Unforgettable event
For many years, Gurudev was training me for Vipassana teaching. I wasn't even aware of this ranch though. I have been thinking for years that I am serving him as a language translator, so that Indian students can understand the orders given by him in Burmi in Hindi.
After many years I found out that they are preparing me for future responsibilities. He took me to camp with him in Mandalay and Memyo Cities, North Burma. There were no heated Vipassana centers where the holy waves of religion could be found. I will have to go to India and camp at school, dharamshala, hotels etc. etc. where the religious waves of Vipassana centers will not be found. As if they were taken along to give their pre-training. Probably wanted to predict how Vipassana camp should be installed outside the Sadhana Center.
The first camp of North Burma engaged in Mandalay. In this all the sadhak-sadhikas were Hindi speaking Indians. Yakayak Guruji ordered me to give evening sermon and give it in Hindi. Now it seems that he was also to prepare for future responsibilities. By the way, there was enough experience of giving public preaching. But to preach on Vipassana Dharma and that too in the presence of Pujya Gurudev, it felt very bad and hesitated. But it was the order of Gurudev. So done and erased the hesitation.
Just a few days after this religious scholar of North Burma, a camp was held at the Vipassana Center in Rangoon, with only 3 Sadhaks attended and all three are Hindi speaking Indians. When the time came to give food, as usual I went to the central room of Chaitya with Gurudev. There Gurudev completed the early Buddha Vandana and then suddenly told me that now give them Tri-Ratna Sharan, Panchsheel and Anapan! I am shocked by this most unexpected order. When they saw me a little nervous, the words of assurance dared not to panic. I am right here with you. I took away my hesitation and took serious responsibility of early religious teaching for the first time in his presence. Gurudev was very satisfied and happy.
The fourth day was Vipassana. It was a guess that Vipassana will also be given by Guruji from me. But the panic happened when Guruji ordered to give Vipassana and went to rest in his residence room. How will I give Vipassana alone in their absence? But maybe that's what they wanted to teach. What if they dared to go they wouldn't be present? There will be waves of their friendship and religion; which will give me security and success.
After getting strength from their assurance words, I gave Vipassana to three camps alone for the first time. The journey of Vipassana from head to toe was not even half yet that one of those three seekers started washing very fast. Moment her trembling and smoking was getting faster. As if there was a ghost riding on him. Lost my whistle for a few moments. What to do now? I have come to call Guruji by calling him. But by doing this, the whole environment of Vipassana would have been destroyed. I woke up to the legend.
Immediately the smiling face of Gurudev woke up in my mind. Then his words of assurance echoed in the ears and the waves of his friendship started to be felt around. Got a big force. I understood that they don't need to be called. They are with me in the form of these religion waves. Just because of this, the mind was calm and with a balanced Pacific mind, he became calm within a few minutes. She stopped smoking. The first Vipassana given by me was successful. Gurudev was very happy.
Since then till today when I teach religion in a camp I feel their presence as friendly waves and I realize that I am just their representative. I am just serving them by distributing religion to the sad people from every place and fulfilling their auspicious resolutions. The work is theirs. The power is theirs!
- Satya Narayan Goenka
Vipassana Magazine Collection (Part-7)
Vipassana Vishodhan Vyas. ।