A Diversity of Practice
Several years ago, Steve Jarand and Kati Schweitzer decided to spend extended time in Burma, and they discussed this in a recent podcast episode. As vipassana meditators from the Goenka tradition, they were eager to spend time living in a Buddhist society, and in the following passage, describe what they learned and how they were inspired by their time in the Golden Land.
“Sitting a course in Myanmar was an eye-opening experience! The level of discipline among the students was remarkable.”
Steve Jarand: Well, it allowed me to release some of the preciousness and self-imposed rigidity about my personal practice and the way courses are set up. There are a lot of rules, and as a new or serious meditator, you tend to adhere strictly to them, seeing things in black and white. But once you witness people living the practice and integrating it into their daily lives, experimenting with different forms of devotion and adding various practices, you realize it's much broader than just a set of courses. You have to make it work for yourself. I was able to relax some of the strictness for myself, still following the course guidelines, but letting go of anxiety about whether I'm doing it right or wrong and what will come of it. I can relate this to a time when I was struggling and questioning whether to continue with the practice. It came down to the fact that it's my practice, not about conforming to one specific way or another. If I choose to continue, it's because I have found a way to make it work for me, regardless of any external standards.
Kati Schweitzer: Before going to Myanmar, I didn't know much about the Goenka tradition beyond what was taught in the courses. However, I found inspiration from different angles, teachers, readings, and discourses. I saw how their practice in Myanmar had some differences from what we do in the courses, yet it still held its value and offered me fresh inspiration for my own practice. Sitting a course in Myanmar was an eye-opening experience! The level of discipline among the students was remarkable. I always felt like the slacker because, unlike them, I would arrive just a few minutes before the gong, while they would be in front of the Dhamma Hall ten minutes early. Sometimes, when I later sat courses in Europe, I reminded myself to embrace a bit of the Myanmar approach and be more punctual.
Steve Jarand: It's interesting to note that even though many of the Myanmar students weren't regular or serious meditators, they effortlessly embraced the discipline of the practice whenever they could attend a course.