WORDS OF DHAMMA · March 2011 In the tradition of Sayagyi U Ba Khin as taught by S. N. Goenka Vipassana Newsletter (HK Edition) Fax : ... in the Satipatthana Sutta, the Buddha describes

1Vipassana Newsletter March 2011

HONG KONG VIPASSANA MEDITATION CENTREPostal address: GPO Box 5185 HK

Tel: (852) 2671 7031 Email: [email protected] Web: www.hk.dhamma.org

In the t radi t ion of Sayagyi U Ba Khin as taught by S. N. GoenkaMarch 2011

Vipassana Newsletter (HK Edition)

(852) 8147 3312Fax :

P a r e c a n a v i j ā n a n t i ,

m a y a m e t t h a y a m ā m a s e ;

y e c a t a t t h a v i j ā n a n t i ,

t a t o s a m m a n t i m e d h a g ā .

People, other than the wise, do not realize:

all of us in this world will die.

the wise who have realized it,

never quarrel with others.

— D h a m m a p a d a 6

W O R D S O F D H A M M A

The fol lowing art ic le, condensed sl ight ly for publ icat ion in the Newslet ter, is by Patr ick Given-Wilson, who is Regional Teacher for Austral ia and New Zealand and author of the summaries of Goenkaj i ’s Sat ipat thana Sutta discourses.

A f t e r h i s e n l i g h t e n m e n t , t h e B u d -d h a g a v e h i s f i r s t d i s c o u r s e t o t h e f i v e f r i e n d s w h o h a d a c c o m -p a n i e d h i m d u r i n g m o s t o f h i s y e a r s o f s e a r c h i n g . I t i s c a l l e d t h e D h a m m a C a k k a p p a v a t t a n a S u t t a , t h e d i s c o u r s e t h a t s e t i n m o t i o n t h e w h e e l o f D h a m m a . I t s u m m a r i z e s t h e B u d d h a ’ s e n t i r e t e a c h i n g .

T h e s u t t a s t a r t s :

E k a m s a m a y a m b h a g a v a B a r a n a s i -y a m v i h a r a t i I s i p a t a n e M i g a d a y e .

T h e s c e n e i s s e t i n I s i p a t h a n a , a s a c r e d p l a c e n e a r V a r a n a s i f r e -q u e n t e d b y r e c l u s e s , h e r m i t s a n d o t h e r s a i n t l y p e o p l e . W i t h i n i t , M i g a d a w a s a d e e r p a r k a n ds a n c t u a r y w h e r e n o a n i m a l c o u l d

b e k i l l e d .

Ta t r a k h o b h a g a v a p a ñ c a v a g g i y e b h i k k h u a m a n t e s i .

T h e d i s c o u r s e w a s g i v e n t o h i s f i v e f o r m e r c o m p a n i o n s . T h e y w e r e a s k e p t i c a l a u d i e n c e , b e l i e v -i n g t h a t t h e B u d d h a h a d f a i l e d i n h i s q u e s t b e c a u s e h e h a d g i v e n u p f a s t i n g a n d p h y s i c a l a u s t e r i -t i e s . A s t h e y s a w h i m a p p r o a c h , t h e y a g r e e d t o s h o w h i m n o s p e -c i a l r e s p e c t . N e v e r t h e l e s s t h e y l i s t e n e d , i m p r e s s e d b y h i s s e r e n -i t y a n d t h e g l o w o n h i s f a c e .

H e d e c l a r e d t o t h e m t h a t h e h a d b e c o m e a B u d d h a . A n d t o o v e r -c o m e t h e i r d o u b t s , h e e x p l a i n e d h o w h e h a d a c h i e v e d e n l i g h t e n -m e n t .

The Buddha’s First Discourse


The Buddha’s First Discourse (cont’d)

D v e m e , b h i k k h a v e , a n t a p a b -b a j i t e n a n a s e v i t a b b a . K a t a m e d v e ?

Tw o e x t r e m e s , b h i k k h u s , s h o u l d n o t b e p r a c t i c e d b y o n e s t r i v i n g f o r l i b e r a t i o n . W h a t t w o ?

… y o c a y a m k a m e s u k a m a s u k h a l -l i k a n u y o g o h i n o g a m m o p o t h u j -j a n i k o a n a r i y o a n a t t h a s a m h i t o . . .

… a t t a c h m e n t a n d c l i n g i n g t o s e n s u a l p l e a s u r e s , w h i c h i s l o w , c o a r s e , v u l g a r , u n w o r t h y , a n d p r o f i t l e s s …

H e d e c i s i v e l y r e p u d i a t e s t h e p a t h o f s e n s u a l p l e a s u r e s . N o o n e c a n a t t a i n l i b e r a t i o n f r o m s e n s u a l p l e a s u r e s b y i n d u l g i n g i n t h e m . T h i s w o u l d h a v e b e e n o b v i o u s t o h i s a u d i e n c e . B u t h i s s e c o n d s t a t e m e n t w o u l d h a v e s e e m e d r a d i c a l : a d e c i s i v e r e p u d i a t i o n o f t h e a s c e t i c p a t h t h e y h a d b e e n p r a c t i c i n g t o g e t h e r .

… y o c a y a m a t t a k i l a m a t h a n u y o g o d u k k h o a n a r i y o a n a t t h a s a m h i t o

… a t t a c h m e n t t o s e l f - t o r t u r e , w h i c h i s p a i n f u l , u n w o r t h y , a n d p r o f i t l e s s .

H e t h e n d e s c r i b e s t h e a c t u a l p a t h h e t o o k , t h e M i d d l e P a t h , a n d s t a t e s t h e r e s u l t :

E t e k h o , b h i k k h a v e , u b h o a n t e a n u p a g a m m a m a j j h i m a p a t i p a d a t a t h a g a t e n a a b h i s a m b u d d h a c a k -k h u k a r a n i ñ a n a k a r a n i u p a s a m a y a a b h i ñ ñ a y a s a m b o d h a y a n i b b a n a y a s a m v a t t a t i

B e t w e e n t h e s e e x t r e m e s t h e M i d -d l e P a t h , r e a l i z e d b y t h e Ta t h a g a -t a , g i v e s v i s i o n , g i v e s k n o w l e d g e , a n d l e a d s t o c a l m , t o i n s i g h t , t o e n l i g h t e n m e n t a n d t o n i b b a n a .

“ Ta t h a g a t a ” w a s t h e t e r m t h e B u d d h a u s e d t o d e s c r i b e h i m s e l f . I t m e a n s l i t e r a l l y “ t h u s g o n e , ” o r o n e w h o h a s w a l k e d t h e p a t h o f t r u t h .

H e d e s c r i b e s t h i s M i d d l e P a t h a s t h e E i g h t f o l d N o b l e P a t h :

A r i y o a t t h a n g i k o m a g g o , s e y y -a t h i d a m – s a m m a d i t t h i s a m m a s a n k a p p o s a m m a v a c a s a m m a k a m m a n t o s a m m a a j i v o s a m m a v a y a m o s a m m a s a t i s a m m a s a m a -d h i .

