When Goenka Goes Hardcore (meditation)

Dhr. Seven, Wisdom Quarterly ANALYSIS

Goenka, which is named after the person who popularized it, is a style of Vipassana (insight) meditation for lay practitioners. This approach to Buddhist meditation became famous for transformative, free, no-nonsense 10-day retreats. While this is what Goenka is known for, it in fact goes much deeper: There are longer and more intense programs.

Goenka sets aside the Buddha's style of gradual instruction -- which moves from virtue, to calm, to progressive stages of intensified concentration and stillness, to heart/mind purification, to insight practice -- applying a jhana-purified mind to 14 exercises in what is arguably his Buddha's most famous discourse. This sutra, the Four Foundations of Mindfulness (satipatthana), directs practitioners to a careful analysis of reality that results in liberating insight.

Goenka, which is based on the teachings of U Ba Khin (a Burmese lay teacher), is a "dry insight" mode of practice. It is dry because it is aimed at nothing but an analysis of reality without the crucial support of a jhana-purified mind. Instead, intense or right-concentration (defined by the Buddha as the first four jhanas or "absorptions") is co-developed alongside the insight exercises. It is very difficult, but if done correctly there is some-times "momentary" or access-concentration that serves as an unreliable makeshift support for insight-practice.

No one likes to say this, but it is not real Vipassana until one is directly seeing and analyzing at the level of rupa-kalapas (elements of materiality), which are impossible to see or discern without concentration to the degree of absorption. This is according to Goenka and U Ba Khin's own tradition based on Buddhism's oldest, unbroken meditation lineage. Nevertheless, people insist less concentration is necessary for insight.

While most people get something out of meditation in any case, few can be expected to experience actual vipassana. Therefore, one does not hear of anyone becoming enlightened at a Goenka retreat. But spiritual and emotional transformations are common. And the understanding gained at even a 10-day retreat brings people back.

It should be noted that there are Buddhist meditation traditions today that do produce enlightened individuals. Attainment is so rare that people have come to assume it's impossible nowadays. And thinking it impossible to achieve today, people don't even try. They scoff at the idea. Wisdom Quarterly would scoff as well -- if we had not met such noble individuals and become convinced of the authenticity of their attainments in concentration and insight.

What then is the use of regarding Goenka as authentic Buddhist meditation? It is authentic in the sense that its teachers did not invent the arduous "dry insight" method. It was developed out of the commentaries based on exceptions in the texts. Buddhism is a gradual teaching.

But some practitioners, drawn to the practice by some historical affinity, move along the Path much more quickly. What are the characteristics of those individuals, rare even in the Buddha's time?

1. They are naturally inclined to virtue.
2. They are averse to immorality.
3. They are intuitive (artistic) rather than intellectual.
4. They are happy or content by "default" (which puts most of us out of the running).
5. They are easygoing or what one might call childlike (we're definitely out).
6. They are easily induced into states of calm (slightly autistic, hypnotic, suggestible, spacey, personable but easily withdrawn into themselves). (There may be hope for us yet).
7. They are fearful and prone to worry, as well as loving, innocent, vulnerable, and kind.
8. They are nonjudgmental, liberal, and open minded.
9. They are giving and charitable by nature (one meaning of liberal).
10. They are honest to a fault.
11. They are (it is said) accustomed to practicing Dharma from previous experience.

[If this describes you or someone interested in attaining enlightenment in this very life, contact Wisdom Quarterly: American Buddhist Journal directly for help.]

All Goenka courses are run solely on a donation basis. All expenses are met by donations from those who, having completed a course and experienced the benefits of Vipassana, wish to give others the same opportunity. Neither the teacher nor the assistant teachers receive monetary compensation. They volunteer their time at courses. Vipassana is thus offered free from commercialization. While famous for this worldwide network of 10-day courses, there are other more intense retreats available.

10-day Courses are open to everyone who applies and wishes to commit to this style of meditation practice for the duration of the retreat. Successful completion involves following course rules of conduct (sila), sitting through taped lectures, and meeting with assistant teachers.

Special 10-day Courses are open only to serious Old Students committed to this technique who have completed a minimum of five 10-day courses, one Satipatthana Sutra course, given Dharma Service at least one 10-day course, and have been practicing regularly for at least two years.

Bilingual Courses are courses which are taught in two languages. All students will hear daily meditation instructions in both languages. The evening discourses will be heard separately.

Old Student Short Courses (1-3 days) are for any student who has completed the 10-day course. All Old Students are welcome to apply to attend these courses, including those where it has been some time since their last course. "Old students" are those who have completed a 10-day Vipassana Meditation course with S.N. Goenka [usually by video] or his assistant teachers. Old Students have the opportunity to provide Dharma Service at such courses.

Satipatthana Sutra Courses [Four Foundations of Mindfulness] have the same timetable and discipline as the 10-day course. The difference is that in the taped evening discourses, the Four Foundations of Mindfulness sutra is carefully examined. This is the principal text in which systematically explains the technique of Vipassana. These courses are open to serious Old Students who have completed at least three 10-day courses, have not been practicing any other meditation techniques since their last 10-day course, have been practicing this Vipassana technique for at least one year, and who are trying to maintain the Five Precepts in their daily lives.

20-day Courses are open only to serious Old Students committed to this technique who have completed a minimum of five 10-day courses, one Satipatthana Sutra course, given Dharma Service at at least one 10-day course, and have been practicing regularly for at least two years. Applications must be submitted well in advance.

30-day Courses are open only to serious Old Students committed to this technique who have completed a minimum of six 10-day courses (one since 20-day course), one 20-day course, one Satipatthana Sutra course, and have been practicing regularly for at least two years.

45-day Courses are open only to persons involved in Dharma Service and assistant teachers who have completed a minimum of seven 10-day courses (one since 30-day course), two 30-day courses, one Satipatthana Sutra course, and have been practicing regularly for at least three years.

60-day Courses are open only to persons involved in Dharma Service and assistant teachers who have completed at least two 45-day courses, practicing this technique for at least five years, maintenance of daily practice (two hours per day) for at least two years, abstaining from killing, sexual misconduct, intoxicants, and keeping other precepts to the best of one's ability for a minimum of one year with least a six month gap since last sat a long course; 10 day interval between long course and any other course; course restricted to assistant teachers and those deeply involved with Dharma Service.

• Sample course schedule