Sutta course2 Chapel Hill, NC 27514 September 10 - 13 3-day old students’ course Dec. 26 - Jan. 6 10-day course ( (919) 929-8996 or 932-3878 September 16 - 27 10-day course Aug. 4 - 15 10-day course September 27 Open house Washington contact: October 8 - 19 10-day course October 7 - 18 10-day course Northwest Vipassana Center Oct. 18 - Nov. 8 20-day course3 Dhamma Kuñja Ontario contact: Richard Fisher November 11 - 22 10-day course P.O. Box 345, Ethel, WA 98542 45 St. Olaves Rd. Nov. 27 - Dec. 8 10-day course ((360) 978-5434, Fax 978-5433 Toronto, ON M6S-3H5 December 10 - 21 10-day course E-mail [email protected] ((416) 766-2927, Fax 766-2359 Dec. 27 - Jan. 7 10-day course June 17 - 21 3-day old students’ course E-mail [email protected] June 24 - July 5 10-day course Dec. 7 - 18 10-day course Massachusetts contact: July 6 - 9 Older children’s course4 Vipassana Meditation Center July 12 - Aug. 2 20-day course3 Quebec see World Contacts Dhamma Dhar± August 5 - 16 10-day course August 16 - 27 10-day course P.O. Box 24, Shelburne Falls, MA 01370 August 19 - 30 10-day course August 27 - 30 3-day old students' course ((413) 625-2160, Fax 625-2170 September 2 - 13 10-day course November 8 - 19 10-day course E-mail [email protected] September 18 - 27 Satipaµµh±na Sutta course2 November 19 - 22 3-day old students' course June 14 1-day old students’ course Sept. 30 - Oct. 11 10-day course June 17 - 28 10-day course October 16 - 18 Children's course4 LATIN AMERICA June 17 - 28 10-day course (Khmer) Oct. 21 - Nov. 1 Special 10-day course3 July 1 - Aug. 1 30-day course3 November 4 - 15 10-day course Argentina contact: Mary Luisa Schonfeld August 1 - 2 Conference November 18 - 22 3-day old students' course Rosario 814, Buenos Aires 1424 August 5 - 16 10-day course Nov. 25 - Dec. 6 10-day course ([54](1) 901-1146, Fax (21) 44949 August 19 - 30 10-day course December 9 - 20 10-day course 2 October 2 - 13 10-day course August 21 - 30 Satipaµµh±na Sutta course Dec. 23 - Jan. 3 10-day course October 14 - 25 10-day course September 2 - 13 10-day course March 17 - 28 10-day course September 2 - 13 Special 10-day course3 British Columbia contact: September 16 - 27 10-day course Doug and Lucy Child Bolivia contact: Eduardo Pino L. September 27 Open house 3566 Verner Ave., RR#2 Daniel Campos 545, Tarija Cobble Hill, BC V0R-1L0 Sept. 30 - Oct. 4 3-day old students’ course ( [591](66) 42641, Fax (68) 12121 October 4 - 14 Work period ((250) 743-1490 E-mail [email protected] October 9 - 11 Children’s course4 E-mail [email protected] Oct. 28 - Nov. 8 10-day course October 14 - 25 10-day course Sept. 30 - Oct. 11 10-day course (Shawnigan Lake) Apr. 21 - May 2 10-day course Oct. 28 - Nov. 8 10-day course Dec. 27 - Jan. 7 10-day course (Shawnigan Lake) November 8 1-day old students’ course Chile contact: Luz Jimenez Colorado see World Contacts, U.S.A. November 11 - 22 10-day course Lota 2366, Dto. 303, Providencia, Santiago July 19 - 30 10-day course Nov. 25 - Dec. 6 10-day course [56](2) 232-7292, Fax 334-7168 July 30 - Aug. 9 9-day course ( December 9 - 20 10-day course E-mail [email protected] December 21 - 25 3-day old students’ course Sept. 21 - Oct. 2 10-day course Dec. 27 - Jan. 7 10-day course Mar. 29 - Apr. 9 10-day course

1 ¾n±p±na courses are designed for those unable to which the Buddha systematically explained the at least two years. The special 10-day course is for attend a complete 10-day course. These courses are technique of Vipassana. These courses are open to students who have previously taken a 30-day course only an introduction to the Vipassana technique serious old students who have completed at least or who have met the requirements for a 30-day three 10-day courses, have not been practicing any course for some years. The 30-day course is a re- taught in a full course. ¾n±p±na students are encour- other meditation techniques since their last 10-day quirement for the Teacher’s self-course. Special aged to attend a 10-day course as soon as time course, have been practicing this technique of application forms, necessary for these courses, are permits. Old students are welcome to use ¾n±p±na Vipassana for at least one year, and who are trying to available at all centers and on the old student web courses as short self-courses if space is available. maintain the Five Precepts in their daily lives. page. 2 Satipaµµh±na Sutta courses have the same timetable 3 Long courses are open only to serious students 4 Children's and teenagers’ course requirements committed to this technique who have completed a vary from center to center. Please contact the spe- and discipline as 10-day courses. The difference is ♦ that in the taped evening discourses Goenkaji exam- minimum of five 10-day courses and one Satipaµµh±na cific registrar for details. ines the Satipaµµh±na Sutta. This is the principal text in Sutta course, and have been practicing regularly for

