S.N. Goenka

[Orbiting-Awareness]

Hello everyone. I'm curious as to how many people here have taken the Goenka 10 day course, and possibly discuss some of the Pro's and Con's of the course.

[Ben]

Just to be clear, one can select multiple options on the poll.
One can't serve on a course unless one has sat a course (within the last 12-month period).
The Satipatthana Sutta course has a prerequisite of having sat three 10-day courses and having maintained practice and the precepts for 2 years.
The poll doesn't include an option if one has sat or served a long course (20-day, 30-day, Teacher Self Course, 45-day, 60-day, 90-day) The long courses also have pre-requisites which include the maintenance of practice, precepts and the number and type of courses sat and served.

My own experience since 1985:

Sitting
24 x 10-day courses
1 x Satipatthana Sutta course
1 x Teacher Self Course
1 x 20-day course
Numerous shorter courses for old students

Serving
6-7 10-day courses
30-day course
45-day course
Numerous short courses
Group-sit coordinator for 4 years

kind regards

Ben

[cooran]

Yes, I've completed several 10 day courses in Queensland and Tasmania.

[David N. Snyder]

My own experience since 1985:

Sitting
24 x 10-day courses
1 x Satipatthana Sutta course
1 x Teacher Self Course
1 x 20-day course
Numerous shorter courses for old students

Serving
6-7 10-day courses
30-day course
45-day course
Numerous short courses
Group-sit coordinator for 4 years

Hi Ben,

Very impressive!

Out of curiosity, when Goenka-ji does pass away, is there any indication yet who would lead the Vipassana Meditation Centres or be the spiritual head? Of course, hopefully that will be a very, very long time from now so that he can continue his long life and benefit all of us.

[fijiNut]

Since Nov 2008
Sat 3 x 10 days Courses
Organized and served 1 course
(inaugural Fiji Vipassana 10 day Course http://www.fj.dhamma.org/os/2009Course_CorpusCristi_TeachersCollege/ old student user name and password required )

Looking to do Satipatthana Course in Nepal (Dhamma Janani) in December 2010 ..

[Ben]

Hi David

As for my retreat experience - its not as impressive as it appears. Remember, I've been doing this since 1985 which equates to roughly 1 ten day course per year. And there were periods where I could sit and serve more intensely and there was a period in the middle where I completely abandoned my practice.

I know Goenkaji is preparing for his passing. I know he has in mind one of the senior ATs as his successor - but I don't know who that is. He aludes to how things will be after he dies in an interview he did for Tricycle magazine a couple of years ago. (see attached).
I also think he's passing might be sooner than we would all like. He's been suffering from Diabetes for many years and he is getting on (mid to late 80s in age). He's no longer allowed by his doctors to do any overseas travel and he has retired from teaching and can no longer sit his 'Teacher Self Course, and there are some indications that he is preparing for death. Indications of this has been the build of the Global Pagoda, the Yatras to Burma and the "Gratitude Gathering" occuring at the Global Pagoda 9.30AM Sunday (Mumbai Time) to express his gratitude to his first students (pre 1983).
Received this morning:
-----------------------------
Dear Vipassana meditator,
The Gratitude Gathering at the Global Pagoda will be held on Sunday, 17 January, 2010.
A live webcast of this event will start from 9.30 AM Indian Standard Time ( GMT +5.30), 17th January 2010 and continue upto 5 pm. There will be a 2 hour break in the middle where there will be a photo slideshow, some discourses etc. to fill the time gap. Here is a link to a list of the times around the world that correspond to the Jan 17th 9:30am IST start time:
http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/f ... =44&sort=0
You can view the live webcast by visiting
http://www.dhamma.org/os (username-xxxxxxxx; password-xxxxxxxxx). You will find that the topmostlink takes you to an explanation of the event and the webcast links.
The webcast will be recorded and be available for viewing on the Global Pagoda website after the event as well.
Please inform the students and centers in your area of this historic event.
To change your subscription details visit this page
-------------------------------

Hi FijiNut
Good luck with your Satipatthana Sutta course. They're a little different to the ten-day courses as they are 'quieter' without the agitation of new students.
My own aspiration is to sit the 30-day course this year. Work and family permitting, of course!
metta

Ben

[David N. Snyder]

Hi Ben,

Okay, thanks for that report and sorry to hear of Goenka-ji's health problems. Much metta to him!

[retrofuturist]

Greetings,

The aforementioned webcast will also be available at http://www.vridhamma.org/webcast.aspx

Metta,
Retro.

[Cittasanto]

Hi Ben
What is a teacher self course?

[Ben]

Hi Manapa

A self course is a retreat one does on one's own. One spends one third of the time practicing anapana (samatha variant) before moving on to vedananupassana (vipassana) following the same timetable and maintaining the eight precepts. One does it without access to a teacher. The Teacher Self Course (Teacher's Self Course) is when Goenkaji would do his own retreat and he would invite old students to participate in the self course with him. So back when I did the TSC in 1989, it was at the main centre, Dhammagiri at Igatpuri in Maharashtra state. For the vast majority of my time I sat in a meditation cell in the pagoda and just followed the same timetable as a normal course. One didn't actually see Goenkaji as he was in his residence on site, however he was also meditating in a cell in the pagoda with the rest of us while we were there.
Back in 1989, the TSC was 15 days. Up until recently when Goenkaji was still doing his TSC, it was 45 days in duration. The TSC is still being conducted but it is with one of Goenkaji's semior assistant teachers.
The qualification for attending a TSC are:
- Must be a serious old student who is playing or likely to play an important role in the spread of Dhamma.
- Must be practicing Vipassana exclusively (not practicing any other meditation techniques).
- Must be maintaining a daily practice of two hours per day.
- Abstaining from killing, sexual misconduct, intoxicants and keeping other precepts to the best of one's ability.
- Admission subject to Goenkaji's discretion. Above requirements may change annually. Check with local Areas Teacher for current requirements.
I think there's also a requirement that one meets the pre-requisites for the 45 day course as well, which are:
- Must be a serious old student who is committed to this technique.
- Restricted to ATs and those involved with Dhamma service.
- Must have sat at least seven 10-Day courses with Goenkaji or one of his assistant teachers.
- Practice this technique exclusively for at least last 3 years.
- Must have sat at least two 30-Day Courses.
- Maintenance of daily practice of two hours per day for at least 2 years.
- Abstaining from killing, sexual misconduct, intoxicants and keeping other precepts to the best of one's ability for one year minimum.
- At least six months gap since last sat a long course.
- Ten day interval between long course and any other course.
- Spouse must be supportive of partner sitting long course.
- For first 45-Day course, at least one regular 10-Day course must have been sat after first 30-Day course.
- All confirmations provisional until day 30.
kind regards

Ben

[Cittasanto]

Chears it was the teacher part which put me off the scent!
the most I've ever done is 90 days solo retreat, although not with any group.