T h i s N o b l e E i g h t f o l d P a t h , n a m e -l y – r i g h t u n d e r s t a n d i n g , r i g h t t h o u g h t , r i g h t s p e e c h , r i g h t a c -t i o n , r i g h t l i v e l i h o o d , r i g h t e f f o r t , r i g h t m i n d f u l n e s s a n d r i g h t c o n -c e n t r a t i o n .

A t o n e l e v e l , t h i s w a s n o t h i n g n e w . T h e p r a c t i c e o f m o r a l i t y a l -r e a d y e x i s t e d i n I n d i a . D e e p s a -m a d h i s w e r e a l s o p r a c t i c e d , a n d G o t a m a h i m s e l f h a d p r a c t i c e d t h e s e i n t h e p a s t . P a ñ ñ a w a s a l s o u n d e r s t o o d a n d a c c e p t e d a t l e a s t a t t h e i n t e l l e c t u a l l e v e l .

H o w e v e r , t h e p a t h s t a r t s w i t h s a m m a d i t t h i , a n d t h e d i t t h i ( u n -d e r s t a n d i n g ) m u s t b e s a m m a ( r i g h t ) . T h a t m e a n s n o t o n l y m u s t i t b e u n d e r s t o o d , i t m u s t a l s o b e e x p e r i e n c e d . S o m e t h i n g c a n o n l y b e u n d e r s t o o d p r o p e r l y i f i t i s a c t u a l l y e x p e r i e n c e d ; o t h e r w i s e i t r e m a i n s a m e r e p h i l o s o p h y o r v i e w . S i m i l a r l y , e v e r y s t e p o n t h e N o b l e E i g h t f o l d P a t h i s p r e c e d e d b y t h e w o r d s a m m a : t o b e r i g h t , i t h a s t o b e e x p e r i e n c e d .

H e t h e n s t a t e s t h e k e y s t o n e o f h i s t e a c h i n g , t h e F o u r N o b l e Tr u t h s . H e d e s c r i b e s e a c h i n t u r n :



I d a m k h o p a n a , b h i k k h a v e , d u k -k h a m a r i y a s a c c a m : j a t i p i d u k k h a , j a r a p i d u k k h a , b y a d h i p i d u k k h o , m a r a n a m p i d u k k h a m , a p p i y e h i s a m p a y o g o d u k k h o , p i y e h i v i p -p a y o g o d u k k h o , y a m p i c c h a m n a l a b h a t i t a m p i d u k k h a m – s a m k h i t -t e n a p a ñ c u p a d a n a k k h a n d h a d u k -k h a .

T h i s , b h i k k h u s , i s t h e N o b l e Tr u t h o f S u f f e r i n g : b i r t h i s s u f f e r i n g , a g i n g i s s u f f e r i n g , s i c k n e s s i s s u f f e r i n g , d e a t h i s s u f f e r i n g , a s -s o c i a t i o n w i t h t h e u n p l e a s a n t i s s u f f e r i n g , d i s s o c i a t i o n f r o m t h e p l e a s a n t i s s u f f e r i n g , n o t t o r e -c e i v e w h a t o n e d e s i r e s i s s u f f e r -i n g — i n b r i e f t h e f i v e a g g r e g a t e s o f c l i n g i n g a r e s u f f e r i n g .

A g a i n a t a m u n d a n e l e v e l , m u c h o f t h i s w a s f a m i l i a r t o h i s a u d i -e n c e . B u t t h e r e w a s a w i d e s p r e a d b e l i e f t h a t b e i n g s o f t h e h i g h e s t c e l e s t i a l r e a l m s w e r e i m m o r t a l . A n d h e r e h e s t a t e s t h a t a l l b i r t h i s d u k k h a a n d e n d s w i t h a c o m -p r e h e n s i v e r e j e c t i o n o f c l i n g i n g t o a n y k i n d o f e x i s t e n c e .

W o r k i n g d e e p i n s i d e , h e h a d r e a l -i z e d t h a t a n y c l i n g i n g t o a n y t h i n g i n t h e f i e l d o f m i n d a n d m a t t e r w a s d u k k h a , s u f f e r i n g . T h e t r u t h o f d u k k h a h a d t o b e a c c e p t e d i n e v e r y a s p e c t o f e x i s t e n c e . E v e n t h e m o s t p l e a s a n t , s u b t l e , t r a n -q u i l e x p e r i e n c e h a d t o b e a c c e p t -e d a s d u k k h a b e c a u s e o f i t s i m -p e r m a n e n c e .

… d u k k h a s a m u d a y a m a r i y a s a c -c a m : y a y a m t a n h a p o n o b b h a v i k a n a n d i r a g a s a h a g a t a t a t r a t a t r a b h i -n a n d i n i , s e y y a t h i d a m k a m a t a n h a , b h a v a t a n h a , v i b h a v a t a n h a .

T h e N o b l e Tr u t h o f t h e A r i s i n g o f S u f f e r i n g i s t h i s c r a v i n g , l e a d i n g

t o r e b i r t h , b o u n d u p w i t h p l e a s -u r e a n d d e s i r e , f i n d i n g d e l i g h t n o w h e r e , n o w t h e r e , n a m e l y , c r a v i n g f o r s e n s e p l e a s u r e , c r a v -i n g f o r e x i s t e n c e , a n d c r a v i n g f o r a n n i h i l a t i o n .

T h e s e c o n d N o b l e Tr u t h i s t h a t s u f f e r i n g a r i s e s w i t h t a n h a , c r a v -i n g . S o m e t i m e s s a m u d a y a m i s t r a n s l a t e d a s “ t h e c a u s e ” o f d u k -k h a , b u t m o r e p r e c i s e l y i t m e a n s “ a r i s i n g . ” D u k k h a , t h e a g i t a t i o n , s t a r t s a s s o o n a s c r a v i n g , t a n h a , s t a r t s : t h e y a r e s i m u l t a n e o u s . T h i s i s e x p e r i e n c e d b y a m e d i t a -t o r a t a s u b t l e l e v e l . T h i s c r a v i n g i s t h e a c t u a l p r o b l e m t h a t l e a d s t o r e b i r t h , p o n o b b h a v i k a .