Vipassana Newsletter Vol. 25, No. 2 Spring, 1998 6 Colombia contact: Jorge Morales July 22 - Aug. 2 10-day course Italy see World Contacts Carrera 2A, #72-47, Ap. 202, Bogota August 5 - 16 10-day course August 3 - 14 10-day course ([571] 313-3832, Fax 313-3824 August 19 - 30 10-day course August 16 - 27 10-day course E-mail [email protected] September 3 - 6 Children’s course4 Oct. 28 - Nov. 1 3-day old students’ course Nov. 25 - Dec. 6 10-day course September 8 - 19 10-day course Dec. 26 - Jan. 6 10-day course Sept. 23 - Oct. 4 10-day course Mexico see World Contacts October 8 - 11 ¾n±p±na course1 Portugal see World Contacts Aug. 26 - Sept. 6 10-day course October 14 - 25 10-day course August 19 - 30 10-day course December 9 - 20 10-day course October 25 - 30 Work period 4 Romania see World Contacts Panama contact: Virginia Gil del Real Oct. 30 - Nov. 2 Children’scourse July 1 - 12 10-day course P.O. Box 6559, Panamá 5 November 4 - 8 P±li workshop July 15 - 26 10-day course November 12 - 20 Satipaµµh±na Sutta course2 ( [507] 223-5439, Fax 226-6292 1 August 5 - 16 10-day course January 1999 10-day course November 26 - 29 ¾n±p±na course August 19 - 30 10-day course December 2 - 13 10-day course September 9 - 20 10-day course Peru contact: Christian Saavedra Dec. 26 - Jan. 6 10-day course Sept. 23 - Oct. 4 10-day course Torres Paz 235, Chiclayo United Kingdom contact: & Fax [51](74) 228-964 Russia see World Contacts ( Vipassana Trust E-mail [email protected] July 4 - 15 10-day course November 11 - 22 10-day course Dhamma D²pa July 17 - 28 10-day course Harewood End, Hereford Venezuela contact: Mirjam Berns England HR2-8JS Serbia contact: Bosko Milisavljevic Vere Blagojevic E-9, 15300 Loznica Ap. 77, 1204 A San Antonio de los Altos [44](1989) 730-234, Fax 730-450 ( & Fax[381](15) 889-192 ([58](2) 682-1942, Fax 573-5118 E-mail [email protected] ( E-mail [email protected] E-mail [email protected] June 10 - 21 10-day course 4 June 14 - 18 3-day old students’ course June 14 Children’s day June 26 - 28 Young people’s course4 Sept. 30 - Oct. 11 10-day course September 9 - 20 10-day course July 1 - 4 3-day old students’ course October 11 - 15 3-day old students’ course Dec. 26 - Jan. 6 10-day course July 7 - 18 10-day course (Hindi/ English) July 19 Children’s course4 (ages 5+) Spain see World Contacts EUROPE July 21 - Aug. 1 10-day course August 5 - 16 10-day course August 6 - 14 Satipaµµh±na Sutta course2 August 16 - 19 Children’s course4 France contact: August 15 - 17 Children’s course4 (ages 8+) September 9 - 20 10-day course Centre Vipassana France August 19 - 30 10-day course (Gujarati/ English) Dec. 27 - Jan. 7 10-day course Dhamma Mah² Sept. 1 - 12 10-day course “Le Bois Planté,” 89350 Louesme September 12 1-day old students’ course Sweden see World Contacts, Scandinavia 3 Sept. 23 - Oct. 4 10-day course ([33](386) 45-75-14, Fax 45-76-20 Sept.14 - Oct. 5 20-day course E-mail [email protected] October 6 - 17 10-day course Switzerland contact: June 10 - 14 3-day old students’ course October 20 - 31 10-day course Paul & Vilma Steiger 4 June 17 - 28 10-day course November 1 Children’s day (ages 5+) Dorfstrasse, 8488 Neubrunn July 1 - 4 Children’s course4 November 3 - 14 10-day course [41](52) 385-4263 1 ( July 6 - 17 10-day course November 19 - 22 ¾n±p±na course Oct. 28 - Nov. 8 10-day course July 19 - 27 Satipaµµh±na Sutta course2 Nov. 25 - Dec 6. 10-day course December 2 - 12 9-day course July 30 - Aug. 3 ¾n±p±na course1 December 6 1-day old students’ course Dec. 23 - Jan. 3 10-day course August 5 - 16 10-day course (Khmer) December 8 - 19 10-day course Dec. 27 - Jan. 7 10-day course August 18 - 29 10-day course ASIA & PACIFIC September 2 - 13 10-day course U.K. (Sussex) contact: 3 September 16 - 27 Special 10-day course Dhamma D²pa Cambodia (Takhmau) contact: Sept. 28 - Oct. 5 Work period August 19 - 30 10-day course Mr. Kuoch Sochet October 6 - 17 10-day course Sala Sangkat Psar Depot #2 October 20 - 28 Satipaµµh±na Sutta course2 U.K. (London) contact: Bhagirath Sidhu Phnom Penh Oct. 30 - Nov. 2 Children’s course4 13 Bedford Sq., Houghton Regis Fax [855](23) 720-850 November 4 - 15 10-day course