Goenka Vipassana Meditation Course: Review 

Meditation course that teaches you to look within to find happiness

Goenka Vipassana meditation course is a stuctured course where students stay in the center for 10 days learning the technique of Vipassana mediation. 

During the 10-day period, students are completely cut off from the outside world, and also are to observe “noble silence” throughout the period until the end of the ninth day. 

During the period, students undergo sessions of intensive sitting meditation for about 10 hours a day.  The day starts at 4.30 in the morning and ends at 9.30 in the evening. 

Students only get to take early breakfast at 6.30 in the morning and to eat one main meal at 11.00 in the morning.  Food is vegetarian.  At 5pm students are allowed a drink and some fruits. 

The Goenka Vipassana courses are availabe all year round, throughout the world conducted in spacious centers which are located in beautiful secluded areas with plenty of trees around natural surroundings, some with spectacular views of nature. 

The Goenka Vipassana courses are conducted free of charge.    

Who is Goenka

Goenka is an Indian national born and grew up in Myanmar (Burma).  He is popularly known as S. N. Goenka  and affectionately addressed as Goenkaji. 

He came into contact with Vipassana meditation when he was searching for a cure for his severe head pain during his younger days. 

Goenkaji had been  a very successful business in Myanmar and a popular and well respected leader within the Indian community there. 

Now he spends his full time teaching people around the world, how to be better and happy persons through Vipassana meditation. 

He learned Vipassana mediation from the reknown Burmese teacher U Bha Khin and stayed on with him for another 14 years developing his training in Vipassana. 

Later he was given permission by U Bha Khin to teach others based on the 10-day course.  Goenkaji started his teachings in India in 1969, and from there it spread across the world.  

What is Vipassana Meditation

Vipassana meditation was discovered by the Buddha 2500 years.  It is a technique for one to meditate and to observe the interactions between the mind and body, deep inside us. 

With diligent practice, one is able to realize the workings of the mind and body, and how they influence and affect our way of reacting to sensations. 

In the process, one is able to see things as they really are, and not as one perceives them to be.  With this realization, one is able to maintain a balanced life amidst the vicissitudes of worldly life.  

My peronal experience during this 10-day course

Recently, I attended the Goenka 10-day Vipassana course.  It was a very fruitful session and I learned a lot about Vipassana meditation and how the body and mind interact affecting my character. 

The most valuable lesson is that I gained this knowledge through self-realization  through the meditation process.  I am able to be more aware of my reactions to sensations which most often cause miseries for myself and to others. 

The meditation training is to help oneself to maintain an equanimous mind  during one’s daily life. This helps one to live a happy and peaceful life.