H e d e s c r i b e s t h r e e t y p e s o f c r a v -i n g , o r t a n h a . T h e f i r s t i s t h e c r a v i n g f o r s e n s u a l p l e a s u r e s , k a m a t a n h a . T h i s c a n b e e a s i l y u n -d e r s t o o d , b u t e r a d i c a t i n g i t a l o n e i s n o t e n o u g h . T h e s e c o n d i s t h e c r a v i n g f o r a n y k i n d o f e x i s t e n c e , b h a v a t a n h a . E v e n i f s o m e o n e i s f r e e o f s e n s u a l p l e a s u r e s , t h e r e i s t h e c r a v i n g f o r s u r v i v a l : “ T h e ‘ I ’ m u s t s u r v i v e . N o m a t t e r w h a t h a p p e n s t o t h e w o r l d o r t o o t h e r b e i n g s , I m u s t b e t h e r e i n w h a t -e v e r p l a n e o f e x i s t e n c e , t o w i t -n e s s i t a n d s e e i t c o n t i n u e . E v e n l i b e r a t i o n i s s o m e t h i n g t h a t ‘ I ’ m u s t e x p e r i e n c e , ‘ I ’ m u s t e n j o y . ” T h i s c r a v i n g g i v e s r i s e t o f u r -t h e r r e b i r t h s , a n d s o t h e r o u n d o f s u f f e r i n g c o n t i n u e s . T h e t h i r d a n d f i n a l c r a v i n g i s t h e d e s i r e f o r a n n i h i l a t i o n , v i b h a v a t a n h a . E v e n c r a v i n g f o r t h e e n d o f e x i s t e n c e i s s t i l l c r a v i n g .

I d a m k h o p a n a , b h i k k h a v e , d u k -k h a n i r o d h a m a r i y a s a c c a m : y o t a s s a y e v a t a n h a y a a s e s a v i r a g a n -i r o d h o c a g o p a t i n i s s a g g o m u t t i a n a l a y o .



T h i s , b h i k k h u s , i s t h e N o b l e Tr u t h o f t h e E r a d i c a t i o n o f S u f f e r i n g : i t i s t h e c o m p l e t e e r a d i c a t i o n o f t h a t v e r y c r a v i n g , g i v i n g i t u p , r e -l i n q u i s h i n g i t , t h e l i b e r a t i o n a n d d e t a c h m e n t f r o m i t .

T h i s c r a v i n g m u s t b e t o t a l l y e r a d -i c a t e d , s o t h a t n o r o o t i s l e f t . E l s e w h e r e , i n t h e S a t i p a t t h a n a S u t t a , t h e B u d d h a d e s c r i b e s i n m o r e d e t a i l h o w t h e e r a d i c a t i o n m u s t b e c o m p l e t e a t e v e r y s t e p o f t h e m e n t a l p r o c e s s : i n e v e r y p a r t o f t h e m i n d , a t e v e r y s e n s e d o o r .

T h e f o u r t h N o b l e Tr u t h i s t h e w a y t o r e a c h t h a t g o a l , t h e E i g h t f o l d N o b l e P a t h .

… d u k k h a n i r o d h a g a m i n i p a t i p a d a a r i y a s a c c a m : a y a m e v a a r i y o a t -t h a n g i k o m a g g o , s e y y a t h i d a m —s a m m a d i t t h i , s a m m a s a n k a p p o , s a m m a v a c a , s a m m a k a m m a n t a , s a m m a a j i v o , s a m m a v a y a m o , s a m m a s a t i , s a m m a s a m a d h i .

T h e N o b l e Tr u t h o f t h e P a t h l e a d -i n g t o t h e e r a d i c a t i o n o f s u f f e r -i n g i s t h i s E i g h t f o l d P a t h , n a m e -l y r i g h t u n d e r s t a n d i n g , r i g h t t h o u g h t , r i g h t s p e e c h , r i g h t a c -t i o n , r i g h t l i v e l i h o o d , r i g h t e f f o r t , r i g h t m i n d f u l n e s s , a n d r i g h t c o n -c e n t r a t i o n .

I n e s s e n c e , t h e f o u r N o b l e Tr u t h s a r e v e r y s i m p l e : a c c e p t t h e f a c t o f s u f f e r i n g , u n d e r s t a n d h o w i t a r i s e s , t o t a l l y e r a d i c a t e i t , a n d s o r e a l i z e t h e p a t h t o i t s e r a d i c a -t i o n . B u t t h e B u d d h a ’ s e n l i g h t e n -m e n t w a s a c t u a l l y t o e x p e r i e n c e i t . H e e l a b o r a t e d , s a y i n g t h a t e a c h N o b l e Tr u t h h a s t o b e r e a l -i z e d i n t h r e e d i f f e r e n t w a y s . E a c h t r u t h i s n o t a r e a l i t y u n l e s s i t i s w i t n e s s e d , o r e x p e r i e n c e d .

I d a m d u k k h a m a r i y a s a c c a m … p a r i ñ ñ e y a m … p a r i ñ ñ a t a m .

T h i s N o b l e Tr u t h o f s u f f e r i n g … i s t o b e e x p e r i e n c e d f u l l y … i s e x -p e r i e n c e d f u l l y .

T h e f a c t o f s u f f e r i n g , d u k k h a , h a d t o f i r s t b e a c c e p t e d . B u t t h a t w a s m e r e i n t e l l e c t u a l k n o w l -e d g e , m e r e l y a s t a r t i n g p o s i t i o n . T h e s e c o n d p a r t w a s t o u n d e r -s t a n d t h e n e e d t o e x p e r i e n c e d i -r e c t l y t h e e n t i r e f i e l d o f d u k k h a —p a r i ñ ñ e y a m — b e c a u s e u n l e s s t h e e n t i r e f i e l d i s e x p e r i e n c e d , t h e r e m i g h t b e s o m e a s p e c t , s o m e p a r t o f d u k k h a , s t i l l c o n s i d e r e d f r e e f r o m d u k k h a . H o w e v e r , t h i s w a s s t i l l a n i n t e l l e c t u a l d e c i s i o n . T h e t h i r d s t e p w a s p a r i ñ ñ a t a m — h e h a d e x p l o r e d t h e e n t i r e f i e l d o f d u k k h a o n l y w h e n h e h a d g o n e b e y o n d d u k k h a . S o e v e n i n t h i s f i r s t N o b l e Tr u t h , a l l t h e F o u r N o -b l e Tr u t h s a r e i n c l u d e d .

I d a m d u k k h a m s a m u d a y a m a r i -y a s a c c a m … p a h a h a t a b b a m … p a h i n a m .

T h i s N o b l e Tr u t h o f t h e a r i s i n g o f s u f f e r i n g … h a s t o b e e r a d i c a t e d … h a s b e e n e r a d i c a t e d .

T h e s a m e a p p l i e s t o t h e s e c -o n d N o b l e Tr u t h , d u k k h a s a m u -d a y a . M e r e a c c e p t a n c e t h a t c r a v -i n g i s t h e c a u s e o f d u k k h a d o e s n o t h e l p . T h e c r a v i n g h a s t o b e e r a d i c a t e d : p a h a h a t a b b a m . B u t e v e n t h i s i s i n s u f f i c i e n t . T h e t h i r d p a r t m u s t b e c o m p l e t e d —p a h i n a m — t a n h a m u s t a c t u a l l y b e e r a d i c a t e d a t t h e r o o t l e v e l , s o t h a t n o t a t r a c e i s l e f t . S o t h e s e c -o n d N o b l e Tr u t h a l s o c o m p l e t e s a l l t h e F o u r N o b l e Tr u t h s . I f i t i s p a h i n a m , t o t a l l y e r a d i c a t e d , o n e i s f r e e f r o m m i s e r y .



