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 continents come to Yangon. After partici- Another destination for the pilgrims was specially written for the Vipassana News- pating in an International Conference at the the village of Dalla across the Yangon River, letter. Goenkaji recently visited Myanmar Dhamma Joti center in that city, many then where a center still exists established by with over 750 foreign meditators. set out on the pilgrimage. Saya Thetgyi, the first lay teacher of My revered teacher Sayagyi U Ba Khin In spite of all the efforts made to provide 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 of jewel of Vipassana to the land where it had and daughters always had smiles on their a cliff. After the exertion of climbing the originated more than two millennia before. faces and a reverential attitude toward my hill, all tiredness was removed by meditating He was confident that there were many in motherland, Myanmar, in their hearts. I was in an atmosphere charged with the pure India with immense p±ramis who would deeply touched to see this. vibrations of Dhamma. wholeheartedly accept Vipassana and Since ancient times, people have gone The pilgrims proceeded northward to would join in the effort to spread it around on pilgrimage to India from Myanmar and Mandalay. There they meditated at the the world. He was also confident that there other countries where the Teaching of the Dhamma Mandapa center and the Maha- were many in other countries with p±ramis Buddha has been preserved. But this was muni Pagoda, and visited the Sagaing Hills who were waiting for this jewel, who would the first time in history that hundreds from where for centuries Vipassana has been feel blessed to obtain it and would India and around the world went on a practiced. At the monastery of their contribute in different ways to help its pilgrimage to Myanmar. Dhamma brother, Sithagu Sayadaw spread. This is exactly what happened. The pilgrims meditated together with Nyanissara, they were received with great Sayagyis Dhamma wish is being fulfilled. large numbers of their local Dhamma kindness and hospitality. With the coming of the Sayagyi Centen- brothers and sisters at Dhamma Joti. The The pilgrims visited sites associated with ary Year at the beginning of the new big Vipassana family gathered as well to Ledi Sayadaw, who was responsible for the millennium, a similar Dhamma wish arose meditate at Shwedagon, the largest and most rebirth and spread of Vipassana in modern in my mind: that meditators from India revered pagoda in Myanmar, which times. They went to Monywa and the nearby express their gratitude to Myanmar, the enshrines hair relics of the Buddha. With country that returned Vipassana to their the kind permission of the management and CONTENTS homeland, and that they be joined by the trustees, entry was permitted in the early hundreds of thousands of meditators around Pilgrimage to the Land of Dhamma ................ 1 morning and late evening, when the Pagoda Two Pilgrims Impressions of Myanmar ........ 4 the world who have benefited from gates are normally closed. Meditators sat at Goenkaji Attends World Economic Forum .... 5 Vipassana. In fulfillment of this wish, a the International Meditation Center in News .................................................................... 6 pilgrimage was planned to the Dhamma northern Yangon, where I learned Vipas- Conference in Massachusetts ............................ 6 country of Myanmar. Despite short notice, New Vipassana Centers ..................................... 7 sana at the feet of Sayagyi. For the welcome The Spread of Dhamma: Latin America, it was hoped that 200 to 250 meditators they received, we are grateful to the teacher Indonesia, Iran, China, Spain, Israel ............... 8 from India and abroad might take part. there, my Dhamma brother U Tin Yi, and to New Responsibilities & Appointments ............. 9 Instead, it was a pleasant surprise to see 750 Mother Sayama. meditators from 32 countries and all five 1 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 impression. All arrived back in Yangon feeling joyful though tired by the journey. Since then I have been receiving letters from pilgrims Pagoda at Sayagyi U Ba Khins International Meditation Center in Yangon 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 partici- pating. The Ganges of Dhamma started flowing all over the country after that. From the very first year, many foreigners participated in Vipassana courses alongside 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 Meditation hall at Saya Thetgyis center 2 passport, and was able to set forth on a Dhamma journey abroad. 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 Goenkaji and Mataji lead a group sitting at the magnificent Shwedagon Pagoda motherland. I wanted to meet my Dhamma brothers and senior monks to gain further The entire atmosphere was charged with An Indian pilgrim writes, This tour was strength and knowledge of Dhamma. I was the vibrations of Dhamma, and I received no less than a tour of the celestial realm. also confident that sooner or later the immense Dhamma strength. I was so The influence of Dhamma is evident all Myanmar government would grant me entry delighted to meet my Dhamma brothers U over Myanmar. People there are so innocent since it knew that I had changed my Tin Yi, U Ba Pho and U Ko Lay. I was very and serene. We in India cannot even imagine nationality only to serve the Dhamma, not fortunate to be able to pay respects to the that people could be like this. for any personal, political or commercial Venerable Mingun Sayadaw, and receive Who would not be elated to read and hear gain. This Dhamma service was increasing blessings and guidance from him. Later, such comments about ones motherland and the prestige not only of India but also of when I would remember my experience of its inhabitants! When I hear the comments Myanmar. Sooner or later I would certainly Dhamma vibrations in Myanmar and the of the pilgrims about the people of get the opportunity to go back to my strength I derived there, I would attribute Myanmar, my mind is filled with delight. motherland. these to my natural attraction toward my Blessed is the land of Myanmar, which Dhamma is truly powerful. The oppor- motherland and my delight in returning preserved in its pure form the technique of tunity indeed came when the Myanmar there after so long. But now on this Vipassana for more than 2,000 years. We government invited me to Myanmar to talk pilgrimage, my Dhamma children had the are grateful to Thailand, Sri Lanka, to senior monks about my Dhamma work.