Grateful Centenary Commemoration

　　- by S. N. Goenka

　　The Buddha said that two qualities are rare among humans: kataññutā, that is, gratitude and pubbakāritā, that is, initiative to help others without expecting anything in return. These two qualities are the true yardstick of measuring progress on the path of Dhamma of any person devoted to Dhamma.

　　Gratitude is more important of the two qualities. Whenever we remember the help given to us by any saintly person and generate gratitude towards him, we naturally feel inclined to give selfless service to live up to that ideal. Thus selfless service is strengthened. Gratitude and selfless service complement and support each other.

　　We feel grateful towards Myanmar (Burma). The words of the Buddha were preserved for centuries in Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Thailand and Laos in addition to Myanmar, but the benevolent Vipassana that gives results here-and-now was preserved in a live tradition only in Myanmar. It is natural to have gratitude towards this sacred land. It induces a strong determination to strive to preserve Vipassana and the words of Buddha in their original form for centuries to come.

　　Sayagyi U Ba Khin is the shining star of the chain of saintly teachers who preserved Vipassana from generation to generation over the millennia. We naturally have infinite gratitude towards him. It is because of him that hundreds of thousands of meditators across the world are benefiting from Vipassana. It was his compassionate resolution that the technique of Vipassana, which India had lost for almost two millennia, should return to India, get established there and then spread to the rest of the world for the benefit of many. The feeling of gratitude among those who have benefited from this technique will give them a strong sense of commitment to do everything possible for the spread of Vipassana all over the world so that millions and millions of people get benefits. They will also feel that it is their conscientious duty to preserve the purity of the technique for centuries to come. There are now, and there will be in future, some ungrateful and depraved people who, having taken just a few steps in Vipassana, make it a means of their livelihood and who corrupt it to strengthen the sectarian fetters of their sects. But those who remain steadfast in Dhamma with gratitude in their heart will not alter the technique even slightly. They will never make it a profession to earn livelihood and certainly will not perform the evil act of making it a tool to promote a particular sect. They will never allow a blemish on the glory that Dhamma is kevalaparipuṇṇaṃ-parisuddhaṃ (so pure that there is nothing to remove, so complete that nothing needs to be added) and beneficial to one and all irrespective of caste and creed.

　　The auspicious centenary year of this outstanding saint of our era is of great significance. India is entering the new millennium with newly rediscovered Vipassana that she and the rest of the world had lost for centuries. When we see how so many perse sects and traditions have accepted Vipassana in the last three decades, it does not seem an exaggeration to say that the next millennium will doubtless be the Vipassana millennium.

　　It is an inspiring coincidence that the Vipassana millennium will start with the commemoration of the birth centenary year of Sayagyi. This Dhamma festival will be celebrated on the sacred land of Myanmar at Dhamma Joti Vipassana Centre in Yangon from 9 to 11 January.

　　We will salute the Dhamma land of Myanmar and will pay a grateful tribute to the sacred memory of our great teacher Sayagyi U Ba Khin. Hundreds of meditators, from all over the world, are showing eager enthusiasm to take part in this historic pilgrimage.

　　We wil…

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