Vipassana Newsletter In the tradition of Sayagyi U Ba Khin as taught by S.N. Goenka Vol. 27, No. 1 March, 2000 386 Colrain-Shelburne Rd., Shelburne MA 01370, U.S.A. Published three times yearly Words of Dhamma Patir³padesav±so ca, A suitable abode, pubbe ca katapuññat±, the merit of past good deeds, atta-samm±paºidhi ca right aspirations for oneself eta½ maªgalamuttama½. this is the highest welfare. Maªgalasutta Pilgrimage to the Land of Dhamma The following article by S. N. Goenka was five continents come to Yangon. After Another destination for the pilgrims specially written for the Vipassana News- participating in an International Con- was the village of Dalla across the Yangon letter. Goenkaji recently visited Myanmar ference at the Dhamma Joti center in that River, where a center still exists estab- with over 750 foreign meditators. city, many then set out on the pilgrimage. lished by Saya Thetgyi, the first lay teacher My revered teacher Sayagyi U Ba Khin In spite of all the efforts made to provide of Vipassana. Further from Yangon is the ardently wished that Myanmar repay its proper facilities, the pilgrims had to face famous Kyaiktiyo Hill, where a pagoda debt to India by returning the invaluable hard traveling. Still, these Dhamma sons stands atop a balancing rock on the edge jewel of Vipassana to the land where it and daughters always had smiles on their of a cliff. After the exertion of climbing had originated more than two millennia faces and a reverential attitude toward my the hill, all tiredness was removed by before. He was confident that there were motherland, Myanmar, in their hearts. I meditating in an atmosphere charged with many in India with immense p±ramis who was deeply touched to see this. the pure vibrations of Dhamma. would wholeheartedly accept Vipassana Since ancient times, people have gone The pilgrims proceeded northward to and would join in the effort to spread it on pilgrimage to India from Myanmar and Mandalay. There they meditated at the around the world. He was also confident other countries where the Teaching of the Dhamma Mandapa center and the that there were many in other countries Buddha has been preserved. But this was Mahamuni Pagoda, and visited the Sagaing with p±ramis who were waiting for this the first time in history that hundreds from Hills where for centuries Vipassana has jewel, who would feel blessed to obtain it India and around the world went on a been practiced. At the monastery of their and would contribute in different ways to pilgrimage to Myanmar. Dhamma brother, Sithagu Sayadaw help its spread. This is exactly what The pilgrims meditated together with Nyanissara, they were received with great happened. Sayagyis Dhamma wish is large numbers of their local Dhamma kindness and hospitality. being fulfilled. brothers and sisters at Dhamma Joti. The The pilgrims visited sites associated With the coming of the Sayagyi big Vipassana family gathered as well to with Ledi Sayadaw, who was respon-sible Centenary Year at the beginning of the meditate at Shwedagon, the largest and for the rebirth and spread of Vipassana in new millennium, a similar Dhamma wish most revered pagoda in Myanmar, which modern times. They went to Monywa and arose in my mind: that meditators from enshrines hair relics of the Buddha. With India express their gratitude to Myanmar, the kind permission of the management CONTENTS the country that returned Vipassana to and trustees, entry was permitted in the their homeland, and that they be joined by early morning and late evening, when the Pilgrimage to the Land of Dhamma ................ 1 the hundreds of thousands of meditators Pagoda gates are normally closed. Two Pilgrims Impressions of Myanmar ........ 4 around the world who have benefited from Goenkaji Attends World Economic Forum .... 5 Meditators sat at the International News .................................................................... 6 Vipassana. In fulfillment of this wish, a Meditation Center in northern Yangon, Conference in Massachusetts ............................ 6 pilgrimage was planned to the Dhamma where I learned Vipassana at the feet of New Vipassana Centers ..................................... 7 country of Myanmar. Despite short notice, Sayagyi. For the welcome they received, The Spread of Dhamma: Latin America, it was hoped that 200 to 250 meditators Indonesia, Iran, China, Spain, Israel ............... 8 we are grateful to the teacher there, my New Responsibilities & Appointments ............. 9 from India and abroad might take part. Dhamma brother U Tin Yi, and to Mother Instead, it was a pleasant surprise to see Sayama. 