I d a m d u k k h a n i r o d h a m a r i y a s a c -c a m … s a c c h i k a t a b b a m … s a c -c h i k a t a m .

T h i s N o b l e Tr u t h o f t h e e r a d i c a -t i o n o f s u f f e r i n g … h a s t o b e w i t -n e s s e d … h a s b e e n w i t n e s s e d .

T h e t h i r d N o b l e Tr u t h i s t h e s t a g e w h e r e t h e r e i s n o m o r e m i s -e r y a t a l l — t h e s t a g e o f n i b b a n a . M e r e a c c e p t a n c e t h a t t h e r e i s a s t a g e b e y o n d m i n d a n d m a t t e r i s n o t e n o u g h . I t h a s t o b e w i t -n e s s e d — s a c c h i k a t a b b a m . T h e n t h e t h i r d p a r t i s s a c c h i k a t a m — i t i s w i t n e s s e d . W h e n t h a t w a s w i t -n e s s e d , h e b e c a m e f r e e o f a l l m i s e r y . A l l t h e f o u r N o b l e Tr u t h s a r e i n c l u d e d .

I d a m d u k k h a n i r o d h a g a m i n i p a t i -p a d a a r i y a s a c c a m … b h a v e t a b -b a m … b h a v i t a m .

T h i s N o b l e Tr u t h o f t h e p a t h l e a d -i n g t o t h e e r a d i c a t i o n o f s u f f e r -i n g … h a s t o b e d e v e l o p e d … h a s b e e n d e v e l o p e d .

T h e f o u r t h N o b l e Tr u t h i s t h e p a t h . A g a i n i t h a s t o b e e x p e r i -e n c e d f u l l y . O n l y t h e n c a n i t b e s a i d t o h a v e b e e n c o m p l e t e d . T h e f i r s t s t e p i s a c c e p t a n c e t h a t t h i s i s t h e p a t h . T h e s e c o n d i s t h e i n -t e l l e c t u a l d e c i s i o n t h a t i t h a s t o b e d e v e l o p e d , b h a v e t a b b a m . B o t h a r e n e c e s s a r y . B u t o n l y a c t u a l l y c o v e r i n g t h e e n t i r e p a t h — b h a v i -t a m — c o u l d l i b e r a t e h i m , a n d b y w a l k i n g i t h e h a d a c c o m p l i s h e d t h e o t h e r t h r e e N o b l e Tr u t h s . S o a l l f o u r N o b l e Tr u t h s , w h e n a c t u -a l l y e x p e r i e n c e d , a r e e a c h c o m -p l e t e i n t h e m s e l v e s a n d c o n t a i n a l l t h e o t h e r s .

T h e r e f o r e , u n l e s s e a c h N o b l e Tr u t h i s w o r k e d o u t i n t h r e e w a y s ,

a n d t h e f o u r N o b l e Tr u t h s t h u s b e c o m e a t w e l v e f o l d N o b l e Tr u t h , t h e y c a n n o t g i v e t h e r e s u l t o f l i b -e r a t i o n f r o m s u f f e r i n g . I f s o m e -o n e m e r e l y a c c e p t e d t h e t r u t h t h a t t h e r e i s m i s e r y , t h a t t h e r e i s a c a u s e o f m i s e r y , t h a t t h e r e i s t o t a l e r a d i c a t i o n o f m i s e r y a n d t h a t t h e r e i s a w a y t o e r a d i c a t e t h e m i s e r y , t h e a c c e p t a n c e w o u l d b e n o m o r e t h a n a p h i l o s o p h y —l o g i c a l b u t o t h e r w i s e n o d i f f e r -e n t f r o m a n y o t h e r p h i l o s o p h y . I t c o u l d n o t h a v e l i b e r a t e d h i m .

… p u b b e a n a n u s s u t e s u D h a m m e s u c a k k h u m u d a p a d i , ñ a n a m u d a p a -d i , p a ñ ñ a u d a p a d i , v i j j a u d a p a d i , a l o k o u d a p a d i .

… I h a d n e v e r h e a r d s u c h D h a m -m a s b e f o r e : v i s i o n a r o s e , k n o w l -e d g e a r o s e , w i s d o m a r o s e , u n -d e r s t a n d i n g a r o s e , l i g h t a r o s e .

T h i s i s r e p e a t e d f o r e a c h p a r t o f e a c h N o b l e Tr u t h . T h e s e w e r e t r u t h s , D h a m m a s t h a t h e h a d n e v -e r h e a r d b e f o r e : p u b b e a n a n u -s u t t e s u D h a m m e s u . W h e n h e a c -t u a l l y e x p e r i e n c e d t h e m : c a k k h u m u d a p a d i , ñ a ñ a m u d a p a d i , p a ñ ñ a u d a p a d i , v i j j a u d a p a d i , a l o k o u d a p a d i , v i s i o n a r o s e , k n o w l e d g e a r o s e , w i s d o m a r o s e , u n d e r s t a n d -i n g a r o s e , l i g h t a r o s e . E a c h w a s h i s o w n d i r e c t r e a l i z a t i o n .

T h e B u d d h a d e s c r i b e s t h i s p a t h a s d u k k h a n i r o d h a g a m i n i p a t i -p a d a , t h e p a t h t o t h e c e s s a t i o n o f a l l m i s e r y . E l s e w h e r e h e d e -s c r i b e s t h e s a m e p a t h a s v e d a -n a n i r o d h a g a m i n i p a t i p a d a , t h e p a t h t o t h e c e s s a t i o n o f a l l s e n -s a t i o n s . T h i s i s b e c a u s e t h e p a t h h a s t o b e e x p e r i e n c e d . T h e w o r d u s e d f o r e x p e r i e n c e i n t h o s e d a y s w a s v e d a n a , w h i c h a l s o m e a n s



s e n s a t i o n . S o p a r i ñ ñ a t a m m e a n s t h a t t h e e n t i r e f i e l d o f v e d a n a , s e n s a t i o n , h a s t o b e e x p e r i e n c e d . E l s e w h e r e , h e s a y s , Y a m k i ñ c i v e -d a y i t a m , t a m d u k k h a s m i n — e v e r y s e n s a t i o n i s c o n n e c t e d w i t h d u k -k h a , w i t h m i s e r y . E v e n t h e m o s t p l e a s a n t s e n s a t i o n h a s t o b e u n -d e r s t o o d a s d u k k h a b e c a u s e i t i s a n i c c a . T h e r e i s t h e d a n g e r o f c l i n g i n g t o t h i s i m p e r m a n e n t e x -p e r i e n c e a n d o f g e n e r a t i n g t a n -h a , c r a v i n g , t o w a r d i t . U n l e s s a l l s e n s a t i o n i s u n d e r s t o o d a s m i s -e r y , t h e r e m i g h t r e m a i n a d e l u -s i o n t h a t s o m e s e n s a t i o n r e a l l y d o e s g i v e h a p p i n e s s .

