Goenka

In his advanced retreats, does he limit awareness to the body through body scans or does he eventually increase awareness to the rest of the 4 Foundations, i.e., feeling tone, mental contents and mental condition?

jack

I have done several courses of Goenka, one of them being the advanced 'Satipatthana' course which is for people who have done atleast 3 regular 10-day courses, and have read some of his writings on this topic.

According to my understanding, his instructions are as follows: to always be aware of subtle sensations, and that by observing sensations, one is also observing the other 3 foundations, along with it - for example, anger arises in the mind, and so one is simultanously aware that anger has arisen, together with the sensations that makes up or is tied to 'anger', or a certain kind of thought, along with the sensation that is tied to that thought.

You can read his discourses on the Satipatthana Sutta here:
www.vridhamma.org/Discourses-on-Satipatthana-Sutta
They are rather long, but interesting - more so on a retreat setting as well.

I sat a twenty day Goenka retreat and the lectures where pretty much what is presented in the ten day courses! Same instructions also. Mental contents/conditions are never directly addressed if you follow his instructions. The Satipatthana course lectures are the most in depth, but again, the instructions do not vary from the beginning courses.

Hi Rocket,

I've heard that there are some "advanced instructions" given on the 30-day and longer courses (45, 60), which vary from the regular 10 day instructions.
(But yeah, probably not about observing mental contents directly - as sensation is pretty much his way).

Interesting. Well fortunate for us that D. Ingram took the time to write his book so it is easy to supplement Goenkas teachings. The retreat centers are efficient for Vipassana practice. I'm not planning on sitting other goenka retreats but I wouldn't mind serving again, I really enjoyed that experience and meant some friends!

I took my 7th 10 day Goenka retreat after I started working with Kenneth, so I mentioned in the registration sheet (where they ask old students what non-Goenka practices they have engaged in) that I had been doing Mahasi-style noting practice. When I was asking the Assistant Teacher a question mid-course, he seemed to go out of his way to tell me to NOT 'analyze sensations'. When I asked him what that meant, he said, "Saying this sensation is hatred, that sensation is fear, etc."

".

According to my understanding, his instructions are as follows: to always be aware of subtle sensations, and that by observing sensations, one is also observing the other 3 foundations, along with it - for example, anger arises in the mind, and so one is simultanously aware that anger has arisen, together with the sensations that makes up or is tied to 'anger', or a certain kind of thought, along with the sensation that is tied to that thought.

You can read his discourses on the Satipatthana Sutta here:
www.vridhamma.org/Discourses-on-Satipatthana-Sutta
They are rather long, but interesting - more so on a retreat setting as well."

Does he teach awareness of vedana (feeling tone)

jack

"Does he teach awareness of vedana (feeling tone)

jack"

My understanding is that according to Goenka, Vedana means Sensation, and so he teaches only Vedananupassana - by observing physical sensations, subtler and subtler, and being aware whether they are pleasant or unpleasant.

Did you read the discourses on the link I gave before? I believe you'll get the answers to your questions from it, its his comprehensive discourse and understanding of the Satipatthana Sutta.

"My understanding is that according to Goenka, Vedana means Sensation, and so he teaches only Vedananupassana - by observing physical sensations, subtler and subtler, and being aware whether they are pleasant or unpleasant.

Did you read the discourses on the link I gave before? I believe you'll get the answers to your questions from it, its his comprehensive discourse and understanding of the Satipatthana Sutta.
"

Thanks, Yadid. I'm about 1/2 way through the material from the link you sent me. Very informatiive.

jack

"Does he teach awareness of vedana (feeling tone)

jack"

Yes. He speaks very specifically about sensations and vedana. He calls it feeling, not feeling tone.