Goenkaji's Tour in Burma

As many meditators know, Mr. S.N. Goenka is scheduled to be in Burma (Myanmar) at the end of December 2012.  This blog recently posted information about his trip to further disseminate to yogis interested in coming here to join. 

There are a couple of further pieces of information that are important to add.  First, one meditator happened to stop by Dhamma Joti in Yangon yesterday to clarify the visit, and was told that despite the 10-long posted schedule of the trip, Mr. Goenka's participation will be limited to leading a couple of sittings at Shwedagon Pagoda and giving a couple of Dhamma Talks.  He will not be traveling outside of Yangon, according to the center office, so yogis should consider this beforehand when planning their trip. Also, whether or not a yogi formally registers (e.g. pays the full fees being asked), they are welcome to attend these dhamma talks and sittings.  The registration fee will most likely provide the meditators with room, board, and transportation.  The office also added that Dhamma Joti is now past capacity so they are having to meet the housing needs for additional yogis that register by searching out other sites, including perhaps hotels, guesthouses, monasteries, and other Goenka centers beyond Yangon.

Please note that we are in no way affiliated with the organization itself and these are informal observations we are sharing based on being currently in country, to help provide information.  To confirm any of these points you are encouraged to contact the center directly.

Finally, you should be aware that this is fast becoming the busiest season in Myanmar's history, by a long shot.  There is a very real possibility, even likelihood, that in December and January every available room in Yangon (and other towns) will be taken.  Any yogis are strongly encouraged to make all hotel reservations for their stay as early as possible.  If you've been to Burma before and are used to showing up and taking what's available, it will not work this time.  Make a reservation!!!

Be happy and enjoy your stay in The Golden Land.

Paññatti

This is a short film that was produced by Raul Saldana and Heidi Che. They took a course of cinematography with the Brazilian director Lazaro Faria. The film explores part of the nature of being alive. It is one of the more beautiful depictions of dhamma in life that one will find.

Paññatti

Paññatti

This is a short film that was produced by Raul Saldana and Heidi Che. They took a course of cinematography with the Brazilian director Lazaro Faria. The film explores part of the nature of being alive. It is one of the more beautiful depictions of dhamma in life that one will find.

Click here for the video.

The Essential Practice, by Webu Sayadaw

Though you practice without interruption, you will not get tired or exhausted. As you take up the teachings of the Buddha, incomparable happiness will come to you. Some people think that the Buddha taught many different things. You all remember some parts of the holy scriptures as the monks out of great compassion taught them to you. At times you may think, "The teachings of the Buddha are so vast and manifold. I can't follow and understand all this, and therefore I can't attain my goal." Or some people say, "What is true for oneself one can only know oneself." Or others, "I can't work because I can't feel the breath yet." Now tell me, what is your excuse?

-- Webu Sayadaw, from "The Essential Practice."

To read the entire essay, go here for The Essential Practice Part 1, and here for The Essential Practice Part 2.

Webu Sayadaw, framed photo from his monastery

Experience of a Ten Day Course at Dhamma Giri

This is a long article about an American's first experience on a ten day course in the Goenka tradition.  Of all places to take a first course he went straight to the headquarters in Igatpuri, India.  The first two thirds of the article are your fairly standard stuff of just about any article in the last ten years that has been written about a first-timer taking a ten day meditation silent retreat.  The songs and movie clips stuck in his head, the forgotten innocuous childhood memories, the awareness of breath and sensations for the first time, the first taste of inner peace, the doubt and pain, the guy next to him who burps/snores/farts loudly that he first comes to hate and then learns to love.  They can feel like carbon copies at times.  However, the last 1/3 of this article is actually fairly interesting and is a departure from the set piece.

You can read the Men's Journal article here.

Thai and Burmese Dhamma

A lay meditator from the West wrote the following excerpt after exploring life at Thai and Burmese monasteries. This essay (originally written to be shared only with friends and family) highlight some of the observations made about the two meditative traditions, as well as their connection to the recent phenomenon of lay meditation in the West.  You can read it here.

Yatra Information for SN Goenka's visit to Burma 2012

SN Goenka will travel to Burma (Myanmar) at the end of December 2012, and it is possible to join his tour.  For information about how to come along please download this document. 

Be happy!

