Himalaya Putra
How to be free from addiction? Acharya S.N. Goenka: Vipassana practice trains you to observe bodily sensations. Sensations (pressure, pain, heat, vibrations, any tangible feeling in the body) arise with thoughts. The root of the mind (where habit patterns are formed) reacts to body sensations, not to your thoughts or outside objects. This is the law of nature. Sensations are there from birth to death. Vipassana training develops the faculty to be aware of this subtler reality. Vipassana involves awareness of sensations with perfect equanimity. No more reacting with aversion. This means not generating anger as before in a similar situation. This anger-free moment turns into few moments, seconds, minutes. The meditator is gradually freed from addiction to anger – any addiction. *** Q: How would you define success? From interview with PBS (free-to-air Public Broadcasting Service), USA. July 22, 2002. During S.N. Goenka’s four-month tour of North America and Europe. Goenkaji: Before Vipassana, I thought success was being one inch taller than others; but after Vipassana I discovered that true success is being happy. Now I consider myself successful when I see how much I have come out of suffering, and also when I serve others and see the change in them. *** Q: What is the real strength in life? SNG: The strength of a pure mind. No other strength compares to it in life. Nothing can shake the person who has real strength of mind. A truly strong person is not disturbed by the ups and downs of life. *** Q: What is depression? Is it an external or an internal problem? Goenkaji: The real cause of all problems is internal. The apparent cause is external. Vipassana practice takes you deep inside your mind, for you to discover the real cause of your depression. And you will find that the root cause is within yourself, not outside. Remove that cause, and you will be free from your suffering. *** Q: How can Vipassana be of use to anyone in the corporate world? SN Goenka: Businessme
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