Goenka died today

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dagon
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Re: Goenka died today

Post by dagon »

Ben wrote:
David N. Snyder wrote:I remember in a talk I went to in Los Angeles that he gave many years ago, when someone asked if he was a guru. His response was something like, "avoid the clutches of a guru at all costs."

Greatly admired and famous, yet very humble.
Indeed. I had the opportunity to meet and serve Goenkaji during the 1980s-1990 on a number of times both here in Australia and India. Despite his gregarious personality, he was self-effacing and incredibly humble.
During my first long-course he impressed upon us all the need to develop our own self-reliance on the path, to become independent.
He was a great guy.
kind regards,

Ben
Speaking on my own behalf (but I suspect many hold the same view) the qualities that you speak of are the same ones that we see in you from your conduct on DW. My interest in what he had taught comes from your conduct on the forum. If you will excuse the term – you have served your master very well.

Metta and Karuna to you and the rest of his very large family

paul
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Ben
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Re: Goenka died today

Post by Ben »

dagon wrote:
Ben wrote:
David N. Snyder wrote:I remember in a talk I went to in Los Angeles that he gave many years ago, when someone asked if he was a guru. His response was something like, "avoid the clutches of a guru at all costs."

Greatly admired and famous, yet very humble.
Indeed. I had the opportunity to meet and serve Goenkaji during the 1980s-1990 on a number of times both here in Australia and India. Despite his gregarious personality, he was self-effacing and incredibly humble.
During my first long-course he impressed upon us all the need to develop our own self-reliance on the path, to become independent.
He was a great guy.
kind regards,

Ben
Speaking on my own behalf (but I suspect many hold the same view) the qualities that you speak of are the same ones that we see in you from your conduct on DW. My interest in what he had taught comes from your conduct on the forum. If you will excuse the term – you have served your master very well.

Metta and Karuna to you and the rest of his very large family

paul
Thank you, Paul, for your kind words.
with metta,

Ben
“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.”
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road

Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725

Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar) • Buddhist Global ReliefUNHCR

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Ben
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Re: Goenka died today

Post by Ben »

Please read below this heartening account written by US acariyas, just arrived in Mumbai. You may pass it on to anyone you feel would like to read it.

With all my metta,

Martin

> On Sep 30, 2013, at 10:03 AM, William Crecelius wrote:
>
>> Dear Dhamma Brothers and Sisters,
>>
>> We arrived in Bombay last night and when we woke up this morning we heard of Goenkaji's passing. We thought we would share with you our experience here.
>>
>> Neha, her mom, Anne and I went over to the house this morning as soon as we finished sitting. They had commandeered a large part of the parking lot for people to leave their shoes and then we were ushered into a large room where they had set out chairs and dhurries for people to sit on. We were fortunate to be one of the first groups ushered up the the 13th floor where they had Goenkaji laid out in a stainless steel coffin with a glass top so you could see him inside. It was not the same one as in the picture that is making its way around and it was in a different room. I think that they probably had to shift some things around because so many people were coming. Originally he was in the shrine room which was too small for many people to pay their last respects.
>>
>> We paid our last respects to Goenkaji and moved into the room that you see in the picture I mentioned above. Mattaji, Elaichi Ben, and later Sila Devi were sitting there together and we went up to pay our respects. It was very nice and she recognized Anne and I and gave us a big smile.
>>
>> It felt very nice there and we stayed for a short while. I had a chance to talk to Sham and he told me that Goenkaji had taken dinner and was in a very jovial mood afterwards. Sometime after dinner he took rest and didn't feel well and the doctor taking his blood pressure said it started dropping. It went down, down, down right to zero. Then it popped back up a couple of times and then nothing. Mataji, Sham and some other brothers and family members were there and it was all very peaceful he said. It was about 10:40 or 10:45 pm Bombay time.
>>
>> This morning the phone was ringing off the hook for a short while here, but after that it has all been very quiet. At the house all those that came were very peaceful and quiet. There were no emotional acts apart from a few who were crying. As one looked around the waiting hall many people were meditating. It was very nice.
>>
>> For many of us he was so much a part of our lives, from when we were very young, and this is the end of an era. A new one is beginning and I think he left us with the tools to take over and move forward.
>>
>> Metta, Bill and Anne
“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.”
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road

Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725

Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar) • Buddhist Global ReliefUNHCR

e: [email protected]..
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bodom
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Re: Goenka died today

Post by bodom »

:candle:

:anjali:
Liberation is the inevitable fruit of the path and is bound to blossom forth when there is steady and persistent practice. The only requirements for reaching the final goal are two: to start and to continue. If these requirements are met there is no doubt the goal will be attained. This is the Dhamma, the undeviating law.

- BB
pegembara
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Re: Goenka died today

Post by pegembara »

:candle:
:bow:
And what is right speech? Abstaining from lying, from divisive speech, from abusive speech, & from idle chatter: This is called right speech.
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Ben
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Re: Goenka died today

Post by Ben »

One of SN Goenka's students has shared some photos of the funeral procession yesterday.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wobblyturk ... 091871045/

kind regards,

Ben
“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.”
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road

Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725

Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar) • Buddhist Global ReliefUNHCR

e: [email protected]..
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Weakfocus
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Re: Goenka died today

Post by Weakfocus »

A youtube user 'Harshal Modi' has uploaded certain videos of the funeral procession.