Two notes: first, this site is in no way connected to the Goenka Vipassana organization.  There have been some inquiries about registering in the yatra.  We have no information about this, and have simply disseminated this document to a wider audience through our site.  Secondly, there are a group of meditators planning to join the dhamma talks and sittings, without formally enrolling in the yatra.  If you'd like to join this informal group, you can send an email to put you in touch. However please note that our account as well is not regularly attended.  (you can write burmadhamma@gmail)

Novice monk at Webu Sayadaw Monastery in Ingyinbin

Preparing flowers for Buddha in Ingyinbin

This video is from the Webu Sayadaw monastery in Ingyinbin, Upper Burma. Every morning the village children scale the trees on the monastery compound to collect the most beautiful flowers.  After they have completed their selection, they group at a table and together arrange the flowers beautifully, as you see here, doing so under the backdrop of ancient stupas and a flowing hot springs.  When they are finished with this, they respectfully enter the shrine room of the monastery and offer their flowers as a gift of respect to the Buddha.

Old Picture of Shwedagon Pagoda in Rangoon, Burma

Old Picture of Shwedagon Pagoda in Rangoon, Burma

An exploration of Thai and Burmese Dhamma and Buddhist traditions

One meditator, coming from a background with Goenkaji, had spent some time in Burmese monasteries.  He went to Thailand for a couple of months and compared the differences and similarities he saw between Thai and Burmese Buddhism, particularly the lineages that go through Ledi Sayadaw and Ajahn Mun, respectively.  He wrote a short 10 page essay about his experience and reflections.  We are awaiting some minor edits, and it will be posted shortly.  Please check back on this post within the week to get the document.

Notes for a Dhamma Pilgrimage in Burma

If you are a meditator planning a trip to the Golden Land in Burma and hoping to make the best use of your time, there is a document that may help you plan your time and navigate the language and culture of Myanmar.  While it touches upon overall Buddhist customs, it is particularly relevant to those who practice Goenkaji's style of Vipassana.  Please go here to download the document directly.

Yatra Information: Goenkaji's Tour of Burma, December 2012

NOTE: The following information can be downloaded here.

Two additional notes: first, this site is in no way connected to the Goenka Vipassana organization.  There have been some inquiries about registering in the yatra.  We have no information about this, and have simply disseminated this document to a wider audience through our site.  Secondly, there are a group of meditators planning to join the dhamma talks and sittings, without formally enrolling in the yatra.  If you'd like to join this informal group, you can send an email to put you in touch. However please note that our account as well is not regularly attended.  (you can write burmadhamma@gmail)

Below followings are the schedule and of the Dhamma Visit 2012, in Myanmar

• -  There will be two types of trip,
  
• -  (1) Short trip
  Short trip will be from 21st to 24th Dec ,2012
  (2) Long trip.
  Long trip will be from 21th to 30th Dec,2012
  Daily detail schedule are as follow:
  21st. Dec:,2012 -Arrival in Yangon
  -Check in Dhamma Joti, Yangon
  and Dhamma Nidhi, Bago respectively. 22nd.Dec:,2012 - Yangon -Pyaw Bhwe Gyi –Yangon visit.
  

23rd. Dec:,2012

-Breakfast at Dhamma joti,
- Group sitting with Gurugyi at Shwe dagon in the morning.
-Visit Pyaw Bhwe Gyi village (Saya Thet Gyi’s place)
- Lunch at that village ,
- Give Dhamma talk by Guruji in the evening at National Theater
-.Dinner at Dhamma joti - During Yangon Area.
- Breakfast at centers
-Sanga Dana at Goenka house in the early morning, - Visit to IMC (sayagyi’s U Ba Khin’s center)
- Lunch at Dhamma-joti
- Shopping and sightseen at Yangon Area.
- Give public talk about the Expedition of Goenka’s Family for 135 years in Dhamma Land at National Theater.
- Dinner at Dhamma-joti.

24th Dec:2012 - -Yangon-Kyaikhtiyo-Yangon
-Breakfast at particular center.
- Going to Kyaik HtiYo Pagoda, (golden rock pagoda , Mon state). -dinner at particular center.

 ......................................................................................................................................................

