-Guru ji (S. N. Goenka ji)
(In early April 1995, Goenkaji’s sister-in-law, Mrs. Vimala Goenka, died suddenly at the age of 52. Goenkaji wrote the following article about Vimala’s Dhamma life and death for the Hindi language newsletter. This translation has been edited and condensed.)
Vimala first joined our family as the 19 year-old bride of my younger brother, Radhe Shyam. It was 1961 and we were living in Rangoon. By then our entire family was immersed in Vipassana under the com-passionate guidance of my Teacher, Sayagyi U Ba Khin.
Vimala was from an educated family in Calcutta, but Vipassana was something new to her. Within a few months, however, she decided to try it. From the very first course she readily accepted the practice and started swimming in the Ganges of Dhamma like a fish in water.
Vimala was a graduate in science and the investigative approach of Vipassana appealed to her intelligent mind. She took many ten-day courses under Sayagyi’s instruction, and he was very pleased with her progress.
She meditated in the mornings and evenings at home with the family, and on Sundays joined the rest of us in meditating in Sayagyi’s presence at his center.
In 1965 Radhe Shyam and Vimala returned to India because of the changing political climate in Burma. In those days no other members of our extended family in India practiced Vipassana, nor was it even available in that country. Nevertheless, Vimala and Radhe Shyam maintained their daily practice. If they needed clarification regarding the technique, they received it through correspondence with Rangoon. In June of 1969 I returned to India,bringing the jewel of Vipassana back to its country of origin.
The first Vipassana courses in India were organized by some of the dedicated Vipassana family and colleagues from Burma who had previously returned to India. After the second course, in Madras, I went to stay with Radhe Shyam and Vimala in Tadepalligudam.
🌷 I was thinking that when my three-month visa expired, I would go back to Burma. But I kept remembering Sayagyi’s words: “Twenty-five centuries are over, and the time for the revival of Vipassana has come. Today in India there are many people of parami (accumulated meritorious actions) who will support you in your work.”
Vimala, along with Radhe Shyam, felt strongly that I should give up the idea of returning to Burma. She was confident of the fulfilment of Sayagyi’s belief in the revival of Vipassana.
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A thorny problem had now arisen regarding the third course at Sarnath, the sacred place where Gotama the Buddha gave his first discourse, the Dhammacakka-pavattana Sutta, (Discourse on Setting in Motion the Wheel of Dhamma).
Sayagyi earnestly desired that a course should be given there but, whereas the finances for the first two courses had been shouldered by householders, the Sarnath course would be primarily for monks. Sufficient dana to hold the course could not be requested from the monks themselves. Nor did I feel it possible to ask my family to bear any further expenses, since, despite being non-meditators, they were already generously providing for the cost of my travel and livelihood. I began to think that holding a course at Sarnath would not be advisable.
Then a thought came to mind: Who am I to find a solution? This problem will be solved by Dhamma. I am only a vessel. If the re-establishment of Vipassana in India is to happen, some solution will automatically come to light. Relieved of this anxiety, I proceeded with my preparations for the imminent journey with a calm mind.
A few hours later, a taxi was waiting outside the house to take me to the railway station. Suddenly Vimala arrived to pay her respects. She humbly offered me something tied in a handkerchief, from which a few coins fell. It seemed that every month since coming to India she had been saving a sum from her household money. She had the entire amount in that handkerchief. With great joy, she said,“This may be of use to you in your future courses.”
How had this inspiration arisen in her mind? I had not mentioned my financial concerns to anyone. Certainly this was due to Dhamma! I knew fully well that at that time every member of the family received only the minimum needed to cover daily necessities. Yet, even from this meagre amount she had carefully saved, in order to serve Dhamma. Despite my protestations, she insisted, and packed the money in my baggage. Not only my heart, but my eyes, welled up.
Even today when I think of this, my heart and mind are suffused with mudita (sympathetic joy), and I feel: Sadhu, sadhu, sadhu!
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