I was associated with one of the Goenka Vipassana centre and I have practised Vipassana for some time . Goenka has built an organisation, which is
a bureaucratic structure from top to bottom .. When defining ends (nirvana)you define means
(method) and you build a system around it . The system could be religious , semi religious , or a
cult . Members associated with the system make a lifetime mission to take the organisation to the
next level .By defending the system that theirs is the only method/way to salvation , By enrolling
more people in the organisation, generate more funds . So that they could build structures ,
super structures . Structures like temple /church/mosque/global pagoda .The system is itself
EGO . The goal itself is a version of self/ego.You have goals only when there is a self . Instead
of dissolving self , you are strengthening it in a subtle way . Adhering to a minimalist lifestyle also
does not dissolve self .
Now about the method , I find In Vipassana meditation taught by Goenka ,where you are
focusing/concentrating on breath and then body sensation .You may call this as awareness or
something .But you are controlling the mind . Mind wanders , you control it by bringing it back on
the breath ,and on body sensation . Initially you have to put in lots of effort but later on when
you master the technique your levels of effort come down .But still it not effortless . After some
time you feel exhausted . You may not be able to focus/ concentrate any more . you almost
cannot observe any sensation , because your mind is in a gross state . Some People call that as
silence . I believe it may bring lots of tranquillity to the mind ,but not the silence that
they claim . During the day you have tremendous attention but during the sleep there is inattention .
The attension/awareness is so artificial . They claim that this meditation frees youfrom you past and other apprehesions, Erasing memory is not solution . one cannot be free from conditioning so easily . Deep inside you are still not free.
Jiddu Krishnamurthi makes more sense , he is called as Maitreya . The new Buddha. JK too condemns the asiatic concept of the meditation system. What JK is saying is that you impose
control in these systems of meditation .Control by not reacting to the sensations ,
psychosomatic , and physiological reactions . Control by not making your mind not to wander .
This control is not choiceless and neither effortless . you are making a conscious choice to bring
attention on breath ,and on body sensation . Control is resistance . The friction created in the
mind by bringing attention to an object . One doesn't attain salvation /nirvana in the presence of
friction, resistance .This meditation may benefit at initial levels, especially who have issues with concentraion / focus . but not the way to enlightenment .
I believe Buddha tried many methods and finally realised that no method leads to nirvana . In the
end one has to leave all methods/systems. There is no method /path that leads to nirvana .
'Truth is a pathless land' JK. and . 'It's a Gateless Gate' said by Nisargadutta Maharaj .