Dunstable, Beds. LU5-5ES E-mail [email protected] November 18 - 29 10-day course ([44](1582) 863-224 (daytime) August 5 - 16 10-day course December 1 - 12 10-day course 864-616 (evening) August 19 - 30 10-day course December 16 - 20 3-day old students’ course Dec. 26 - Jan. 6 9-day course September 2 - 13 10-day course Dec. 26 - Jan. 6 10-day course Austria contact: September 16 - 27 10-day course France (South) contact: Herwig Dunzendorfer & Chen Qing French Polynesia see World Contacts Dhamma Mah² Kunstalle Dunzendorfer October 10 - 21 10-day course July 19 - 31 10-day course 4202 Hellmonsodt contact: August 2 - 13 10-day course ( & Fax [43] 7215-2101 Japan E-mail [email protected] Japan Vipassana Association Germany contact: September 16 - 27 10-day course 16-17 Shimohayama-cho Vipassana-Meditationshaus Daigo, Fushimi-ku Dhamma Geha Benelux see World Contacts Kyoto 601-1332 Kirchenweg 2, 76332 Bad Herrenalb July 27 - Aug. 7 10-day course (English) ( & Fax [81](75) 573-1510 ([49](7083) 51169, Fax 51328 Dec. 27 - Jan. 7 10-day course June 15 - 19 3-day old students’ course 2 Israel see World Contacts June 19 - 28 Satipaµµh±na Sutta course June 16 - 27 10-day course July 1 - 5 3-day old students’ course 1 June 10 - 21 10-day course July 2 - 5 ¾n±p±na course June 24 - July 5 10-day course July 23 - Aug. 2 9-day course July 8 - 19 10-day course July 8 - 19 10-day course August 6 - 16 9-day course

Vipassana Newsletter Vol. 25, No. 2 Spring, 1998 7 August 19 - 23 3-day old students’ course AUSTRALIA & Victoria contact: Aug. 30 - Sept. 20 20-day course3 Vipassana Meditation Centre Victoria September 20 - 29 Satipaµµh±na Sutta course2 NEW ZEALAND Dhamma ¾loka October 1 - 11 9-day course New South Wales contact: P.O. Box 11, Woori Yallock, VIC 3139 October 14 - 18 3-day old students’ course Vipassana Meditation Centre ([61](3) 5961-5722, Fax 5961-5765 Oct. 22 - Nov. 1 9-day course June 10 - 21 10-day course November 4 - 8 3-day old students’ course Dhamma Bhumi P.O. Box 103, Blackheath, NSW 2785 July 1 - 12 10-day course November 13 - 23 9-day course July 16 - 19 3-day old students’ course November 25 - 29 3-day old students’ course ([61](2) 4787-7436, Fax 4787-7221 June 10 - 21 10-day course August 1 1-day course December 3 - 13 9-day course August 5 - 16 10-day course June 24 - July 5 10-day course December 16 - 20 3-day old students’ course August 21 - 24 3-day old students’ course Dec. 23 - Jan. 3 9-day course July 8 - 19 10-day course 2 July 24 - Aug. 1 Satipaµµh±na Sutta course2 September 5 - 13 Satipaµµh±na Sutta course Taiwan contact: August 5 - 16 10-day course Canberra contact: Taiwan Vipassana Centre August 20 - 23 ¾n±p±na course1 Bjarni Wark & Tali Krieger Dhammodaya Aug. 24 - Sept. 4 10-day course ([61](2) 4787-7436 P.O. Box 117-677, Taipei, R.O.C. 3 September 4 - 25 20-day course June 28 1-day course ([886](2) 2705-9432, Fax 2705-9433 September 6 - 17 10-day course June 17 - 28 10-day course September 26 - 28 Children’s course4 Sydney contact: July 2 - 13 10-day course Sept. 30 - Oct. 11 10-day course Ian Hoffstteter July 15 - 18 3-day old students’ course October 2 - 5 3-day old students’ course ([61](2) 9555-4148 July 19 - 30 10-day course October 14 - 25 10-day course June 21 1-day course August 13 - 24 10-day course Oct. 26 - Nov. 6 10-day course July 19 1-day course August 27 - 30 3-day old students’ course November 7 Open day South Australia see World Contacts September 3 - 14 10-day course November 11 - 22 10-day course One-day courses 1st Sunday of each month September 17 - 28 10-day course Nov. 23 - Dec. 4 10-day course July 4 - 15 10-day course October 1 - 12 10-day course December 4 - 14 Satipaµµh±na Sutta course2 October 15 - 26 10-day course December 13 - 23 10-day course Western Australia contact: Oct. 29 - Nov. 9 10-day course Vipassana Foundation, November 10 - 21 10-day course Queensland contact: P.O. Box 1219, Wangara, WA 6065 November 21 - 29 Satipaµµh±na Sutta course2 Vipassana Centre Queensland [61](8) 9342-8088 December 3 - 14 10-day course Dhamma Rasmi ( July 20 - 31 10-day course December 17 - 28 10-day course P.O. Box 119, Rules Rd. October 12 - 23 10-day course Pomona, QLD 4563 Taiwan (Tai-Chung) contact: Dhammodaya ([61](7) 5485-2452, Fax 5485-2907 New Zealand (North Island) contact: 2 Vipassana Meditation Centre June 17 - 28 10-day course (tentative) June 20 - 28 Satipaµµh±na Sutta course July 1 - 12 10-day course Dhamma Medin² Thailand contact: July 15 - 26 10-day course Burnside Road, RD3, Kaukapakapa Mrs. Saengdao Chernrungroj 