True Devotion : The Importance of Meditation Practice

　　- by S. N. Goenka

　　(The following is a discourse given by Goenkaji at the Sambodhi Viharaya, Colombo, Sri Lanka in the evening on Buddha Purnima, the full moon day of Vesaka, 12 May 2006. It has been adapted for the Newsletter.)

　　Most Venerable Bhikkhu Sangha and Dhamma friends:

　　Today, on this auspicious day, every devotee of the Buddha has to generate mettā, karuṇā, love, compassion, goodwill for everyone, for all beings. “May all beings be happy, be peaceful, be liberated from their miseries.”

　　This mettā bhāvanā should be very strong, very effective. It will be strong only when you purify your mind. “I must be happy and peaceful myself to express and wish happiness to others. How can I wish happiness for others if my mind is agitated, if I have no peace within me

　　”

　　The Buddha gave a wonderful path. He taught how to purify the mind, not just at the surface level but at the depth, at the root level. When you generate mettā and karuṇā with a pure mind, it is very effective.

　　The path of purification that the Buddha gave to the world, to humanity, is universal. It is not limited to a particular community. The Buddha”s teaching is not meant only for those who call themselves Buddhists; it is for one and all.

　　The teaching is not to convert people from one organized religion to another organized religion; it is to convert them from misery to happiness, from bondage to liberation.

　　I keep on remembering the Buddha”s words. To those who were not his followers, he says, “I am not interested to make you my disciples. I am not interested to snatch you from your teachers. I have discovered a path which will help you to come out of all your miseries. Come, give it a trial. Give it a trial just for seven days and see the results.”

　　I do the same. I tell people of the world, of different communities, “Come and give it a trial for ten days and see the result. If you find it is good for you and good for others, then only accept it. Give it a trial.”

　　This is what my teacher told me, “You are miserable, the people around you are miserable. Come, try this technique.” And I accepted and I tried the technique for ten days, and I got wonderful results.

　　The Buddha”s teaching gives results here and now, akāliko, wonderful results. When a few people from different communities give it a trial, the word starts spreading that it is so good.

　　The technique that the Buddha gave is totally non-sectarian. Anybody and everybody can practice and get the same result. One has to spare ten days and join a camp with a congenial atmosphere, with an experienced teacher and learn the technique.

　　You are asked to sit comfortably with eyes closed, back and neck straight and to just start observing the breath, nothing but breath. Pure breath, bare breath.

　　You are asked not to interfere with the natural flow of the breath. If it is deep, it is deep. If it is shallow, it is shallow. If it is passing through the left nostril, it is passing through the left nostril; if it is passing through the right nostril, it is passing through the right nostril. Just observe. Do nothing. Just observe the reality as it is — yathā bhūta.

　　Do not use any word or any mantra. No verbalization. When you observe breath, observe only breath, nothing but breath, which is the same for everybody. It is neither Hindu nor Muslim nor Buddhist nor Christian.

　　You should also not use any visualization or imagination. Observe the breath as it is.

　　The Buddha wants us to concentrate on a small area at the centre of the upper lip so that we will be successful. You are aware of the breath, you are aware of this area. Within three days, a student who comes to the course starts feeling some sensation or the other in this area.

　　From the …

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