Address to the Centre Teachers and Co-ordinator Area Teachers
by Most Compassionate Sayagyi U Goenka (Principal Teacher of Vipassana)
(from the Vipassana Institute Newsletter, December 2012)
" Dear Dhamma Sons and Daughters,
My sincere Blessings to all of you!
It's more than 50 years now since I started teaching Vipassana, first in Myanmar and then in India since 1969, as per Sayagyi's wish. He gave me serious training and as you all know, as per his strong wish, I could re-establish Vipassana in India and also could spread it in the entire world with the help of you all. We all have succeeded in fulfilling Sayagyi's dream and have supported the Second Buddha Sasana to the best of our capacity.
I remember the day when Sayagyi U Ba Khin told me – "Goenka! You are not going to India but I am going to repay the debt that Myanmar owes to India. Dhamma is going with you." He sent me without any committee above me.
I had the benefit of his deep understanding of Dhamma and his profound guidance that I sincerely followed throughout. I always took his advice whenever I needed. Though I had that invaluable advantage only for the three initial years, his profound blessings and guidance are very much with me till today even after he passed away.
I have been serving Dhamma for more than 50 years, independently, as per the guidance I received from my teacher. I wish that all of you may carry on the Dhamma work, with the same zeal and responsibility as I did and work for preserving Pure Dhamma and spreading it more and more for the benefit of people of the world.
You are now self-dependent. However, you may ask my advice whenever you need. My blessings will be always with you later also.
Dhamma has spread in the whole world, and so, I have divided the responsibilities centre- wise and area-wise. I have appointed a Center Teacher for each individual centre to look after Dhamma work. Co-ordinator Area Teachers are appointed to assist Center Teachers and to spread Dhamma in respective areas.
Attached is a list of Worldwide Center Teachers, Co-ordinator Area Teachers and their defined responsibilities. It also includes guidelines about this newly formed world-wide organization.
Though you are self-dependent now, I expect all of you to have deep respect for your seniors. Center Teachers will be in-charge of respective Center and Area Teachers will guide them with their profound experience whenever need arises along with their main responsibility of spreading Dhamma in their respective areas.
I also wish that those of you, who have not participated in a 45-day course or 60-day course till now, may do so as early as possible, as per your convenience.
With all the best wishes for progressing on the path of Dhamma.
My abundant metta will always be with you all!
With Deep Metta
- S. N. Goenka "
Responsibilities assigned by the Principal Teacher Sayagyi U Goenka:
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Sayagyi U Goenka is the Principal Teacher and compassionate guide to practice of Vipassana meditation as taught by the Sammasambuddhas - for progress in Dhamma to end of all suffering.
With the Dhamma strength, faculties and penetrating wisdom gained with extra-ordinary purity of mind, Sayagyi U Goenka prepared the Dhamma legacy of teaching of Vipassana to continue for centuries ahead.
In his lifetime, he ensured Vipassana students worldwide received the teaching without his physical presence. His physical absence through
death is only a continuing process in Dhamma service, not the end.
" You are now self-dependent.....My blessings will be always with you later also."
Sayagyi U Goenka had briefly given trial to options such as a worldwide council of teachers. This global council of teachers was discarded after many of those appointed temporarily had begun to increase their ego than reduce it.
There is no over-seeing central worldwide committee of teachers, now or for the future.
Each Vipassana centre is an island of Dhamma. Each individual Vipassana meditator is an island of Dhamma.
There are two Principal Teachers: Sayagyi U S.N Goenka and Mataji. There is no other Principal Teacher.
Any individual or group of individuals undertaking a harmful course of action - such as 1) trying to re-institute the global committee of teachers, 2) over-stepping the boundaries of responsibility as stated in the December 2012 issue of the Vipassana newsletter - are acting in defiance of the last and lasting legacy of the Principal Teacher Sayagyi U Goenka.
Any individual or group of individuals refusing to serve according to guidance and instructions of Sayagyi U Goenka are requested to immediately resign from any Dhamma responsibility assigned by him. Then they are free to do whatever they deem to be right - after they have left the
Dhamma organization and dissociated themselves from the
Dhamma centres committed to serving under the guidance and instructions of Sayagyi U Goenka.
All Co-Ordinator Area Teachers entrusted with the Dhamma legacy have been entrusted to ensure there is no discord, disharmony and division - as is bound to be if any individual or group of individuals decide they know what is best, not the Principal Teacher Sayagyi U Goenka.
Such an individual or group of individuals persisting in actions contrary to guidance and instructions of the Dhamma father, may leave or be asked to leave from the
worldwide Vipassana organization and
Vipassana centres that are committed to serving under guidance and instructions of Sayagyi U Goenka.
Decisions of Dhamma service and organizational changes needed may be taken through objective discussions and decisions of authorized teachers, meetings and choice of the majority.
May there be no discord, disharmony and division among all in Dhamma service.
May all beings be liberated.
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To whomsoever it may concern:
You have forgotten the infinity of benefits gained; you have forgotten the enormous selfless sacrifices made for your welfare. Instead, you only remember what little has been taken away from you - for your own benefit and protection from harming yourself.
You speak and write disrespectfully and in defiance of the Dhamma being who ensured you received Vipassana in its purity, thereby saving you from endless suffering.
You have become an agent of anti-Dhamma forces.
An urgent change of your thought process and correction of action is necessary, to not sink deeper into danger and very deep suffering.
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Responsibilities assigned by the Principal Teacher Sayagyi U Goenka
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