1 July 31 - Aug. 3 ¾n±p±na course ([64](9) 420-5319 95/20 Soi Pracha-uthis August 5 - 16 10-day course July 8 - 19 10-day course Ratanathibet Road, Amphur Muang August 16 1-day old students’ course July 22 - Aug. 2 10-day course Nonthaburi 11000 August 19 - 30 10-day course August 7 - 10 3-day old students’ course ([66](2) 965-5510-5, Fax 965-5519 September 2 - 13 10-day course August 14 - 22 Satipaµµh±na Sutta course2 June 17 - 28 10-day course September 13 1-day old students’ course Aug. 26 - Sept. 6 10-day course July 1 - 12 10-day course September 19 - 30 10-day course September 16 - 27 10-day course July 16 - Aug. 16 30-day course3 October 1 - 4 Children’s course4 Sept. 30 - Oct. 11 10-day course August 19 - 30 10-day course October 7 - 18 10-day course October 18 Open day September 2 - 13 10-day course October 18 Open day October 23 - 26 3-day course September 16 - 27 10-day course Oct. 24 - Nov. 4 10-day course Oct. 28 - Nov. 8 10-day course October 10 - 18 Satipaµµh±na Sutta course2 November 8 1-day old students’ course November 11 - 22 10-day course Oct. 21 - Nov. 1 10-day course November 16 - 27 10-day course December 9 - 20 10-day course November 4 - 15 10-day course December 1 - 22 20-day course3 Dec. 27 - Jan. 7 10-day course November 19 - 30 10-day course (Monks only) Dec. 26 - Jan. 6 10-day course December 2 - 13 10-day course New Zealand (South Island) contact: December 16 - 27 10-day course Vipassana Meditation Centre Tasmania contact: Dhamma Medin² Thailand (Chiang Mai) Contact: Vipassana Meditation Tasmania Aug. 31 - Sept. 10 10-day course Dr. Anong Nonthasut Dhamma Pabh± Samerng Villa, 79 Moo 2 G.P.O. Box 6, Hobart, TAS 7001 Tambon Samerng Tai, Amphur Samerng ([61](3) 6228-6535 Chiengmai 50250 July 1 - 11 10-day course ( [66](53) 487-039, Fax 487-075 September 9 - 20 10-day course June 18 - 22 3-day old students’ course October 22 - 25 3-day old students’ course August 5 - 16 10-day course August 20 - 24 3-day old students’ course Sept. 19 - 27 Satipaµµh±na Sutta course2 Please forward any corrections For times and locations of for the Schedule, Meditation regular group sittings in your Centers list or the World Contacts area, please contact a center or list to the newsletter. Thank you. the world contact nearest you.

Vipassana Newsletter Vol. 25, No. 2 Spring, 1998 8 Meditation Centers

AUSTRALIA South India: Dhamma Upavana, Baracakiya, Bihar New South Wales: Vipassana Meditation Centre, Andhra Pradesh: Vipassana International Dhamma Dhaja, Hoshiarpur, Punjab Dhamma Bh³mi, P.O. Box 103, Blackheath, Meditation Centre, Dhamma Khetta, JAPAN NSW 2785. Kusum Nagar, 12.6 km Nagarjunsagar Rd., Japan Vipassana (Meditation) Centre ([61](2) 4787-7436, Fax 4787-7221 Vanasthali Puram, Hyderabad 500 070. Aza-hatta, Mizucho-cho, Funai-gun, Queensland: Vipassana Centre Queensland, ([91](40) 402-0290, 402-1746, Kyoto 622-03. (& Fax [81](771) 86-0765 Dhamma Rasmi, P.O. Box 119, Rules Rd., City Office: (473-2569, Fax 41-005 E-mail [email protected] Pomona, QLD 4563. or: (202-802, 318-780 MONGOLIA ([61](7) 5485-2452, Fax 5485-2907 E-mail [email protected] Vipassana Centre, Dhamma Maªgala. Tasmania: Vipassana Meditation Tasmania, Tamil Nadu: Dhamma Setu, The Mahabodhi MYANMAR Dhamma Pabh±, G.P.O. Box 6, Hobart, Society, Kenneth Lane, Madras 600 008. Vipassana Centre, Dhamma Joti, TAS 7001. [61](3) 6228-6535 [91](44) 825-2458 ( ( Nga Htat Gyi Pagoda Rd., Bahan Township, Victoria: Vipassana Charitable Trust, Karnataka:Vipassana Meditation & Research Yangon. [95](1) 39290 Dhamma ¾loka, P.O. Box 11, Centre, Dhamma Sumana, Bangalore. ( Vipassana Centre, Dhamma Ratana, Mogok. Woori Yallock, VIC 3139. c/o Mrs. Jaya Sangoi, 13/1 Vijaya II Main, NEPAL ([61](3) 5961-5722, Fax 5961-5765 5th Block, Kumara Park(W), Bangalore 560 020. Nepal Vipassana Centre, Dharmashriºga, CAMBODIA ([91](80) 336-0896, Office 336-4220, Budhanikantha, Muhan Pokhari, Kathmandu. Cambodia Vipassana Centre, Fax 221-5776 or: P.O. Box 12896, Kathmandu. Dhamma Kamboja, next to Kompong Ko East India: [977](1) 371-655, 371-007; Buddhist Temple, Dist. Koh Thom, West Bengal: Vipassana Centre, Dhamma Gaªg±, ( City Office: Jyoti Bhavan, Kantipath, Kandal Province. Sodpur, Panihati 743 176, Dist. 24 Parganas. P.O. Box 133, Kathmandu. Mail: P.O. Box 2259, Phnom Penh 3. ([91](33) 553-2855 ( 225-490, 248-949, 250-581, 223-968 [855](15) 831-665, Fax (23)363-191 or: c/o D. Kajaria. ( 242-1767, 8043 ( ( Fax 224-720, 226-314 or: c/o M.K. Badani. ( 225-4719, CANADA Dhamma Janin², Lumbini. British Columbia Vipassana Centre, 475-8342, 475-7208, Fax 275-5174 Bodh Gaya International Meditation Centre, City Office: Jyoti Bhavan, Kantipath, Dhamma Surabhi. P.O. Box 133, Kathmandu. see World Contacts Dhamma Bodhi, Gaya-Dhoba Rd., near Magadh University, Bodh Gaya 824 231, ([977](1) 225-490, Fax 223-067 FRANCE Bihar. [91](631) 400-437. Dhamma Tar±i, Contact: S. Kumar Fancy Store, Centre Vipassana, Dhamma Mah², ( Office: Shanti Dham, Kankarbagh Rd., Patna Adarsh Nagar, Birganj. ([977](1) 22894 “Le Bois Planté,” 89350 Louesme. 