Was The Buddha a Pessimist?

Sri Satyanarayanji Goenka was born in Mandalay, Myanmar in 1924. Although he topped the list of all successful candidates in the whole of Myanmar in the tenth class he could not continue his studies further because of financial constraints of his family. At a very early age he set up many commercial and industrial institutions and earned fabulous wealth. He also established many social and cultural centres. Because of tension he became a victim of migraine, which could not be cured by doctors of Myanmar and of other countries in the world. Then some one suggested him to take a course of Vipassana. Vipassana has done well not only to him but it has also been benefiting many others.

He learned Vipassana from Sayagyi U Ba Khin in 1955. Sitting at the feet of his teacher he practices it for fourteen years He also studied the words of the Buddha during this period. He came to India in 1969 and conducted the first vipassana course in Mumbai. After that a series of courses were held. In 1976 the first residential course of vipassana was held in Igatpuri and the first centre of vipassana was established here. Up till now 167 centres have been established all over the world. New centres also are coming up. At these centres 1200 trained teachers teach vipassana in 59 languages of the world. Not only ten- day courses are conducted at these centres but also at some centres 20-day, 30-day, 45-day and 60-day courses are conducted. All courses are free of charge. The expenses on food and accommodation etc. are met by the self-willed Dana given by those who benefited from the course. Seeing its benevolent nature vipassana courses are held not only for the inmates of jails and school children in the world but also for police personnels, judges, government officers etc.

"Was the Buddha a Pessimist" is a translation and adaptation of the Hindi "Kyaé Buddha Dukkhavadi Thee" first published in Nepal in May 2000. In it, Acharya S. N. Goenka, World Teacher of Vipassana, has explained the reasons for fundamental misunderstandings that have evolved about the Buddha and his teaching and has resolved them with lucid examples. These misunderstandings developed when the Buddha’s teachings were lost to India and most of the world. This was largely due to the disappearance of the applied teaching (the technique of Vipassana). But later even the original words of the Buddha (Pali canonical literature) were less accessible. Thus, misconceptions grew and became firmly entrenched.

Fortunately, this liberating technique was preserved in its pristine purity in Myanmar (Burma) by an unbroken teacher-student tradition. With its revival in India and the world, it is again shedding light on the efficacy of Buddha’s real teaching, and bringing great benefit to the humanity. Further, the entire Pali literature along with the commentaries, sub-commentaries, and sub-sub-commentaries has been published and made available in India and elsewhere around the world. A CD-ROM containing this literature has been produced with various facilities for research.

This publication will be of interest for those who are practising the applied teaching of the Buddha as well as for those who are well acquainted with the prevailing views of the past.

The translator and editors are solely responsible for any errors in the present edition.

May all beings be happy!

**Contents and Sample Pages**