Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said Vipassana is a unique gift of ancient India and a modern science whose application can help young and old cope with the “stress and pain” of life.
Meditation and Vipassana were once seen as a medium for renunciation, but now it has become a medium for personality development in real life, Modi said in a virtual address to commemorate the birth centenary of Vipassana teacher Goenka.
He said India needs to share the evidence of Vipassana science with the world as per the standards of modern science.
“Stress and distress are common in today’s lives, both young and old, and the teachings of Vipassana can help them find solutions to their problems,” Modi said.
He said SN Goenka is a perfect example of “life, one mission”.
Modi said his teachings and commitment to social welfare were a source of inspiration for India to quickly achieve the goals of Viksit Bharat.
“Inspired by Buddha, Guruji would say that when people meditate together, the results are very effective. This power of unity is the great pillar of Viksit Bharat.”
Recalling his close association with Goenka, the Prime Minister said the late Vipassana teacher had a calm and serene quality.
“His only mission was to meditate and spread the knowledge he gained to everyone. His contribution was for humanity,” Modi said.
He said Vipassana was a unique gift of ancient India but its legacy was forgotten by generations.
Vipassana, he said, is the journey from self-observation to self-transformation and the solution to all challenges faced today.
The Prime Minister added that yoga has gained acceptance across the world and International Yoga Day has now become a part of global life.
“We thought meditation and Vipassana were external mediums that should not be brought into real life. Now it is a medium for personality development,” he said.
Modi said that Vipassana is also a modern science and needs to be taught to future generations.
“Meditating together gives effective results. This feeling of unity and the power of unity is the main basis of Viksit Bharat,” he said.
Goenka is famous for popularizing the ancient technique of Vipassana meditation with the aim of eradicating mental impurities and thereby achieving the highest bliss of complete liberation.
Modi further said that in today’s challenging times, where young people are falling victim to stress due to work-life balance, lifestyle and other issues, vipassana has become even more important.
“Bharat needs to take the lead in making Vipassana more acceptable,” he said.
The Prime Minister highlighted the importance of Vipassana and said it had great significance when it was introduced thousands of years ago.
“Vipassana has become even more important in today’s life because of its ability to solve the world’s current challenges,” he added.
He said that due to Goenka’s efforts, more than 80 countries have understood the importance of meditation and adopted it.
“Goenka Master once again gave Vipassana global recognition. Today, India is making every effort to implement this resolution.” Modi recalled the support of more than 190 countries for India’s proposal to celebrate International Yoga Day at the United Nations.
Vipassana, meditation and concentration are often thought of as just things to give up on, but people forget how useful it is,” he added.
“Healthy living is a great responsibility that all of us have towards ourselves,” Modi said.
Highlighting the benefits of Vipassana, Modi stressed that it is not only a solution for young people but also for small and nuclear family members as aging parents still face stress.
He also urged everyone to connect these initiatives with senior citizens.
The Prime Minister also commended Acharya Goenkar for his efforts in bringing peace, happiness and harmony in everyone’s life through his campaign.
“He also wanted future generations to benefit from these activities, thereby expanding his knowledge. He did not stop there, he also produced skilled teachers,” Modi added.
Vipassana is a journey into the soul and a way of going deeper into the self, Modi said, emphasizing that it is not just a genre but a science.
“We are familiar with the results of this science. We now need to present its evidence to the world as per the standards of modern science. While a lot of work has been done in this direction around the world, India needs to take the lead in leveraging new research to make it more acceptable , thereby bringing greater welfare to the world,” he added.
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from associated news agency – PTI)
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