800 020, Bihar. & Fax [91](612) 352-874 NEW ZEALAND [33](386) 45-75-14, Fax 45-76-20 ( ( Vaishali Vipassana Centre, Dhamma Licchav², Vipassana Meditation Centre, Dhamma Medin², E-mail [email protected] Atardah (Lalitkunj), Muzzaffarpur 842 001 Burnside Road, RD3, Kaukapakapa. INDIA Bihar. c/o Rajkumar Goenka, Parijat, ([64](9) 420-5319 Maharashtra: Marwari Bazar, Samastipur, Bihar. SRI LANKA Bombay area: Vipassana International Academy, ([91](621) 243-407, 243-206 Vipassana Centre, Dhamma K³ta, Dhamma Giri, P.O. Box 6, Igatpuri 422 403, West India: Mowbray Galaha Rd., Hindagala, Peradeniya. Dist. Nasik. [91](2553) 84076, 84086, 84038, ( Gujarat: Kutch Vipassana Centre, ([94](8) 34649 Fax 84176 Dhamma Sindhu, Bada Village, Dist. Mandvi, TAIWAN Kolhapur: Deccan Vipassana Centre, Kutch 370 475. ([91](28347) 3303, 3304 Taiwan Vipassana Centre, Dhammodaya, Dhamm±laya, near Majale bus stand, or: c/o Mukul Savla, Bhuj. ((2832) 50-181 P.O. Box 45, Yang Mae, Tao Yuan, R.O.C. Hatakanagale 416 109. ( Saurashtra Vipassana Centre, Dhamma Koµa, ([886](2) 2705-9432, Fax 2705-9433 ([91](230) 483-316 Kotharia Road, Rajkot, Gujarat. Nagpur: Nagpur Vipassana Centre, THAILAND c/o Mr Rajesh Mehta , Bhabha Guest House, Vipassana Meditation Center, Dhamma Kamala, Dhamma N±ga, Village Mahurjhari, Panchnath Road, Rajkot 360 001, Gujarat. near Nagpur-Kalmeshwar Rd. 200 Yoopasuk Rd., behind Thairath School 7, ([91](281) 234-781, 232-187, Fax 221-384 Tambon Dongkheelek, Amphur Muang, ([91](712) 558-686, Fax 539-716 ( Gurjar Vipashyana Kendra, Dhamma P²µha, Prachinburi 25000. Khandesh Vipassana Centre, Dhamma Sarovara, c/o Mrs. Dropadi Chowdhary, Ratnam, 1 Patel near Dedargaon Water Purification Plant, (& Fax [66](37) 403-515 Soc., Shahibag Rd., opp. Police Commissioner’s UNITED KINGDOM Survey No. 166, at Post Tikhi, Dhule. Office, Ahmedabad 380 004, Gujarat. or: c/o Mr Prakash Borse, 12 Tulsiram Nagar, Vipassana Centre, Dhamma D²pa, ( Res: [91](79) 562-4631, 562-4253, Harewood End, Hereford HR2-8JS. Deopur, Dhule 424 002. Fax 212-2016. (Res. [91](2562) 22-741; Off. 22-614 ([44](1989) 730-234, Fax 730-450 Central India: E-mail [email protected] Pune Vipassana Centre, Dhamm±nanda, Vipassana Centre, Dhamma K±nana, Rengatola, Pune Vipassana Samiti, 2 Vinay Chambers, Balaghat, M.P. c/o Mr. Haridas Meshram, UNITED STATES California Vipassana Center, Vetal Chowk, 971 S.B. Rd., Pune 411 016. G-8 Bagh Colony, Civil Lines, Balaghat 481 001. California: , ( [91](212) 355-472 Fax 355-759, 680-558. Off: [91](7632) 2473; Res: c/o 2554 Dhamma Mah±vana ( P.O. Box 1167, North Fork, CA 93643. North India: Vipassana Centre, Dhamma Ketu, (209) 877-4386, Fax 877-4387 Rajasthan: Vipassana Centre, Dhamma Thal², Thanod, via Anjora, Dist. Durg, M.P. ( E-mail [email protected] P.O. Box 208, (Sisodia Rani Baug - Galtaji Rd.), c/o Mr. Sureshchandra Kathane, B-269, Street 5, Vipassana Meditation Center, Jaipur 302 001. ([91](141) 641-520 Smritinagar, P.O. Nehru Nagar, Massachusetts: , Uttar Pradesh: Dehradun Vipassana Centre, Bhilai 490 020, M.P. [91](788) 321-539 Dhamma Dhar± ( P.O. Box 24, Shelburne Falls, MA 01370. Dhamma Salila, Dehradun. Bhopal Vipassana Centre, Dhamma P±la, (413) 625-2160, Fax 625-2170 ([91](135) 654-189, Fax 655-580 Madhya Pradesh Vipassana Samiti, Bhopal, M.P. ( E-mail [email protected] Himachal Pradesh: Vipassana Centre, Dhamma c/o Mr. Ashok & Mrs. Uma Kela, Southwest Vipassana Meditation Center, Sikhara, MacLeod Ganj, Dharamsala 176 219. E-1/82, Arera Colony, Bhopal 462 016, M.P. Texas: , ([91](1892) 21309, Fax 21578 Res: [91](755) 563-113; Off: 557-761, Dhamma Sir² ( 10850 County Rd. 155A, Kaufman, TX 75142. or: Delhi Vipassana Office, 557-762, Fax 564-520 (214) 521-5258 or (972) 932-7868, ([91](11) 648-5071, 5072 In addition, there are many other centers in India ( E-mail [email protected] Delhi Vipassana Centre, Dhamma Sota, Haryana. at various stages of development: Washington: Northwest Vipassana Center, City Office: Vipassana Sadhana Sansthan, Dhamma Tihar, Delhi th Dhamma Kuñja, Hemkunt Towers,16 Floor, 98 Nehru Place, Dhamma Cakka, Sarnath, U.P. P.O. Box 345, Ethel, WA 98542. New Delhi 110 019. Dhamma Suvatthi, Sravasti, U.P. (360) 978-5434, Fax 978-5433 ([91](11) 645-2772, Fax 647-0658 Dhamma Vimutti, Kushinagar, U.P. ( E-mail [email protected]

