Global Pagoda and the Shining Star of Dhamma

In many ways, the original architect of the Global Pagoda is Sayagyi U Ba Khin (1899-1971). The foremost Vipassana teacher of his time, Sayagyi U Ba Khin was instrumental in Vipassana returning to India, the Dhamma land of its origin. In 1969, he sent one of his students Sayagyi U S.N.Goenka to India as his representative to teach Vipassana. In the following decades, the Ganges of Dhamma spread widely not only in India, but all over the world.

The Global Pagoda that is modelled on the famous Shwedagon Pagoda in Rangoon, stands also as a monumental mark of gratitude to Sayagyi U Ba Khin and Burma, the country that preserved Vipassana in its purity after it had been lost to India for millennia.

The Shwedagon Pagoda in Rangoon, Burma. The height of the Global Pagoda in Mumbai, India, has been kept slightly lower than that of the Shwedagon, as mark of gratitude and respect to Burma that preserved the teaching of Vipassana in its purity for millennnia.

Sayagyi U Goenka describes his remarkable teacher as a 'Shining Star of Dhamma'. He writes: "Sayagyi U Ba Khin was one of the foremost teachers of Vipassana of our time-a source of inspiration to many, including myself. One of his unique contributions was that he gave much attention to foreigners and non-Buddhists in his teaching. Sayagyi's predecessors were Saya Thetgyi and Ledi Sayadaw. The other disciples of these teachers who were teaching Vipassana in this tradition used only the Burmese language for the most part and so had only Burmese students. Sayagyi, however, spoke fluent English and was able to explain Dhamma in English in a way that those calling themselves "Buddhists" or others, Burmese and non-Burmese alike could grasp and appreciate.

"Sayagyi's way was not the way of scholars. Every word that he spoke came from his own experience. Therefore his teachings have the life of experience within them, and this is why every word said by him was very powerful and encouraging to his students. He wrote little, and he spoke little; but still, many students were benefited by his teaching."

Below are some inspiring sayings of Sayagyi U Ba Khin, collated by the Vipassana Research Institute:

" The world is facing serious problems. It is just the right time for everyone to take to Vipassana meditation and learn how to find a deep pool of quiet in the midst of all that is happening today."

"The Dhamma can stand the test of those who are anxious to do so. They can know for themselves what the benefits are."

"The more one is attached to self, the greater is the suffering.

"To imagine that good can be done by the means of evil is an illusion, a nightmare."

"A balanced mind is necessary to balance the unbalanced mind of others."

"Only those who take to meditation with good intentions can be assured of success. With the development of the purity and the power of the mind backed by the insight into the ultimate truth of nature, one may be able to do a lot of things in the right direction for the benefit of mankind."

"Just as the light of a candle has the power to dispel darkness in a room, so also the light developed in one man can help dispel darkness in several others."

"For progress in Vipassana meditation, a student must keep knowing anicca as continuously as possible."

"Dhamma eradicates suffering and gives happiness. Who gives this happiness? It is not the Buddha but the Dhamma, the knowledge of anicca within the body, which gives this happiness. That is why you must meditate and be aware of anicca continually."

"What is happiness? For all that science has achieved in the field of materialism, are the peoples of the world happy? They may find sensual pleasures off and on, but in their hearts of hearts, they are not happy when they realise what has happened, and what may happen next. Why? This is because, while man has mastery over matter, he is still lacking in mastery over his mind."

"Anicca is inside of everybody. It is within reach of everybody. Just a look into oneself and there it is. Anicca (impermanence) is, for the householder, the gem of life which he will treasure to create a reservoir of calm and balanced energy for their own well-being and for the welfare of society."

"Anicca when properly developed will solve almost all your problems. It might not even be necessary for you to ask questions for answers. As the appreciation of anicca grows, so will the veil of ignorance fade away. When the way becomes clear for right understanding, doubts and fears will disappear automatically. You will then see things in the true perspective."

"Continuous awareness of anicca, and so of dukkha (suffering) and anattā (insubstantiality), is the secret of success."

Global Pagoda and the University of Dhamma

" This truth of aniccā (impermanence) can be realized directly only by the experience of bodily sensations. With this realization comes the understanding that one has no control over the changes constantly occurring in the body - aniccā. Therefore any attachment to what is changing beyond one's control is bound to bring nothing but suffering - dukkha. Knowing these facts now by personal experience, the meditator develops the wisdom of equanimity. By observing sensations he has reached the ultimate truth about body, and as a result his attachment to the body is shattered. He emerges from the folly of identifying with the body and develops real detachment, real enlightenment."
- Sayagyi U S.N.Goenka in 'Sensation, the Key to Satipatthāna'

The Global Pagoda exists as a towering University of Dhamma, to inform about and facilitate the practical learning of Vipassana - the universal path to gaining independence from bondages of all suffering.