Y a v a k i v a ñ c a m e , b h i k k h a v e , i m e s u c a t u s u a r i y a s a c c e s u e v a m t i p a r i -v a t t a m d v a d a s a k a r a m y a t h a b -h u t a m ñ a n a d a s s a n a m n a s u -v i s u d d h a m a h o s i , n e v a t a v a h a m , b h i k k h a v e … ‘ a n u t t a r a m s a m -m a s a m b o d h i m a b h i s a m b u d d h o ’ t i p a c c a ñ ñ a s i m .

A s l o n g a s m y k n o w l e d g e a n d i n -s i g h t i n t o r e a l i t y “ a s i t i s ” w a s n o t p u r e i n t h e s e t h r e e a s p e c t s , i n t h e s e t w e l v e w a y s , c o n c e r n i n g t h e f o u r N o b l e Tr u t h s , I d i d n o t c l a i m t o h a v e r e a l i z e d m a t c h l e s s , s u p r e m e E n l i g h t e n m e n t .

T h e B u d d h a d e s c r i b e s h i s c o m -m i t m e n t t o t r u t h , t h e a c c e p t a n c e o f r e a l i t y “ a s i t i s , ” y a t h a b u t h a , a t e v e r y s t a g e — a c o m m i t m e n t t h a t u n d e r p i n n e d h i s e x p l o r a t i o n a n d h i s p r a c t i c e . T h i s l e d t o ñ a n a d a s s a n a m — k n o w l e d g e w i t h i n -s i g h t , a n d p u r i f i c a t i o n . T h i s h a d b e e n h i s m e t h o d o f i n v e s t i g a t i o n : h e r e m a i n e d a l w a y s w i t h t h e r e -a l i t y “ a s i t i s , ” w i t h o u t g e t t i n g c a r r i e d a w a y b y a n y p h i l o s o p h i -c a l b e l i e f , d e s i r e , s p e c u l a t i o n o r i m a g i n a t i o n . E v e r y m e d i t a t o r w h o w i s h e s f o r e n l i g h t e n m e n t h a s t o

d o t h e s a m e .

Y a t o c a k h o m e , b h i k k h a v e , i m e s u c a t u s u a r i y a s a c c e s u e v a m t i p a r i -v a t t a m d v a d a s a k a r a m y a t h a b h u -t a m ñ a n a d a s s a n a m s u v i s u d d h a m a h o s i , a t h a h a m , b h i k k h a v e , . . . ‘ a n u t t a r a m s a m m a s a m b o d h i m a b h i s a m b u d d h o ’ t i p a c c a ñ ñ a s i m

B u t n o w t h a t i t w a s s o p u r i f i e d , h e d e c l a r e d t h a t “ t h e m a t c h -l e s s s u p r e m e e n l i g h t e n m e n t , ” a n u t t a r a m s a m m a s a m b o d h i m a b h i s a m b u d d h o ’ t i , h a d b e e n r e -a l i z e d . I t i s a n e m p h a t i c d e c l a r a -t i o n o f h i s e n l i g h t e n m e n t .

T h e n f i n a l l y c o m e s t h e s t a t e m e n t o f t h e r e s u l t :

Ñ a n a ñ c a p a n a m e d a s s a n a m u d a p a d i – ‘ a k u p p a m e v i m u t -t i , a y a m a n t i m a j a t i , n a t t h i d a n i p u n a b b h a v o ’ ’ ’ t i

K n o w l e d g e a n d i n s i g h t a r o s e i n m e : “ U n s h a k a b l e i s m y l i b e r a t i o n . T h i s i s t h e l a s t b i r t h . T h e r e i s n o m o r e b i r t h f o r m e n o w . ”

T h i s c o n c l u d e d t h e d i s c o u r s e , a n d t h e f i v e c o m p a n i o n s w e r e d e -l i g h t e d . A l l t h e i r s k e p t i c i s m w a s g o n e .

I m a s m i ñ c a p a n a v e y y a k a r a -n a s m i m b h a ñ ñ a m a n e a y a s m a t o k o n d a ñ ñ a s s a v i r a j a m v i t a m a l a m d h a m m a c a k k h u m u d a p a d i : ‘ ‘ y a m k i ñ c i s a m u d a y a d h a m m a m , s a b -b a m t a m n i r o d h a d h a m m a ’ ’ n t i .

W h i l e t h i s d i s c o u r s e w a s b e i n g g i v e n , t h e p u r e , s t a i n l e s s E y e o f D h a m m a a r o s e i n t h e V e n e r a b l e K o n d a ñ ñ a , t h a t : “ W h a t e v e r h a s t h e n a t u r e o f a r i s i n g , h a s t h e n a -t u r e o f c e a s i n g . ”



T h e E y e o f D h a m m a , d h a m m a c -a k k h u m , n o w a r o s e i n K o n d a ñ ñ a , o n e o f t h e f i v e c o m p a n i o n s ; t h a t i s , h e e x p e r i e n c e d n i b b a n a . H e u n d e r s t o o d t h a t w h a t e v e r h a s t h e n a t u r e o f a r i s i n g a l s o h a s t h e n a -t u r e o f p a s s i n g a w a y .

T h i s w a s a t u r n i n g p o i n t b e c a u s e t h e d i s c o u r s e s e t i n m o t i o n t h e W h e e l o f D h a m m a . A f t e r a n u n i m -a g i n a b l y l o n g p e r i o d o f p r e p a r -i n g a n d d e v e l o p i n g h i s p a r a m i s , a f t e r s u c c e s s f u l l y o v e r c o m i n g a l l o b s t a c l e s t o a c h i e v e e n l i g h t e n -m e n t , t h e B u d d h a n o w h a d t h e c a p a c i t y t o t e a c h o t h e r s .

I t m u s t b e u n d e r s t o o d t h a t K o n d a ñ ñ a d i d n o t b e c o m e e n -l i g h t e n e d s i m p l y b y l i s t e n i n g t o w h a t t h e B u d d h a w a s t e a c h i n g . I n s t e a d , a s h e h e a r d t h e B u d -d h a ’ s w o r d s , K o n d a ñ ñ a w o u l d

Q u e s t i o n : S h o u l d I s i m p l y o b -s e r v e t h e s e n s a t i o n s a n d l e t D h a m m a d o t h e r e s t , o r s h o u l d I a l s o m a k e a c o n s c i o u s e f f o r t b y t h o u g h t o r i n o t h e r w a y s t o u n -d e r s t a n d a n i c c a ?

G o e n k a j i : N o t o n l y b y t h o u g h t , b u t b y e x p e r i e n c e . Yo u a r e o b -s e r v i n g s e n s a t i o n a n d y o u a r e e x p e r i e n c i n g t h e r e a l i t y , “ W e l l l o o k , i t i s a n i c c a . ” T h e n i t w o r k s . O t h e r w i s e i f y o u j u s t e x p e r i e n c e s e n s a t i o n s a n d d o n ’ t u n d e r s t a n d , “ T h i s i s i m p e r m a n e n t , ” h o w w i l l y o u d e v e l o p e q u a n i m i t y , h o w w i l l y o u d e v e l o p p a ñ ñ a ? Q u e s t i o n : W o u l d y o u s a y t h a t e m o t i o n a n d s e n s a t i o n a r e t h e s a m e ?