Vipassana Newsletter Vol. 25, No. 2 Spring, 1998 9 World Contacts AUSTRALIA ITALY Florida: Grant Ward, P.O. Box 54291, see Meditation Centers Associazione Vipassana Italia, Jacksonville, FL 32245-4291. Western Australia: Dhamma House, Via Martinelli 64, 20092 Cinisello B. (MI). ([1](904) 724-4452 143 Parry St., East Perth, WA 6004. (& Fax [39](2) 660-0214 Idaho: Florence Blanchard, P.O. Box 225, ([61](8) 9328-7773 E-mail [email protected] Bellevue, ID 83313. ([1](208) 788-4450 or: Vipassana Foundation, P.O. Box 1219, JAPAN Kansas: Dr. Sharat K. Jain & Dr. Sudha Jain, Wangara, WA 6065. ([61](8) 9342-8088 see Meditation Centers 3109 West 118th St., Leawood, KS 66211. South Australia: P.O. Box 10292, Gouger St., Japan Vipassana Association ([1](913) 469-0675, Fax 469-5171 Adelaide, SA 5000. ([61](8) 8356-5530 16-17 Shimohayama-cho, Daigo, Fushimi-ku, E-mail [email protected] For information about other contact addresses in Kyoto 601-1332. Minnesota: Rosa Kittsteiner, 807 University Australia, contact the Vipassana Newsletter, (& Fax [81](75) 573-1510 Ave. NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413. c/o V.M.C., Dhamma Bh³mi (address above). LATIN AMERICA ([1](612) 362-9190 AUSTRIA Eduardo Puig, Arroyo 1160, Piso 12, Dto. B, Missouri: Renee & David Cerchie, Anton Rauchenzauner, Buenos Aires 1007, Argentina. P.O. Box 32533, Kansas City, MO 64111. [1](816) 561-6113 Gries 24, 4890 Frankenmarkt. ([54](1) 811-0218 ( New Mexico: Paul Yoder, P.O. Box 1616, ([43](7684) 389 MEXICO Cuba, NM 87013. [1](505) 289-3308 BENELUX German Cano, Carmen Serdan 114, ( E-mail [email protected] Dirk & Mieke Taveirne-de-Wilde, 50120 Toluca. New York: Robert Cannon, 73-23 210th St., #4B, Lange Steenstraat 18/M, 9000 Gent. & Fax [52](72) 1266-70 ( Bayside, NY 11364. [1](718) 465-1066 ( & Fax [32](9) 233-6227 E-mail [email protected] ( E-mail [email protected] CAMBODIA MYANMAR North Carolina: Jo’son & Laurie Lindgren Bell, Sheryl Keller, P.O. Box 2259, Phnom Penh 3. see Meditation Centers 7126 Kepley Rd., Chapel Hill, NC 27514. [855](15) 831-665, ( NEPAL [1](919) 929-8996 Fax (23) 363-191, 366-923 ( see Meditation Centers E-mail [email protected] E-mail [email protected] NETHERLANDS Texas: Cathryn Lacey, P.O. Box 190248, CANADA Joshua & Mirjam van der Berg, Dallas, TX 75219. [1](214) 521-5258 th ( Alberta: Sharon Reed, 616 - 24 Ave. SW, Bargerkempke 6, 7103 DZ Winterswijk. Fax 522-5973, E-mail [email protected] Unit #11, Calgary, AB T2S-0K6. ([31](543) 523-353 or: Manu & Sudha Desai, 2938 Dominique Dr., ([1](403) 244-0165 ( NEW ZEALAND Galveston, TX 77551. ([1](409) 744-5708 British Columbia: Vipassana Foundation, see Meditation Centers Utah: Carmen L. Boutet, 867 Princeton Ave., 80 High St., Victoria, BC V8Z-5C7. PORTUGAL Salt Lake City, UT 84105. ([1](250) 479-6641, Fax 744-1461 ( ([1](801) 485-7040 or: Lora & Jerry Roy, 3395 West 8th Ave., Marlies & Martin Lucke, Apartado 101, 8800 Tavira, Algarve. Virginia: Terrell & Diane Jones, Vancouver, BC V6R-1Y3. 9258 Sugar Run Rd., Copper Hill, VA 24079. [1](604) 730-9877, Fax 641-2801 (& Fax [351](81) 971-489 ( ([1](540) 929-4183 E-mail [email protected] ROMANIA ( Dan Tomescu, Str. Piscului, Nr. 16, Bl. 42, Sc. B, E-mail [email protected] Ontario: Alan Nicholson, 60 Shippigan Cres., nd Et. 4, Ap. 50, Sector 4, Bucharest, Cod 75191. Washington: Scott Corley, 22603 42 Place W., North York, ON M2J-2G2. Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043. ([40](1) 675-5856, Fax 322-3925 ([1](416) 502-9264, Fax 502-9265 [1](206) 640-5661 RUSSIA (including all of former U.S.S.R.) ( Quebec: Fondation Vipassana Foundation, C.P. E-mail [email protected] 32083, Les Atriums, Montréal, PQ H2L-4Y5. Vladimir & Svetlana Karpinsky ([1](514) 481-3504, Fax 879-8302 ([7](95) 300-4854 DENMARK E-mail [email protected] Olivier Schori, Det Bla Hus SCANDINAVIA P±li Workshops Badsmandsstreede 43, 1407 Copenhagen. Marianne Eriksdotter, Besmansvägen 8, 16834 This year in India, 10-day P±li workshops Bromma, Sweden. [46](8) 25 59 29 ( [45](32) 959-117 ( will be introduced. The curriculum will draw E-mail [email protected] SPAIN FRANCE Maria Solis, c/ Fernando Diaz de Mendoza 41, exclusively from the words of the Buddha as see Meditation Centers 3°B, 28019 Madrid. ([34](91) 469-0321 found