750 meditators from 32 countries and all 1 the nearby Ledi village, where he was born and taught Dhamma, and they also saw the hillside cave where he used to meditate. In addition, in Kyaukse they visited the monastery of Webu Sayadaw, a revered monk of recent years who gave so much encouragement and inspiration to Sayagyi. A few of the pilgrims went to Mogok to meditate at the two Vipassana centers there, Dhamma Ratana and Dhamma Makuta. In this city famed for its gems of ruby, they experienced the gem of Dhamma in all its splendor. The return journey southward led through the historic city of Pagan, ancient capital and city of pagodas, which left an indelible impres-sion. All arrived back in Yangon feeling joyful though tired by the journey. Since Pagoda at Sayagyi U Ba Khins International Meditation Center in Yangon then I have been receiving letters from pilgrims telling about their happy experiences. I am pleased to see so many enchanted by my motherland. Their words recall to mind an important incident in my life. When I came to India in 1969 to begin teaching Vipassana, the Government of Myanmar kindly issued me a passport, something almost impossible to obtain then. This allowed me to hold the first Vipassana course in India, with my parents participating. The Ganges of Dhamma started flowing all over the country after that. From the very first year, many foreigners participated in Vipassana courses along- side Indians. After their courses they entreated me to come help their families, friends and others who could not visit India to benefit from the munificent Dhamma. In doing so they were simply voicing Sayagyis wishes. But I was unable to accede to them: the passport I had received in Myanmar was valid for travel only to India, not to any other country. I sought endorsements for other countries but government policy made it impossible to grant my request. Finally I made a Dhamma resolution: if the policy did not change even after I had spent ten years serving in India, I would apply for Indian citizenship and travel to teach Vipassana in other countries on an Indian passport. Ten years passed; I obtained Indian citizenship and an Indian passport, and was able to set forth on a Meditation hall at Saya Thetgyis center Dhamma journey abroad. 2 At this point I learned that the Myanmar government would not give an entry visa to any former citizen who had changed his nationality after leaving Myanmar on a Myanmar passport. This news was extremely painful for me. I did not want to be prevented from entering my motherland. On the other hand, the momentous duty of Dhamma D³ta Dhamma envoy beckoned. Therefore I had given up citizenship of the country of my birth, dear to my heart. I consoled myself with the thought that perhaps this was the working of Dhamma, so that both the countries of origin of Vipassana India and the protector country of Myanmar should receive credit for the spread of Vipassana around the world. This is what is happening. Nevertheless, the longing repeatedly arose in my mind to return somehow to my motherland. I wanted to meet my Dhamma Goenkaji and Mataji lead a group sitting at the magnificent Shwedagon Pagoda brothers and senior monks to gain further strength and knowledge of Dhamma. I Tin Yi, U Ba Pho and U Ko Lay. I was very land and its inhabitants! When I hear the was also confident that sooner or later the fortunate to be able to pay respects to the comments of the pilgrims about the people Myanmar government would grant me Venerable Mingun Sayadaw, and receive of Myanmar, my mind is filled with delight. entry since it knew that I had changed my blessings and guidance from him. Later, Blessed is the land of Myanmar, which nationality only to serve the Dhamma, not when I would remember my experience of preserved in its pure form the technique for any personal, political or commercial Dhamma vibrations in Myanmar and the of Vipassana for more than 2,000 years. gain. This Dhamma service was increasing strength I derived there, I would attribute We are grateful to Thailand, Sri Lanka, the prestige not only of India but also of these to my natural attraction toward my Cambodia and Laos along with Myanmar, Myanmar. Sooner or later I would certainly motherland and my delight in returning as these five countries preserved the words get the opportunity to go back to my there after so long. But now on this of the Buddha. But Myanmar alone motherland. pilgrimage, my Dhamma children had the preserved the beneficent practice of Dhamma is truly powerful. The oppor- same experience; they strengthened my Vipassana. If the Bhikkhu Sangha of this tunity indeed came when the Myanmar conviction that my motherland is charged country had not kept the practice of government invited me to Myanmar to with Dhamma vibrations, giving boundless Vipassana alive, today the entire world talk to senior monks about my Dhamma joy to any meditator who goes there. would have been in darkness for want of work.