Hi Venerable, thanks for your work. Mahasi Sayadaw got his name from the huge drum that was situated at his village monastery where he took robes as far as I know he was born in Shwebo, another thing is the Goenka method and the U Ba Khin method are exactly the only difference is that Goenka teaches it as a Universal Practice In the same sense as the Buddha would have taught it, to prove this there is not one mention of the word Buddhist in the Tipitika but there are plenty of words for a Dhammist in various forms, U Ba Khin taught the Vipasanna in the context of a Buddhist environment. Oh, it’s an interesting theory that you said that Vipasanna was invention of the British occupation. Vipasanna and the Abhidhamma was widely spread because of the British occupation and they’re printing presses. Actually, there is a tradition in Burma that when the senior monk feels that his most senior students are up to the task the head monk will wander off into the forest to make an attempt to complete his path to Nibanna. Vipasanna is a technique that needs to be asked for from a proficient teacher. That is why it is not in the text as that would value the efficacy of the Vipasanna , and you absolutely have to have a teacher. It’s not something you can just make up from scriptures especially if some mental difficulties come up you need someone who’s experience that can share metta with you and help you come difficulties that might cause mental health type of problems. It is very very dangerous to start practising serious Vipassana Meditation without a competent teacher.
That was awesome Ajahn, thank you so much for these informations and historical bsckgrounds, helping to address some confusion within me. With Gratitude.
Thank you so much! I'm appreciating learning about the Visuddhimagga and the seven purifications! Did I hear you correctly that you were going to post a PDF of the class materials? Is it here on youtube or on your website? 🙏
Thank you Bhante, may I say that the U Ba Khin method is the Goenka method as in “Vipassana taught by S.N. Goenka in the tradition of Sayaghi U Ba Khin”, but you might be referring to other teachers that established centers that also were taught by U Ba Khin (?). There is also the Pa-Auk method as what looks like the third popular Vipassana method