in the Tipiµaka. Emphasis will not be FRENCH POLYNESIA SRI LANKA on formal grammar but rather on direct Tahiti: Pierre Machenaud, see Meditation Centers interpretation of P±li passages as well as B.P. 2386, Papeete 98713. SWITZERLAND ( & Fax [689] 43-26-50 Eva Knöpfel & Kornelius Hug, pronunciation. The selection of passages or: Vipassana Association, B.P. 50335, Pirae. Chi³z, 7428 Obertschappina. will span a broad spectrum of the Tipiµaka as GERMANY ([41](81) 651-27-03 an introduction to this extensive literature, Vipassana-Meditationshaus, TAIWAN and will be integrated with the practice. The Kirchenweg 2, 76332 Bad Herrenalb. see Meditation Centers ([49](7083) 51169, Fax 51328 Dr. Lin Chung-An. Fax [886](3) 425-8073 methods will be simple and accessible. Some GREECE THAILAND selections will include passages from the Kostas Lempidakis, Somatas Rethiminis, see Meditation Centers morning chantings of the 10-day courses. 74100 Krete. [30](831) 41483 ( UNITED KINGDOM The daily schedule will include multiple INDIA see Meditation Centers lessons and four one-hour meditation periods. see Meditation Centers UNITED STATES INDONESIA see Meditation Centers Students should apply well in advance Irene & Gregory Wong, Blok C5, #55, Arizona: Vasanti Deshpande, and arrive only with prior confirmation. Permata Hijau, Jl. Merih Jati, Jakarta. 4707 E. Rockledge Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85044. Work-shops in English will be from Nov. 15 ([62](21) 548-0062 ([1](602) 940-9540 ISRAEL Colorado: Judi Sammons, 1392 - 2600 Rd., to 26, 1998, at Dhamma Bodhi, Bodh Gaya, Eilona Ariel, 69/A Krinitzi St., Ramat-Gan 52423. Hotchkiss, CO 81419. ([1](970) 835-8295 India. Contact: Mr. O.P. Manra, Shanti Dham, ([972](3) 909-1354, Fax 670-2682 Kankarbagh Rd., Patna 800 020, Bihar, E-mail [email protected] India.♦ Vipassana Newsletter Vol. 25, No. 2 Spring, 1998 10 Vipassana Newsletter Subscription Renewal Please return this coupon if you wish to continue receiving the newsletter The Vipassana Newsletter is freely Yes. I wish to continue receiving the newsletter. distributed to anyone who has completed a Vipassana course in the tradition of Sayagyi No. Please remove my name from the mailing list. U Ba Khin as taught by S.N. Goenka. Periodically the Vipassana Newsletter Please put my name back on the mailing list. tries to shorten its mailing list in order to reduce costs. This is done by removing the If the information on the reverse side is incorrect, names of people who do not wish to receive the newsletter and those whose postal make corrections below. Please print clearly. addresses are no longer correct. The Vipassana website at http://www. First name dhamma.org/ contains the on-line edition of the most recent Vipassana Newsletter and many past editions. If you would like to Family name assist the Newsletter in reducing its steadily increasing printing and postage costs, you may choose to download a copy of the Street address / P.O. Box Apt. # Newsletter from this website. You may then, if you wish, have your name removed from the regular postal mailing list by sending an City State/Prov. Zip/postal code e-mail message to your local center or by returning this coupon.♦ Country

Vipassana Newsletter—Financial Overview Although located since 1984 at V.M.C., Publishing Fund V.I.A. Fund Massachusetts, the Vipassana Newsletter operates as Balance, Jan. 1, 1997 Through donations to this fund meditation students an independent entity and is financially separate from $2,542 Revenue: Donations in the West support projects of the Vipassana the center. The Vipassana Newsletter serves as an $5,804 International Academy at Dhamma Giri. In the past, umbrella organization for five distinct fields of activity, Royalties $1,944 these have included the expansion of the V.I.A. each of which is supported by donations to a dedicated Interest $956 pagoda, the purchase of computer and dishwashing fund within the Newsletter account. Total $8,704 equipment, and other Dhamma work throughout Publishing Fund Asia. The Vipassana Newsletter serves meditators Expenses: Printing $5,532 V.R.I. Fund worldwide. The gathering of articles, compilation of Postage $2,865 The Vipassana Research Institute has undertaken schedules, the computer entry, editing, proofreading Office supplies $221 the monumental task of conducting research into the and printing are completed at V.M.C. Copies of the Fees & permits $125 sources of Vipassana meditation in the Tipiµaka, the finished newsletter are then e-mailed or