There are also some images and updates on twitter.


An article: ‘Vipassana was like coming home’
Zarina Mehta Screwvala wrote: On September 29, Vipassana acharya S.N. Goenkaji passed away. He died as he lived, aware and smiling. It is impossible for any student to express the sense of gratitude one feels towards their teacher. I wrote this as his funeral procession was taking place, spending this time practising Vipassana and co-ordinating some details for the Vipassana PR committee I'm on. I know he will approve.
rohana
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Re: Goenka died today

Post by rohana »

Truly a sad day indeed. He did so much for the promulgation of Vipassanā.

Aniccā vata Saṅkhārā!

:candle:
"Delighting in existence, O monks, are gods and men; they are attached to existence, they revel in existence. When the Dhamma for the cessation of existence is being preached to them, their minds do not leap towards it, do not get pleased with it, do not get settled in it, do not find confidence in it. That is how, monks, some lag behind."
- It. p 43
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Ben
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Re: Goenka died today

Post by Ben »

The ashes of the late S.N Goenka will be scattered in three places in the Irrawaddy River in Burma (Myanmar). The ashes are scheduled to arrive at Yangon International Airport, on Monday October 7 at 2:00pm by air from India.

The ashes will be taken to Dhamma Joti Meditation Centre in Yangon, in a special vehicle decorated with flowers. People will be allowed to pay respects overnight.

The next morning the ashes will be taken to Myit Kyi Nar (Capital City of Kachin State, Northern Myanmar) by air. The first scattering site will be at the Myit Sone (beginning point) of the Irrawaddy River. On Wednesday October 9, the remaining ashes will be taken to Mandalay, Goenkaji’s birthplace, and scattered into the Irrawaddy River there.

On the evening of the same day, the remaining ashes will be brought back to Yangon for an overnight public tribute in Dhamma Joti Meditation Centre.

The final scattering will be by boat in the morning on Thursday October 10 at the entrance of the Yangon River.
Sitagu Sayadaw will take care of S.N. Goenka final journey toward Ayeyarwaddy river, over 500 monks and ten of thousands of followers with 10 big ships will follow final spread of Ashes in the river on 10th October, the place where he was born.
Metta
“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.”
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road

Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725

Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar) • Buddhist Global ReliefUNHCR

e: [email protected]..
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Ben
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Re: Goenka died today

Post by Ben »

The ashes of SN Goenka at the Global Pagoda, Mumbai, yesterday.
1377443_634393266581490_672182785_n.jpg
1377443_634393266581490_672182785_n.jpg (58.17 KiB) Viewed 6182 times
“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.”
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road

Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725

Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar) • Buddhist Global ReliefUNHCR

e: [email protected]..
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Ben
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Re: Goenka died today

Post by Ben »

960178_518158344936558_2056812038_n.jpg
960178_518158344936558_2056812038_n.jpg (72.46 KiB) Viewed 6135 times
The scattering of Goenkaji's ashes in the Yangon River, covered by Myanmar media, today.
with metta,

Ben
“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.”
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road

Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725

Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar) • Buddhist Global ReliefUNHCR

e: [email protected]..
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Ben
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Re: Goenka died today

Post by Ben »

Vipassana meditation master’s ashes scattered in Yangon, Ayeyawady rivers

English text and photos:
http://elevenmyanmar.com/national/3675- ... ady-rivers

Burmese tv coverage:

“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.”
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road

Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725

Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar) • Buddhist Global ReliefUNHCR

e: [email protected]..
Sanjay PS
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Re: Goenka died today

Post by Sanjay PS »

...and it was on the 29th . morning while dropping them to school , when our little girl , exclaimed to her little brother ; look, look , the skies and clouds above are appearing so different . i glanced up through the car window , and indeed so , the vastness of the blue and the etching of the clouds were rarified in its purity .

i am so glad that i was not the one who noticed the difference , probably then making me biased on this observation.

Also on the 25th. of May this year , there was this deep quake in the womb of Mother Earth , which left sesimologists and scientists all across the word astonished , scrambling to find an explanation. The earth quaked deep under ( at about 380 miles inwards ), making the plates tremble and slide over the other at a speed of 14 times of that super sonic . (http://phys.org/news/2013-09-seismologi ... quake.html)

One can well imagine with that much pressure and weight bearing down , the speeds measured go beyond comprehension .

sanjay
The Path of Dhamma

The path of Dhamma is no picnic . It is a strenuous march steeply up the hill . If all the comrades desert you , Walk alone ! Walk alone ! with all the Thrill !!

U S.N. Goenka
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appicchato
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Re: Goenka died today

Post by appicchato »

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jay-micha ... r,buddhism

Thinking (some of) the comments here may help some to get an idea of the benefits this great man helped to propagate... :candle:
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