Mr Man wrote:Ben wrote:danieLion wrote:What's Goenka so scared of?
Nothing. He's ruffled many a feather.
It is just a particular message for a particular audience.
A skillful means?
Ben is there a reconection with the heritage of the tradition happening at the moment? I noticed that in another thread you had mentioned that you had visited IMC rangoon and that you also recomended IMC. Hope you don't mind the question.
Hi Mr Man,
No, I don't mind the question at all.
Yes, I do heartily recommend IMC. I will never get over the boundless metta that I was received, as were senior American teachers who I was traveling with, as 'Dhamma brothers and sisters' by the managers of IMC Yangon. While SN Goenka is my teacher, I feel an intense connection with Sayagi U Ba Khin and other teachers in the tradition inc. Saya Thetgyi, and the Venerable Ledi Sayadaw. My debt of gratitude to them is beyond measure.
You will also find that within the context of SN Goenka's long courses, which are reserved for old students who have completed years of continuous practice and retreat attendance (to sit and serve), the same message is somewhat attenuated. You will also note that in recent years when Goenkaji has returned to Myanmar for pilgrimage, he has paid respects to the Bhikkhu Sangha and has personally distributed lunch dana to hundreds of monks from his family house in Yangon.
I think the connection with the tradition has always been there. At least that has been my observation - however clouded it may be.
Personally, I take my teacher's statements about "this is not Buddhism" with a grain of salt.
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
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