posted to Total $8,743 collection of 84,000 discourses given by the Buddha over 20 countries where translating is done and local Balance, Dec. 31, 1997 and his most eminent disciples, and of cross- information added. The Newsletter is freely $2,503 referencing them on computer. V.R.I. has published distributed everywhere and, in North America, the entire Tipiµaka in the P±li language on CD-ROM supported largely by donations to this fund. Audio-video Fund for free distribution, asking only for shipping costs. For many years $50 per course has been donated Donations are used for expenses incurred in the In conjuction with this ongoing research, V.R.I. also to the Publishing Fund by center trusts and noncenter reproduction of audio and video recordings of produces numerous publications on Vipassana in course organizers in North America. The quarterly Goenkaji’s discourses and instructions for various several languages. issues, however, often operated at a financial deficit, types of courses, and of other recordings as well. The 1997 year end balances for these other Newsletter and to try to remedy this situation a decision was tapes, which are updated periodically, are used by the funds: made in 1995 to publish less frequently. assistant teachers and centers around the world to Audio-video $3,189 In 1997, as in recent years, the Newsletter published conduct courses on Goenkaji’s behalf. These International $7,321 three editions, with an average printing of about recordings are being produced in an ever-increasing V.I.A. $3,555 6,500 copies per issue, for distribution to old students, number of languages. V.R.I. $155 centers and noncenter courses mostly in North International Fund A tax-deductible donation to any of the five America. This fund receives general donations used to help Newsletter funds may be sent by a check in U.S. The Newsletter was sent directly to approximately defray the costs of international projects such as the dollars payable to the Vipassana Newsletter, with a 4,100 American and 1,300 Canadian meditators last Exchange Network which gathers information from notation indicating the fund for which it is intended, year. The cost of producing and delivering an more established centers in order to assist newer at P.O. Box 51, Shelburne Falls, MA 01370-0051, ♦ individual newsletter in the U.S.A. is about $0.50. ones. Also received are specific donations dedicated U.S.A. to the support of center and noncenter courses in certain locations. 11 Vipassana Newsletter

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New Appointments and Responsibilities Announced ¾c±ryas Bhikku teachers Mrs Kailash Magon Mr Ram Singh & Mrs Jagdish Kumari Bhante Buddha Rakshita, India Mrs Damini Bhatia a) Introduction of Vipassana in central Senior Assistant Teachers Mr Indravadan S. Kothadia and state governments. Yema Maw Naing, Myanmar Mr Narayan Chandra Biswas b) Training of Teachers, senior assistant teachers, U Tin Maung Shwe, Myanmar Mr Sarvotham Nayak assistant teachers, trustees, course organizers and Dhamma workers. U Tun Hla, Myanmar Mr Rajendra & Mrs Suvarna Bardiya Mr Satyendra Nath & Mrs Laj Tandon Assistant Teachers, India Mrs Asha Meshram Teaching of P±li. Lt Col Nanak Singh Issar Mr Nishkama Chaitanya Mr Mukundrai & Mrs Vimla Badani Mr Gauri Shankar & Mrs Shanti Devi Mr T. Madhusudan Prasad To serve Dhamma Gaªg± (W. Bengal). Col B.S. & Mrs Sudha Tyagi Dr N.P. Subramanyam Mr Gurmukh & Mrs Hans Sidhu To serve Dhamma Dhaj± (Punjab). Mr Kishanlal Sharma Mr Raghunath Karup Dr Raman Khosla Mrs Sunita Dharmadarshi Mr M.A. Sivasubramaniam Spread of Vipassana among students. Mr Jitendrakumar Thakkar Assistant Teachers, outside India Nirand & Sutthi Chayodom Mrs Kamal R. Gavai Dr Jambal Hatanbaatar, Mongolia To serve Thailand. Mrs Sindhutai Guldekar Daw Myint Tin, Myanmar Paul & Susan Fleischman To introduce Vipassana to professionals Mr P.V. Ganesan U Thaung Pe, Myanmar in the West. Mr R.N. Pillai Dr Lwin Aung, Myanmar Bob & Jenny Jeffs Mrs Renuka Mehta Mr Amnat Apichatvullop, Thailand To serve Dhamma Surabhi (Canada). Mr Namdeo D. Gedam Maria Claxton, Australia Norm & Colleen Schmitz Mrs Nagan N. Bambarde David Lambert, U.K. To serve Dhamma Mah±vana (U.S.A.). Mr Indumati Surendra Shah U.S.A. Bill & Anne Crecelius Mr Uttam & Mrs Parvati Ranchod, To generate awareness of Vipassana in the U.S.A. Mrs Mrudula N. Bharvada Dennis Austin & Louie Tomscha, U.S.A. Mr Pratap D. Thakkar Eric Lindell & Bonnie West, U.S.A. Mrs Godavaridevi Lundia Tauch Uppala (Chheut), U.S.A.