25th Dec:2012 26th Dec:2012
27th,Dec:2012
28th,Dec:2012,
29th,Dec:2012,

-Yangon- NayPyiTaw - Mandalay, visit. -Breakfast at particular center.
-Dinner at Mandalay center.
- Mandalay-PyinOolwin-Mandalay visit.
-Breakfast at Mandalay center. -Sightseen at Mandalay. -Lunch at Dhamma Mahima . and sightseen at pyin-oo-lwin. -Dinner at Mandalay.
- Mandalay-Amarapure-Mandalay visit.
- breakfast at center.
- Sanga dana at maha gandayoun monastery, Amarapure( 1500
monks).
- Dinner at Mandalay Center.
- Group sitting at Maha Myat Muni Pagoda (After dinner).
- Mandalay-Mounywa- Mandalay visit.
- Breakfast at center
-Opening ceremony of pagoda cell at Dhamma nanadhaja center ,
Mounywa.
- Group sitting at Ledi Sayadaw meditation cave. - lunch at center
- visit ledi monastery.
- Sightseen and dinner at Mandalay center.
-Mandalay- kyout-se (Webu mountain)- Yangon visit. - Breakfast at center
- Visit webu mountain at Kyout-Se
- Return to yangon .

30th,Dec:2012,
(Remarks- Short will be end at 24th December 2012.)

Depart from Yangon .

- Breakfast at center.
- Depart from respective center.

Tour rate- Short trip , US$350 - Long trip , US$ 550.
For payment- cash only

• -  The payment has to be paid to your group leaders.
  
• -  For Indian tourist, you can contact to Global Pagoda, Mumbai.
  
• -  For non-Indian tourist, there has to be a group leader if you are coming with group.
  The authority from Yangon will collect those payments when they arrive to Myanmar.
  Reservation for the visit not later than Nov 15, 2012, Contact to - Mr.Kushal <dhammayatra.ygn@gmail.com>
  The list of all the visitors can be reserved individually or as a group with the following personals data.
  1. Full name
  2. Passport number
  3. Age
  4. Gender
  5. Citizenship
  6. Flight number
  7. Estimate time of arrival 8. Group leader’s name
  Dhamma Joti Vipassana Centre, Yangon, Myanmar 
  

Webu Sayadaw: Anthology of a Noble One (7 of 7)

This 7 part series looks at the life of one of Burma's most renowned and respected monks, Webu Sayadaw, who was recognized as having reached nibbana.  Using interviews and archival footage, the series examines Webu's life, teachings, and influences on modern day meditation movements.

Webu Sayadaw: Anthology of a Noble One (6 of 7)

This 7 part series looks at the life of one of Burma's most renowned and respected monks, Webu Sayadaw, who was recognized as having reached nibbana.  Using interviews and archival footage, the series examines Webu's life, teachings, and influences on modern day meditation movements.

Webu Sayadaw: Anthology of a Noble One (5 of 7)

This 7 part series looks at the life of one of Burma's most renowned and respected monks, Webu Sayadaw, who was recognized as having reached nibbana.  Using interviews and archival footage, the series examines Webu's life, teachings, and influences on modern day meditation movements.

Webu Sayadaw: Anthology of a Noble One (4 of 7)

This 7 part series looks at the life of one of Burma's most renowned and respected monks, Webu Sayadaw, who was recognized as having reached nibbana.  Using interviews and archival footage, the series examines Webu's life, teachings, and influences on modern day meditation movements.

Webu Sayadaw: Anthology of a Noble One (3 of 7)

This 7 part series looks at the life of one of Burma's most renowned and respected monks, Webu Sayadaw, who was recognized as having reached nibbana.  Using interviews and archival footage, the series examines Webu's life, teachings, and influences on modern day meditation movements.

Webu Sayadaw: Anthology of a Noble One (2 of 7)

This 7 part series looks at the life of one of Burma's most renowned and respected monks, Webu Sayadaw, who was recognized as having reached nibbana.  Using interviews and archival footage, the series examines Webu's life, teachings, and influences on modern day meditation movements.

Webu Sayadaw: Anthology of a Noble One (1 of 7)

This 7 part series looks at the life of one of Burma's most renowned and respected monks, Webu Sayadaw, who was recognized as having reached nibbana.  Using interviews and archival footage, the series examines Webu's life, teachings, and influences on modern day meditation movements.

Welcome to Burma Dhamma Blog

To promote the sasana and resurgence of Dhamma practice in Burma!