S.N. Goenka's Practical Approach to Buddha's Teaching
From Intellectual Understanding to Direct Experience
Goenkaji would say: "My dear students, Buddha did not give us these five aggregates to study intellectually in books. No, no! He gave them as practical tools for understanding the reality of our own minds and bodies. Work diligently!"
Goenkaji's approach: "Feel it directly! Right now, what sensations are arising on your body? Hot, cold, pressure, tingling, pain, pleasure - this is rupa! Not the idea of body, but the actual sensations you are experiencing this very moment."
Goenkaji's teaching: "Every contact gives vedana! Every sensation, pleasant or unpleasant or neutral. But don't get attached to pleasant, don't have aversion to unpleasant. Observe with equanimity. This is the real work!"
Goenkaji's insight: "Mind is making recognition, 'This is pain,' 'This is pleasure,' 'This is my hand,' 'This is sound.' But who is the one knowing this recognition? Observe the observer!"
Goenkaji's emphasis: "Here is the real work! These sankharas - mental reactions, habits, conditionings - they are the root of all suffering. Through Vipassana, we observe them arising and passing. Naturally, they lose their strength."
Goenkaji's pointing: "What is knowing all this? Body sensations, feelings, perceptions, mental reactions - what is aware? This knowing awareness, this is viññāṇa. But don't make it 'my consciousness.' Just pure knowing, arising and passing like everything else."
Goenkaji's constant reminder: "Intellectual understanding is like having a prescription from doctor but not taking the medicine! Buddha gave us Bhavana - mental development through direct practice. Work with your own mind-matter phenomenon!"
Goenkaji's warning: "This is like being hungry and eating the menu instead of food! No nourishment, only more craving for concepts."
Goenkaji's guidance: "Work diligently with what is actually happening in your body and mind. This is the real university!"
Goenkaji's scientific approach: "Buddha discovered natural law of mind and matter. Like gravity - whether you believe or not, it operates! Your job is to observe this law working in your own body-mind complex."
Goenkaji's unique emphasis: "All five aggregates can be observed through body sensations! Body is like laboratory where you can observe the interaction of mind and matter directly. Every mental state creates corresponding bodily sensation."
Instructions: "Sit quietly, close your eyes. Feel the top of head... now forehead... now face... Systematically observe every part of body. What sensations are arising? Heat, cold, pressure, tingling, pain, pleasure, vibration, solidity, liquidity..."
Direct observation: "Each sensation has vedana - pleasant, unpleasant, or neutral. But don't react! Just observe: 'Pleasant sensation arising... now passing... Unpleasant sensation arising... now passing...' Develop equanimity!"