When one takes refuge in Buddha, one must be careful that this devotion does not turn into blind devotion. Such madness may lead us to believe that the Buddha will end all our suffering. On the other hand, after witnessing the process of purification taking place in oneself and in others with the practice of this technique, if one’s sense of gratitude towards the compassionate Enlightened Teacher begins to overflow, any expression of respect and gratitude would certainly not be out of place. When our devotion is inspired by wholesome qualities that liberate and purify us, such devotion inspires us to acquire these qualities. Devotion of this nature does not become a blind belief and turn into bondage; it becomes a factor of enlightenment. This factor of enlightenment makes the mind tender, which is of great assistance in the process of purification through the practice of Vipassana.

The object of Vipassana meditation is not the Buddha; it is the awareness of the moment-to-moment changing nature of one’s own body and mind. Vipassana teaches us to be constantly mindful of the real nature of things every moment. Such a practice that trains us to live in and to be aware of the present moment, to see and experience things as they really are, can be accepted and practised by all. One learns to observe oneself and to study one’s own nature. One examines one’s own body and mind and observes the manifestation of the conditioning of the mind in the course of life at each moment. One sees the arising of craving and aversion. By the practice of such awareness one can liberate oneself from all mental defilements and get established in true Dhamma. Such a pure being is respected and esteemed regardless of his sect. Such a person, with mind free from all fetters, is not only happy and peaceful himself; he becomes an instrument for enhancing the happiness and peace of others.

May the munificent, all-embracing, benevolent, universal nature of Dhamma reach all suffering beings and be the cause of their peace, happiness and liberation.

May all beings be happy!

Excerpt from The Munificent Nature of Dhamma – by S. N. Goenka
VNL Vol.9 No.12 December, 1999