In addition, recognizing that the corruption problem is as much a moral as a governance issue, Indians have tapped the country's spiritual traditions to beat corruption. For example, business leaders ranging from Fortune 500 company managers to business students have studied an ancient system of mind purification called Vipassana; research suggests that Vipassana is effective in helping to understand the self-destructive nature of corruption.
A senior Indian government official, D R Parihar, in his research study "The Impact of Vipassana on Government", concluded that Vipassana has a direct role to play in improving public administration. Leading Indian corporates such as ONGC, Indian Railways, auto maker Mahindra & Mahindra, and nuclear facilities such as the Bhabha Atomic Research Center regularly send employees to attend Vipassana courses.
Read more: http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/HF29Df03.html
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Monday, June 26, 2006
GOD'S DOMINION (excerpt)
Since the retreats offer almost no opportunity to break the vows, keeping them is seldom a problem. But, once outside again, the world presents more than enough opportunities; it presents encouragement and even pressure to break them. When I spoke to Goenka about how difficult it was to stop drinking altogether for personal and social reasons, he advised me not to force it, since force would only increase the craving which was at the core of drinking. Be aware, be moderate, keep meditating — he said — and when that particular habit was ready to surface, as a sensation, it would be erased naturally. And, despite my scepticism, that is what happened. I came out of a twenty-day retreat in 1982 and found, in the weeks and months and years that followed, I had not the least desire for a glass of beer or a sip of champagne.
"I’m worried I’m being brainwashed," I said to Goenka in a state of panic midway through my second retreat.
"You are being brainwashed," he answered. "Your brain is being washed!"
It was a matter of faith again, I suppose, but faith tested rigorously, suspiciously, against what it promised and what it delivers. "Do not simply believe whatever you are told, or whatever had been handed down from past generations, or what is common opinion, or whatever the scriptures say," Buddha — is reputed to have — said. "Do not accept something as true merely by deduction or inference, or by considering outward appearances, or by partiality for a certain view, or because of its plausibility, or because your teacher tells you it is so. But when you yourselves directly know that these principles are unwholesome, blameworthy, condemned by the wise — when adopted and carried out they lead to harm and suffering — then you should abandon them. And when you yourselves know that these principles are wholesome, blameless, praised by the wise — when adopted and carried out they lead to welfare and happiness — then you should accept and practise them."
Read more: http://web.archive.org/web/20061015235040/http://rongrahamcanada.com/books/gods.html
"I’m worried I’m being brainwashed," I said to Goenka in a state of panic midway through my second retreat.
"You are being brainwashed," he answered. "Your brain is being washed!"
It was a matter of faith again, I suppose, but faith tested rigorously, suspiciously, against what it promised and what it delivers. "Do not simply believe whatever you are told, or whatever had been handed down from past generations, or what is common opinion, or whatever the scriptures say," Buddha — is reputed to have — said. "Do not accept something as true merely by deduction or inference, or by considering outward appearances, or by partiality for a certain view, or because of its plausibility, or because your teacher tells you it is so. But when you yourselves directly know that these principles are unwholesome, blameworthy, condemned by the wise — when adopted and carried out they lead to harm and suffering — then you should abandon them. And when you yourselves know that these principles are wholesome, blameless, praised by the wise — when adopted and carried out they lead to welfare and happiness — then you should accept and practise them."
Read more: http://web.archive.org/web/20061015235040/http://rongrahamcanada.com/books/gods.html
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Vipassana: Notes from Spiritual Boot Camp
I recently returned from a ten day meditation "retreat" at one of S.N. Goenka's Vipassana Centres. This was no relaxing vacation. At Vipassana, I delved into the dark depths of my psyche and came out with a profound attitude adjustment that helped me to find the root cause of a mysterious illness and improved my ability to stay calm. Making the choice to attend Vipassana was one of the most important things I have ever done. This essay is my attempt to encourage readers to consider giving it a try. Courses are offered all over the world for free on a donation-only basis (including room and board!)
Read more: http://liveweb.archive.org/http://www.margonaut.com/vipassana.htm
Read more: http://liveweb.archive.org/http://www.margonaut.com/vipassana.htm
Monday, June 12, 2006
Where management meets Vipassana : SCMHRD Director’s interview
According to Director Prof KS Subramanian, SCMHRD differs from other b-schools of its league in that it looks upon students as individuals who are giving a last shot at professional education in their life.
“It is not going to happen that these students will go back to organized learning on a two year basis again in their lives. Having said that, we want to build as many competencies as possible in them and contribute talented individuals to the society and industry,” says Prof Subramanian.
Perhaps the most talked about dimension of SCMHRD is its stress on spiritual learning and yoga, Vipassana sessions and a strict code of conduct on campus. Mobile phones are banned on campus and there are strict restrictions on public display of affection. Prof Subramanian strongly advocates these rules.
“You have come here to learn in a personal teaching environment. Why carry a mobile phone and let yourself and others be disturbed? It frustrates the teachers also disturbs others.”
Read more: http://www.pagalguy.com/?p=396
“It is not going to happen that these students will go back to organized learning on a two year basis again in their lives. Having said that, we want to build as many competencies as possible in them and contribute talented individuals to the society and industry,” says Prof Subramanian.
Perhaps the most talked about dimension of SCMHRD is its stress on spiritual learning and yoga, Vipassana sessions and a strict code of conduct on campus. Mobile phones are banned on campus and there are strict restrictions on public display of affection. Prof Subramanian strongly advocates these rules.
“You have come here to learn in a personal teaching environment. Why carry a mobile phone and let yourself and others be disturbed? It frustrates the teachers also disturbs others.”
Read more: http://www.pagalguy.com/?p=396
Tuesday, June 6, 2006
Alt Rocker Finds Inner Peace
Take Weezer's frontman, send him to Harvard, and have him meditate for two hours a day. What do you get? One calm Rivers.
Meet Rivers Cuomo, the famously self-tortured lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter of the Grammy-nominated band Weezer. They're the alternative-rock band who sing "Beverly Hills" and who made that great Spike Jonze-directed video "Buddy Holly." In the last few years Cuomo has been practicing Vipassana meditation , whose goal is, according to the Vipassana Mediation website, "the total eradication of mental impurities and the resultant highest happiness of full liberation.
Read More: http://www.beliefnet.com/Entertainment/Music/2006/06/Alt-Rocker-Finds-Inner-Peace.aspx
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