The Buddha”s Teaching is For All

　　- by S. N. Goenka

　　(The following is a translation of Lokaguru Buddha” by S. N. Goenka published by VRI in December 2003. It has been condensed for the Vipassana Newsletter.)

　　What knowledge did Gotama the Buddha have of the difficulties and complexities of household life

　　 As a prince, he renounced the household life immediately after the birth of his son, Rahula, and lived the life of a homeless recluse. He did not live as a householder himself, so how could he teach others about the duties of household life

　　 Since the Buddha lived the life of a recluse for forty-five years, he understood the problems of recluses very well and so his teaching was very useful for them. His only teaching to householders was that they should abandon the bondage of household life and become monks or nuns. Consequently, a large number of householders became recluses. So, by following his teaching, householders may become good recluses but they can never become exemplary householders.

　　Many people in India harbour this misconception about the Buddha. I too was a victim of this delusion for many years. At the age of 31, I came in contact with the beneficial technique of Vipassana that had been taught by the Buddha. I was immensely benefited by it. Nobody asked me to become a bhikkhu (monk).

　　My revered teacher, Sayagyi U Ba Khin, was an ideal householder. Sayagyi U Ba Khin”s teacher was also a householder and millions of people in Myanmar who are followers of the Buddha are householders. Bhikkhus make up less than one percent of the population of Myanmar.

　　After benefiting from Vipassana and finding it completely faultless, I began studying the original words of the Buddha. I discovered that although the Buddha had given many discourses to bhikkhus on living ideal lives as recluses, he had given several discourses to householders on living ideal lives as householders. And all his discourses on meditation were applicable and beneficial to both.

　　So it is totally false to say that the Buddha was a teacher of bhikkhus alone. His teaching was for all: householders and recluses, men and women, kings and paupers, the wealthy and the poor, scholars and the illiterate, children and the elderly-speaking any language and of any country. Truly, the Buddha was a World Teacher.

　　Prince Siddhattha married at the age of 16 and left the household life at the age of 29. During those 13 years, he must have experienced many of the complexities of household life. After he became the Buddha, he came in contact with a large number of people, which exposed him to many more issues about household life.

　　After attaining enlightenment, the perfection with which this great person understood the difficulties of household life and offered practical solutions to people, is unparalleled in human history. The discourses that the Buddha gave to householders are not just for the followers of a particular religion but for everyone.

　　One who makes even a cursory study of the Buddha”s discourses will appreciate how beneficial they are for householders.

　　A householder understands that the experience of the highest happiness is possible only by transcending all the suffering of the worldly life and attaining nibbāna. But on the journey to the final goal, it is possible to face the vicissitudes of daily life with an equanimous mind. Vipassana meditators learn to progress in Dhamma while carrying out their worldly responsibilities. By practising Vipassana regularly, a good householder realizes from experience that living a wholesome life results in happiness and harmony, not only for oneself, but also for others.

　　A Vipassana meditator begins to understand the eternal law of nature, of cause and effect, not merely at the devotional or intellectual level but …

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