Chronicles of Dhamma (Selected Articles from the Vipassana Newsletter)

About the Authors Acharaya Shri S. N. Goenka & Smt. Illaichidevi

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 someone 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 practiced 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 165 centres have been established all over the world. New centres also are coming up. At these centres 1200 trained teachers teach vipassana in 55 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 is held not only for the inmates of jails and school children in the world but also for police personnels, judges, government officers etc.

Introduction The Vipassana Newsletter plays a unique role in the spread of Dhamma around the world. For old students in this tradition, the Newsletter provides a valued meeting-point, a living connection to the Dhamma community with its special combination of inspiration and information. Words of the Buddha are quoted alongside feedback from course servers; local activities are reported alongside international developments; lead articles are presented by S.N. Goenka and others about aspects of the teaching and its practical application in our lives.

`Chronicles of Dhamma' presents a selection of articles taken from the Vipassana Newsletter over the years in English. The sources for the material are two-fold: the edition published in India and the International edition published in North America. The articles themselves have been selected to reflect different aspects of the spread of Vipassana meditation in recent times. They are organised in broad thematic groups: Vipassana Teachings; Messenger of Dhamma; In the Footsteps of the Buddha; Applied Dhamma; The Spread of Dhamma. The articles are reprinted here exactly as they appeared originally (or with some editing), it has not been possible to standardise every variation in spelling, punctuation or usage.

Massive changes in communications technology over the past 40 years since S.N. Goenka left Myanmar and began his worldwide teaching mission on behalf of Sayagyi U Ba Khin have transformed the publishing and sharing of information about Vipassana. Through translation the Newsletter and local variations of it are now available in many languages, supporting the growing numbers of Vipassana meditators globally in their practice and service.

This compilation spans a period from the earliest improvised small Vipassana courses in India to established meditation centres by the score, increasing numbers of courses across five continents and the incomparable achievement of the Global Pagoda. It samples the successes, struggles and set-backs along the way. Looking back through the archives of the Vipassana Newsletter, we see the remarkable story of the revival of Vipassana in the modern age unfolding and illuminated. May this collection of Dhamma articles give confidence and strength to present and future generations walking on this Noble Path. The history and significance of the International and Dhamma Giri editions of the Vipassana Newsletter have been well described in the following article.

**Contents and Sample Pages**