G o e n k a j i : T h e y a r e t w o s i d e s o f t h e s a m e c o i n . E m o t i o n i s m e n -t a l a n d s e n s a t i o n i s p h y s i c a l , b u t t h e t w o a r e i n t e r r e l a t e d . A c t u a l l y e v e r y e m o t i o n , a n y t h i n g t h a t a r i s -e s i n t h e m i n d , m u s t a r i s e a l o n g w i t h a s e n s a t i o n i n t h e b o d y . T h i s i s t h e l a w o f n a t u r e . Q u e s t i o n : I t s e e m s t o m e t h a t i t w o u l d t a k e f o r e v e r t o e l i m i n a t e t h e s a n k h ā r a s o n e b y o n e .

G o e n k a j i : T h a t w o u l d b e s o i f o n e m o m e n t o f e q u a n i m i t y m e a n t e x a c t l y o n e l e s s s a n k h ā r a s o f t h e p a s t . B u t i n f a c t , a w a r e n e s s o f s e n s a t i o n t a k e s y o u t o t h e d e e p -e s t l e v e l o f t h e m i n d a n d a l l o w s y o u t o c u t t h e r o o t s o f p a s t c o n d i -t i o n i n g . I n t h i s w a y , i n a r e l a t i v e l y

h a v e s t a r t e d f o c u s i n g i n s i d e . H e w o u l d h a v e f o l l o w e d t h e s a m e p a t h , o b s e r v i n g t h e r e a l i t y , y a t h a b h u t a , “ a s i t i s , ” a r i s i n g a n d p a s s -i n g t h r o u g h o u t t h e m i n d - m a t t e r s t r u c t u r e . C o n t i n u i n g t o o b s e r v e , h e c o u l d r e a c h t h e s t a g e o f e x -p e r i e n c i n g d u k k h a n i r o d h a , t o t a l c e s s a t i o n .

K o n d a ñ ñ a n o w w o r k e d v i g o r o u s l y a n d w i t h i n a s h o r t t i m e b e c a m e f u l l y l i b e r a t e d . H e b e c a m e k n o w n a s “ K o n d a ñ ñ a t h e W i s e . ”

K o n d a ñ ñ a w a s t h e f i r s t o f m a n y w h o b e c a m e l i b e r a t e d a t t h a t t i m e . T h e p a t h i s t h e s a m e f o r a l l , a n d w e a r e f o r t u n a t e t h a t t h e t e c h n i q u e i s s t i l l a v a i l a b l e t o d a y . I t i s t h e r e f o r e i n c u m b e n t o n a l l m e d i t a t o r s t o m a k e b e s t u s e o f t h i s p a t h , f o r t h e i r o w n l i b e r a -t i o n . I t i s a r a r e o p p o r t u n i t y .

Questions and Answers from GoenkajiQuest ions and Answers f rom Goenkaj i drawn f rom var ious publ ic ta lks and discourses


s h o r t t i m e , y o u c a n e l i m i n a t e e n -t i r e c o m p l e x e s o f s a n k h ā r a s , i f y o u r a w a r e n e s s a n d e q u a n i m i t y a r e s t r o n g . Q u e s t i o n : T h e n h o w l o n g s h o u l d t h e p r o c e s s t a k e ?

G o e n k a j i : T h a t d e p e n d s o n h o w g r e a t a s t o c k o f s a n k h ā r a s y o u h a v e t o e l i m i n a t e , a n d h o w s t r o n g y o u r m e d i t a t i o n i s . Yo u c a n n o t m e a s u r e t h e p a s t s t o c k b u t y o u c a n b e s u r e t h a t t h e m o r e s e r i o u s -l y y o u m e d i t a t e , t h e m o r e q u i c k l y y o u a r e a p p r o a c h i n g l i b e r a t i o n . K e e p w o r k i n g s t e a d f a s t l y t o w a r d s t h a t g o a l . T h e t i m e i s b o u n d t o c o m e — s o o n e r r a t h e r t h a n l a t e r —w h e n y o u w i l l r e a c h i t . Q u e s t i o n : M y m i n d s t i l l r e m a i n s i m m e r s e d i n s e x u a l d e s i r e a n d a s a r e s u l t , I a m u n a b l e t o m a i n t a i n t h e c o n t i n u i t y o f p r a c t i c e . W h a t c a n I d o ?

G o e n k a j i : F i g h t t h i s b a t t l e . L u s t i s s o m e t h i n g t h a t k e e p s f o l l o w -i n g y o u l i f e a f t e r l i f e a n d i t i s a v e r y d e e p s a n k h ā r a . W h e n e v e r s e x u a l d e s i r e a r i s e s i n t h e m i n d , d o n ’ t f o c u s o n t h e o b j e c t o f t h e l u s t . J u s t a c c e p t t h e f a c t o f l u s t a s l u s t . “A t t h i s m o m e n t m y m i n d i s f u l l o f l u s t . ” A c c e p t t h i s a n d s e e w h a t s e n s a t i o n y o u h a v e . A t t h a t m o m e n t , s t a r t o b s e r v i n g w h a t e v e r s e n s a t i o n p r e d o m i n a t e s a n y w h e r e i n t h e b o d y , a n d k e e p u n d e r s t a n d i n g , “ A n i c c a , a n i c c a . T h i s i s n o t p e r m a n e n t , t h i s i s n o t p e r m a n e n t . T h i s l u s t t h a t h a s c o m e i s a l s o n o t p e r m a n e n t ; l e t m e s e e h o w l o n g i t l a s t s . ” I n t h i s w a y , t h e s e x u a l d e s i r e b e c o m e s w e a k e r a n d w e a k e r a n d p a s s e s a w a y .

Q u e s t i o n : I w o n d e r w h e t h e r w e c a n t r e a t o b s e s s i v e t h o u g h t s i n t h e s a m e w a y t h a t w e t r e a t p h y s i -c a l p a i n ?

G o e n k a j i : J u s t a c c e p t t h e f a c t t h a t t h e r e i s o b s e s s i v e t h o u g h t o r e m o t i o n i n t h e m i n d . I t i s s o m e -t h i n g t h a t w a s d e e p l y s u p p r e s s e d a n d n o w h a s a p p e a r e d a t t h e c o n -s c i o u s l e v e l . D o n o t g o i n t o t h e d e t a i l s o f i t . J u s t a c c e p t e m o -t i o n a s e m o t i o n . A n d a l o n g w i t h i t , w h a t s e n s a t i o n d o y o u f e e l ? T h e r e c a n n o t b e a n e m o t i o n w i t h -o u t a s e n s a t i o n a t t h e p h y s i c a l l e v e l . S t a r t o b s e r v i n g t h a t s e n s a -t i o n . Q u e s t i o n : W o u l d y o u s a y t h a t V i p a s s a n a i s t h e o n l y w a y t o r e a c h e n l i g h t e n m e n t ?

