[This is a “back-post”; it is a work-in-progress, so it may change partially or completely, with materials added or taken away, over the next several days or weeks. This is “day 2(b)” of my stay at the Vipassana Meditation retreat. For general comments and summary, see “day 11.”]
I felt rather disgusted this evening with Mr Goenka’s discourse. He makes all these claims to be presenting something that’s scientific and non-sectarian. He states repeatedly and unequivocally that this is not dogma, but simple truth.
But, in fact, what he’s presenting isn’t just dogma… it’s pretty darn orthodox Theravada Buddhist dogma, at that. I wouldn’t hesitate to describe the belief system underlying his vipassana practice as a sort of neo-orthodox fundamentalist Theravedism… for those of you who care about such things.
The fact of it being orthodox Buddhism doesn’t bother me in the least. I knew (and know) that vipassana is a Buddhist meditative practice. But, as many of you know, hypocrisy does bother me. A lot. And when someone like Mr Goenka tries to sell orthodox Buddhism as something non-sectarian and non-dogmatic, that pisses me off. So, today, I feel pissed off.