A painting depicting an event in Gotama the Buddha's life, to be displayed in the Information Gallery of the Global Pagoda, Mumbai, India. Created by some distinguished artists in India and Burma, these intricate paintings accurately depict some important events in the Buddha's life. They would comprise the single largest thematic collection of paintings in the world.

Information and Vipassana meditation facilities made available through the Global Pagoda serve to remove one of the biggest misunderstandings of our times: equating the universal, scientific, practical teachings of the Buddha with any organized, ritualistic religion.

There is no record of the Buddha ever using the word 'Buddhism'. He taught Dhamma, the laws of nature applicable to us every moment in our life, to free ourselves from all suffering and to experience real happiness from moment to moment.

In the truest and highest scientific tradition, these truths can be directly experienced - gradually from the grossest truth to subtler truths leading to the subtlest truth - by anyone correctly and ardently practicing Vipassana. The practice involves objectively observing the arising and passing of bodily sensations within. The entire story of our life, and all its secrets, are in these impermanent physical sensations within.

One can call this process by any name. If not Vipassana, call it 'Tutti Fruity Ice-cream' or 'Strawberry Fields', the name won't make any difference. The truth of nature remains the truth. The most fundamental process of nature does not get altered with any name alterations. That objectively observing the impermanent bodily sensations is the pathway to experiencing the subtlest laws of nature - and leading to happiness and liberation from all misery - is a truth as simple as 2 + 3 = 5. One cannot argue that, "No, no, this sounds very dogmatic and narrow-minded. How can we say that 2 + 3 equals only 5, and not 7, 131 or any other of the infinite number of numbers?"

Similarly, one cannot argue with the truth that objectively observing the arising, passing of sensations (Vipassana)  is the only process of nature to purify the mind at the deepest level, where conditioning of habit patterns takes place.

With Vipassana practice, one experiences how the bio-chemistry of mind and matter works within, the various electro-magnetic forces that arise, interact and pass away every moment, within the physical-mental structure that we call 'I'. One can only objectively observe, understand, benefit. Vipassana enables gaining the experiential wisdom to understand the universe within us.

Ignorance, and forgetfulness, of this inner reality leads us to making mistakes that harm us and others in our lives. Vipassana cures this most deadly disease called ignorance - ignorance of the changing reality within.

The word 'Vipassana' in Pali language means insight 'to see things as they are in reality', in their tre nature, instead of apparent reality. This practice helps us develop the faculty to be aware and equanimous to the truth of what is happening within us 24 / 7. We learn to calmly face the truth, instead of diverting our mind from it.

As Principal Vipassana teacher Sayagyi U S.N. Goenka explains:

" Whatever truth is outside can be found within as well; whatever is within also exists outside. We may accept truth out of devotion or intellectual conviction, but in order to undestand it directly we must explore within, to experience truth within ourselves. By thus coming face to face with truth, we can develop experiential wisdom that will make a real change in our lives.

The meditator starts investigation from a superficial level at which gross, solidified truths appear. But as one observes the apparent truth objectively, one starts penetrating from gross to subtler truths and finally witnesses ultimate truth. This ultimate truth can be experienced only only by exploring reality within oneself.

The exploration of the truth within is Vipassana meditation. In the course of this exploration the meditator must investigate two fields, two aspects of reality: matter and mind. Investigation of the physical reality is called in Pāli kāyānupassanā. Investigation of the mental reality is called cittānupassanā. In fact, however, matter and mind cannot be experienced separately from each other because they are interdependent, interconnected.

Exploring one is bound to involve an exploration of the other. Neither can be fully understood without the other."

The inspiring way Vipassana unites all humanity can be found in in every Dhamma centre and in every Vipassana course location worldwide. People and leaders from all religions, language, nationalities, social strata come together, in the same Dhamma hall and meditation cells in a pagoda, to practice the quintessence of the practical teaching of a super-scientist, Gotama the Buddha. He taught Dhamma, the laws of nature that exist whether a Buddha exists or not.

That the objective observation of bodily sensations - call this practice by any name, Vipassana or Bugs Bunny Bonus - is the heart of all religions, the actual practice of leading a wholesome life, as taught by all religions. This is  why many religious leaders from all faiths have taken Vipassana courses - including thousands of Christian priests and nuns, Islamic religious leaders including senior Ayatollahs in Iran, Hindu religious leaders, and venerable monks and nuns.

When we experience the reality as it is, our actions and decisions are based on truth, not delusions. So our life becomes happier, not torn apart with tension, stress, conflict, fear, insecurity - and every other variation of suffering that are all born out of a central disease: a big ego.

Any 'University of Life' has to teach this science of mind and matter, the technology of destroying our own ego, and thereby defeating all inner negative forces that lead to suffering.

The Global Pagoda, through its various facilities such as the world's largest meditation hall and a vast information gallery, is such a Dhamma university of happiness - and of sharing this happiness with all beings.

* Special One-day Vipassana [refresher] Course on Oct 4, 2009
* Global Pagoda developmental projects