G o e n k a j i : E n l i g h t e n m e n t i s a c h i e v e d b y e x a m i n i n g o n e s e l f a n d e l i m i n a t i n g c o n d i t i o n i n g . A n d d o i n g t h i s i s V i p a s s a n a , n o m a t t e r w h a t n a m e y o u m a y c a l l i t . S o m e p e o p l e h a v e n e v e r e v e n h e a r d o f V i p a s s a n a , a n d y e t t h e p r o c e s s h a s s t a r t e d t o w o r k s p o n -t a n e o u s l y i n t h e m . T h i s s e e m s t o h a v e h a p p e n e d i n t h e c a s e o f a n u m b e r o f s a i n t l y p e o p l e i n I n d i a , j u d g i n g f r o m t h e i r o w n w o r d s . B u t b e c a u s e t h e y d i d n o t l e a r n t h e p r o c e s s s t e p b y s t e p , t h e y w e r e u n a b l e t o e x p l a i n i t c l e a r l y t o o t h e r s . H e r e y o u h a v e t h e o p -p o r t u n i t y t o l e a r n a s t e p - b y - s t e p m e t h o d t h a t w i l l l e a d y o u t o e n -l i g h t e n m e n t .

Questions and Answers from Goenkaji (cont’d)


Children & Teenagers’ CourseMarch 13, 2011

Children and Teenager Meditation Courses are offered tochildren aged 8 – 12 and teenagers 13 – 16 respectively.

Introductory Notes, Parent or Guardian Information Sheet, Code of Conduct and Application Form,

are available at: www.hk.dhamma.org

We are looking for the fol lowing items:

• Second-hand desk-top computer or note book• Video recorder or digital camera with video recording function• Second hand cargo/passenger van for Tung Wan Project

In addit ion, we are also looking for old students:

• who have had experience as a water-pipe technician to assist in center maintenance work;

• who is able to cook (ful l - t ime or part-t ime) for the coming courses• who can help with packing up on Day 11

If you are able to help, please call Eva Kwok at 9155 7688.

Help Needed!


Remarks:

• 1-dayand3-daycoursesareonlyopento thosewhohavecompleteda10-dayVipassanaMeditationcoursewithS.N. Goenka or his Assistant Teachers.

** Old students must fulfill the requirements below to be qualified for the Satipatthana Course:1. Have completed at least three full 10-day courses with S. N. Goenka or one of his appointed assistant teachers.2. Have practiced this technique for at least one year.3. Have not practiced any other meditation techniques since the last course with S. N. Goenka or his appointed as-

sistant teachers.4. Have tried the best to maintain daily practice. (One hour in the morning and evening)5. Endeavor to undertake five precepts in daily life, and must undertake to observe in particular the 3rd precept (ab-

staining from sexual misconduct) and the 5th precept (abstaining from intoxicants) once registered for the course.

*** For new students, old students and dhamma workers, please submit your application form at least ONE week before the commencement of the course.

The existing Hong Kong Vipassana Meditation Centre is a temporary centre. We hope this precious facility can be fully utilized by your efforts in spreading the 10 day Vipassana course to your friends and family members, for the benefits of many, for the real happiness, real peace and real harmony!

★ Register on-line! Fast & convenient! Visit HK Vipassana Meditation Centre website at www.hk.dhamma.org. Choose your course by clicking the course date on the course schedule page. Fill in the on-line registration form and submit.

2011 Course ScheduleCourse No Course Date Type of Course

1 10D0127 Jan 12 - Jan 23, 2011 10-day course2 01D0045 Jan 30 1-day old student course3 10D0128 Feb 2 - Feb 13 10-day course

4 10D0129 Feb 23 - Mar 6 10-day course5 CC0008 Mar 13 Children & Teenagers' Course6 10D0130 Mar 16 - Mar 27 10-day course7 01D0046 Apr 3 1-day old student course8 10D0131 Apr 6 - Apr 17 10-day course9 10D0132 Apr 20 - May 1 10-day course10 03D0024 May 12 - May 15 3-day old student course11 10D0133 May 18 - May 29 10-day course12 03D0025 Jun 3 - Jun 6 3-day old student course14 10D0134 Jun 8 - Jun 19 10-day course15 10D0135 Jun 22 - July 3 10-day course16 03D0026 July 7 - July 10 3-day old student course17 10D0136 July 13 - July 24 10-day course18 01D0047 July 31 1-day old student course19 10D0137 Aug 3 - Aug 14 10-day course20 10D0138 Aug 17 - Aug 28 10-day course21 03D0027 Sept 1 - Sept 4 3-day old student course22 10D0139 Sept 7 - Sept 18 10-day course23 DW006 Sept 24 - Sept 25 Dhamma worker workshop24 10D0140 Sept 28 - Oct 9 10-day course25 10D0141 Oct 12 - Oct 23 10-day course26 Sati 008 Oct 28 - Nov 6 Satipatthana Sutta Course27 CC0009 Nov 13 Children & Teenagers’ Course28 10D0142 Nov 16 - Nov 27 10-day course29 10D0143 Nov 30 - Dec 11 10-day course30 10D0144 Dec 21 - Jan 1 2012 10-day course


Latest Updates of the Hong Kong Vipassana Centre

1) Group Sitt ing Venues

Group Si t t ing is opened for old students at the fo l lowing venues:

Fo Tan Venue

Date and t ime: Every Sunday Morning 9:50 am to 11:30 am Address: F lat A, 10/F, Val iant Industr ia l Bui ld ing, Au Pui Wan Street, Fo Tan (Fo Tan Train Stat ion Exi t D) Registration: Please contact Timothy Wong Tel: 90127697 Email: [email protected]

Causeway Bay Venue

Date and t ime: Every Sunday Morning 10 am to 12 noon Address: Rm. 1103 Fortune Centre, 48 Yun Ping Road, Causeway Bay, HK( MTR Causeway Bay Exi t F) Registration: Please contact Bobo Tel: 69995005

Please bring meditation cushion if necessary.

2) Monthly Vipassana Trustee’s Meeting

Old students who are interested in knowing more about the operat ion of the Hong Kong Centre and who are wi l l ing to help wi th the centre’s affa i rs are welcome to part ic ipate in the Monthly Trustee’s Meet ings.One-hour pre-meet ing group si t t ing wi l l s tar t at 10:00am, and the Trustee’s Meet-ing wi l l begin at 11:15am and end at around 1:00pm.

Meeting Schedule: Jan 09, Feb 20, Mar 27, Apr 17, May 08, Jun 19, Jul 24, Aug 28, Sep 18, Oct 23, Nov 27, Dec 18.

