I had criticized S.N. Goenka for different reasons. But P.P. Lakshman is praising Vipassana for different reasons. I must congratulate him that his life has changed like many others. It would have been better if he had said that he became a better Ambedkarite thereby.
They say Vipassana creates “peace of mind”. I know a staunch Ambedkarite. He joined BJP. On inquiry he revealed that he devoted lot of time to Vipassana and consequently developed lot of karuna for BJP. Good for BJP also because he got a job in BJP-run school. Anyway, a strong activist is lost to the Ambedkarite movement. They say Vipassana is good for certain ailments like blood pressure or diabetes or for alcoholism. Such people should do Vipassana. Read a poem on Vipassana translated by me on the poetry section of www.ambedkar.org.
Good for rich people: I do not think Vipassana is good for Ambedkarites who should keep the flame burning in them. Yes, if you want to cure some illness or become a bhiku or renounce the life of a householder, you may do Vipassana or if you want to join RSS etc. you may do Vipassana.
If Vipassana can extinguish the revolutionary spirit of Dr. Ambedkar’s Budhism but keeps the theological spirit of traditional Brahminised Budhism alive, it is not good for Ambedkarites. A much-publicised Vipassana writer has described the rite akin to kanyadaan in Budhist marriage ritual. I think it is not right for an Ambedkarite to follow such rites.
I have not criticized Goenka for teaching the wrong technique of Vipassana. He must be good. I criticize Goenka for spreading it among Ambedkarites. Those who are well off, well settled and do not want any change in social order, for them Vipassana is good for their health and wealth. Goenka may teach that to shetjis, bhatjis and latjis. I have no objection. But for poor, toiling struggling masses, Vipassana will deprive the stimulus to struggle for his existence against Brahminism. Up till now nobody has answered my question that I raised in Dalit Voice. The question is:
“Are you, the Ambedkarites, willing to accept Goenka as your leader in negotiations with the leaders of Brahminism”. (DV guest editorial May 16, 2003).
Vedic origin: I need clarifications on some more points:
(1) Goenka’s arrival from Burma, how did it coincide with Dr. Ambedkar’s conversion? Was it a coincidence or planned by higher ups in the BSO? (2) Who were his first disciples? Anything to do with RSS? Who got him settled? Were they converted Budhists of Igatpuri or Bombay? (3) Does he say Vipassana is of Budhist origin? (4) Does he not say it was an old Indian practice, thereby claiming a vedic origin of Vipassana? (5) Does he say that by doing Vipassana, you follow Budha’s path? Or does he say people do not become Budhist by doing Vipassana? (6) Are his teachings of Budhism in consonance with Ambedkarite Budhism or are more in tune with Budha-avatara of Vishnu? (7) Why Goenka addressed the Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s international conferences where the Budha was projected as an avatara of Vishnu? Is he propagating the Budha as Dr. Ambedkar did or as VHP does? (8) Who gave him authority to negotiate on behalf of Ambedkarite Budhists with Kanchi Shankarachari? (9) Has he conducted any function to convert others to Budhism or at least participated in such functions? If not, why should he participate in functions which declare Budha as Vishnu avatar? Or to put it more bluntly are his loyalties with the Budhist or with the VHP? (10) Please understand me. I am not questioning the capability of Vipassana in curing some diseases or in giving some mental peace to those who need artificial solace. I am questioning its usefulness to Ambedkarites who are striving for social change through Budhism.
For us Budhism is not an end. It is a means to an end. Our aim is social transformation and economic emancipation. And I feel the Vipassana is a hindrance to it.
(11) Is he not a small cog in the giant wheel of RSS in co-opting the Budhists and nullifying the revolution effected by Dr.Ambedkar? (12) So, I agree with scholars like Yashwant Manohar who said that “Vipassana is polluting the Ambedkarite movement”. If my criticism was out of ignorance, I would like to be enlightened on these points.