3) Protect the Environment, Save Paper / Update Your Contact Detai ls

Old students who would l ike to receive Vipassana Newsletter by emai l or who have changed the contact detai ls, p lease emai l your name in Chinese and Engl ish, new address, emai l address and telephone number to [email protected] or fax to 8147 3312.

4) Donation

I f o ld students wish to pract ice their dana paramis (donat ion), p lease:

a) Direct TransferBenef ic iary Bank: Hang Seng Bank Ltd.Bank Address: 83, Des Voeux Road Central , Central , Hong KongBenef ic iary Account No.:263-279812-668 ( for HK Dol lars account)263-279812-201 ( for US Dol lars account)Benef ic iary Name:Hong Kong Vipassana Meditation Centre Ltd.Swif t Code: HASEHKHH

b) Via ChequePlease send your crossed cheque payable to: “Hong Kong Vipassana Meditation Centre Ltd.” to Box 5185, GPO, Hong Kong.

We should be grateful i f you would send rel -evant informat ion af ter you made the donat ion to us v ia emai l : [email protected] or fax: (852) 8147 3312.

Hong Kong Vipassana Meditat ion Centre is aregistered Chari table Organizat ion. Please provide your fu l l name and correspondence address. Receipt wi l l be sent to you to c la im for tax deduct ion.


The Development Project of the New Centre in Tung Wan, Lantau Island

Progress Update:

December 2010

After receiv ing the s igned Special Condi-t ions for the Pr ivate Treaty Grant f rom us, the Lands Department off ic ia l ly handed over the s i te on 7th December, 2010. Un-der the grant condi t ion, we have to com-plete the project wi th in 48 months; that is , the new centre must be completed be-fore December 2014. Besides, we have to f in ish the entrance path before December 2012 (wi th in 24 months).

Excluding the land premium, the total est imated cost of the project is about HK$36,000,000. We have already started land surveying on 17th December, 2010, wi th sat isfactory progress so far.

November 2010

We have off ic ia l ly appointed Paul Tong and Associates (PTA) as the consul tant and project manager, and Terry Survey-ing Service (TSS) to carry out land sur-veying. The project is now at the stage of land surveying, invest igat ion and detai led design, in preparat ion for obtaining ap-proval f rom the Bui ld ings Department on the design and the construct ion work. The Management Commit tee holds a monthly meet ing wi th PTA to monitor the progress of the design and related works.

October 2010

The project is now in detai led design and ground invest igat ion stage. The Man-agement Commit tee has invi ted several consul tants f i rms for tender ing the con-sul tancy agreement, in order to arrange submission to the Bui ld ings Department for approving the design and issuing per-mit for the construct ion.

September 2010

The long awaited day has eventual ly come!! ! I t has been six years s ince we submit ted the land appl icat ion to the Hong Kong Government Home Affairs Bureau in June 2004.

Today, we feel exci ted to announce that in September 2010, the Hong Kong Vipas-sana Meditat ion Company Limited bought a s i te f rom the Hong Kong Government at a premium of HK$28.37mil l ion. Si tuated in Tung Wan, Lantau Is land, the s i te is about 7,540 sq.m. in area and wi l l be used for developing the permanent Vipassana cen-tre in Hong Kong.

Vipassana Newsletter 6 August 2007

HONG KONG VIPASSANA MEDITATION CENTRE 香港內觀靜坐中心香港內觀靜坐中心香港內觀靜坐中心香港內觀靜坐中心

G.P.O. Box 5185, Hong Kong 香港郵政總局信箱 5185號

Vipassana Websites

Vipassana introduction: www.dhamma.org Contains information about Goenkaji, Vipassana centres worldwide, Code of Discipline, Application Form for ten-day courses, etc. Dhamma Giri: www.vri.dhamma.org Contains information about Vipassana Research Institute, Vipassana Newsletter,, Indian Vipassana centres, schedule of courses, etc. Vipassana (old students only): www.dhamma.org/os Contains information for old students of Vipassana.

Vipassana Newsletters: www.vri.dhamma.org/newsletters

Pāli Tipitaka website: www.tipitaka.org Contains the Chattha Sangāyana Tipitaka with commentaries in Unicode Roman script.

Global Pagoda website: www.globalpagoda.org Contains updated information including facility for online donation. Prison course website: www.prison.dhamma.org Executive course website: www.executive.dhamma.org

STAMP

PRINTED MATTER

Web Versions of the Hong Kong Vipassana Newsletter

Hong Kong Vipassana Newsletter can be viewed and downloaded from: http://www.vnl.dhamma.org/local/ap/hk/

香港內觀靜坐中心有限公司 Hong Kong Vipassana Meditation Centre Ltd

(依據香港稅務條例規範,豁免課稅之非營利性組織)

(Non-profit making organization exempted from tax under section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance)

Postal address: GPO Box 5185, Hong Kong

Tel: 2671 7031 Fax: 8147 3312 Email: [email protected]

Website: www.hk.dhamma.org 我願意捐款給香港內觀靜坐中心有限公司 : I would like to make a contribution to the Hong Kong Vipassana Meditation Centre Ltd :

☐ 以購買東灣土地及興建新中心 For purchase of land and development of the proposed Centre at Tung Wan ☐ 以作課程及日常營運經費 For course and operating expenses 姓名 Name : ___________________________

聯絡電話 Phone No. ____________ 電郵 Email Address : ______________________________

連絡地址 Address: _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

捐款形式 Donation:

☐ 一次過捐款 One-off Donation HK$ _______________

☐ 每月捐款 Monthly contribution of HK$ _______________

超過港幣100 元之捐款在香港是可以銷稅的,請選擇本中心簽發收據之形式。 Donations of over HK$ 100 are tax-deductible in Hong Kong. Please tick the appropriate box if you wish / or do not wish to receive any receipts. ☐ 每六個月 Bi-annually ☐ 每年 Annually ☐ 不需要 Not Necessary

捐款承諾書 DANA

PLEDGE

捐款請填妥捐款承諾書寄回本中心 Please print clearly using BLOCK LETTERS and return to following address • 地址 Address:香港郵政總局信箱5185 號 / Postal address: GPO Box 5185, Hong Kong

查詢 Enquiry : Eva Kwok 郭小姐 TEL: 9155-7688 EMAIL: [email protected]

捐款辦法 Payment method: ☐ 直接轉帳 / By direct transfer ：

l 恆生銀行 (024) / Hang Seng Bank (024) (Swift code: HASEHKHH) l 帳戶 / Account No. : 228 261715 883 l 受款人 / Beneficiary: 香港內觀靜坐中心有限公司 l Beneficiary : Hong Kong Vipassana Meditation Centre Ltd

☐支票匯票 / By sending a cheque or money order ：

l 抬頭: 香港內觀靜坐中心有限公司 l Payable to : Hong Kong Vipassana Meditation Centre Ltd

Documents

WORDS OF DHAMMA · March 2011 In the tradition of Sayagyi U Ba Khin as taught by S. N. Goenka Vipassana Newsletter (HK Edition) Fax : ... in the Satipatthana Sutta, the Buddha describes