A Message From Goenkaji on the Value of Dhamma Service
While serving, you are learning how to apply Dhamma in day-to-day life. After all, Dhamma is not an escape from daily responsibilities. By learning to act according to Dhamma in dealing with students and situations here in the little world of a meditation course or center, you train yourself to act in the same way in the world outside. Despite the fact that unwanted things keep happening, you practice trying to maintain the balance of your mind, and to generate love and compassion in response. This is the lesson that you are trying to master here. You are a student as much as those who are sitting in the course.
Keep on learning while humbly serving others. Keep thinking, "I am here in training, to practice serving without expecting anything in return. I am working so that others may benefit from the Dhamma. Let me help them by setting a good example, and in so doing, help myself as well."
May all of you who give Dhamma service become strengthened in Dhamma. May you learn to develop your goodwill, love and compassion for others. May all of you progress in Dhamma, and enjoy real peace, real harmony, real happiness.
S.N. Goenka
May Dhamma service prove most beneficial to you. With best wishes for success we offer the following information. Please read it carefully before coming to serve.
Selfless Service
Selfless service is an essential part of the path of Dhamma,
an important step in the direction of liberation. The practice of
Vipassana gradually eradicates mental impurities until inner
peace and happiness are attained. At first, this liberation from
misery may be only partial, but still it brings a deep sense of
gratitude for having been given the wonderful teaching of
Dhamma. With these feelings of love and compassion, the
wish naturally arises to help others come out of their misery.
Serving on courses provides an opportunity to express this
gratitude by helping people as they learn Dhamma, without
expecting anything in return. While selflessly serving others,
servers benefit themselves by developing the ten paramis and
reducing egotism.
Who is Qualified for Dhamma Service
Students who have successfully completed a ten-day
Vipassana course with Goenkaji or one of his assistant
teachers, and who have not practiced any other meditation
technique or performed energy healing since their last
Vipassana course, may give Dhamma service.
The Code of Discipline
Unless otherwise stated here, Dhamma servers should follow
the rules in the Code of Discipline for students. In certain
instances, however, relaxation of the rules is necessary and
permitted.
The Five Precepts
The Five Precepts are the foundation of the Code of
Discipline: To abstain from killing any being, to abstain from
stealing, to abstain from sexual misconduct (meaning, at the
meditation center, to abstain from all sexual activity), to
abstain from wrong speech, to abstain from all intoxicants.
These Five Precepts are mandatory for everyone at the center
and must be observed scrupulously at all times. It is expected
that those serving are also trying to maintain the Five Precepts
in their daily lives.
Accepting Guidance
Dhamma servers should follow the instructions of the
teachers and the management, being amenable to the advice
and guidance of those who are more experienced in
meditation or in service.
Changing established practices or initiating projects without
authorization or against the directions of those in positions of
responsibility will cause confusion, duplication of efforts and
be a waste of time and material. Insisting on working
independently of any direction is inconsistent with a spirit of
cooperation and congeniality. By following instructions,
servers learn to set aside personal preferences and
prejudices and do what is needed for the good of the
meditators and the efficient and harmonious running of
courses and the center. Problems should be resolved openly
and with humility. Positive suggestions are always welcome.
How to Serve the Students
In every situation Dhamma servers should prioritize the
welfare of the students who are sitting a course. Courses and
centers are for meditators; they are the most important
people, doing the most essential work. The job of a Dhamma
server is simply to assist the meditators in whatever way
possible. Students should therefore be given priority for
accommodation and food. Unless they have pressing duties,
Dhamma servers should not take their food until after the
students have been served, and they should not sit with
students in the dining hall. Dhamma servers should use
shared bathrooms for bathing and laundry at times other than
the students, and they should go to bed after the students, in
case their service is needed at that time. For all other facilities
as well, students must be given preference, and servers
should avoid disturbing them as much as possible.
Interactions with Students
The course managers are the only servers who should interact
with students during a course. --female managers with female
students, male managers with male students. They should be
attentive to whether the students are following the discipline
and timetable and may have to speak with those who are not
doing so. This task should always be done in a friendly and
compassionate manner, with the volition of encouraging the
meditators to overcome their difficulties. Words should be
phrased mindfully, in a positive way--never harshly. If one is
unable to do so, a co-worker should deal with the situation.
Managers must always take care to inquire about rather than
assume the cause of some apparent misconduct. It is
important to keep the conducting teachers informed of such
difficulties and interactions.
Other Dhamma servers should also be respectful and polite,
and available to help when approached. It is sometimes
helpful to ask the student's name. Servers should try to refer
students to the proper person with a minimum of talking or
distraction--either the teacher or the course manager,
depending on the nature of the problem. Dhamma servers
should not attempt to answer students' questions about
meditation but should explain that meditation questions
should be directed to the teacher.
The teacher should be kept informed of any contact the
servers have with students.
Students’ personal information should not be discussed with
other servers or students, or with anyone else after the
course.
Meditation Practice for Servers
Dhamma servers should serve conscientiously, without
wasting time, giving full attention to their work. At the same
time, they must also maintain their meditation practice. Every
server must meditate at least three hours daily; if possible,
this should be during the group sittings at 8 a.m., 2:30 p.m.
and 6 p.m. In addition, every evening that a teacher is present,
there is a short meditation session for servers in the Dhamma
hall at 9 p.m. These meditation periods are essential for the
well-being of the servers.
Servers on a course should practice Vipassana, using
Anapana when needed. Dhamma servers may change their
posture during group sittings if they wish.
At all times Dhamma servers have a responsibility to observe
themselves. They should try to be calm in all circumstances
and aware of their mental volition. If unable to do so because
of tiredness or any other reason, they should ask if they could
meditate or rest more, no matter how pressing their work
seems. Servers should not imagine themselves to be
indispensable.
A server can only give proper Dhamma service when they feel
peace and harmony within. If the base is not positive, the work
that is done will not be truly beneficial.
Servers staying at the center for longer times must
periodically sit a 10-day course, completely laying aside all
work, and not expecting any special preference or privilege as
a result of having given Dhamma service.
Meeting the Teachers
Servers should discuss any problems or difficulties with the
teachers. A good time to raise questions about serving or
general matters is after the 9:00 p.m. meditation session for
servers. Private interviews can also be arranged. In the
absence of teachers, servers should bring questions or
difficulties to the management.
Separation of Men and Women
The separation of men and women is always maintained at a
course site, both during and between courses. While absolute
separation of genders is not practical for the servers due to
the close working conditions, this situation should not be
misunderstood as an opportunity to socialize beyond what is
necessary to perform Dhamma service. This rule is even more
important for couples.
Fizisks kontakts
In order to maintain the pure meditative atmosphere and the
introspective nature of the practice, and to set a good
example for the students, Dhamma servers must avoid any
physical contact with meditators and other servers. Both
during and between courses, this rule is always to be
followed.
Noble Speech
The Noble Silence of the meditators should be respected by
the Dhamma servers. They should try to be silent within the
meditation compound and speak only when necessary.
Singing, whistling and humming are also not appropriate on
site. Even if students are not within earshot or there is no
course in progress, it is important not to disturb the silence
needlessly.
When speaking, servers must practice Right Speech, refraining from:
-
Speaking lies or anything less than the truth.
-
Harsh language or rude words. Someone practicing Dhamma should always be polite and soft-spoken.
-
Slander or backbiting. There should be no criticism of
others arising from one's own negative feelings. A
problem should be brought to the attention of the
person concerned or to the teachers or management.
-
Idle talk and gossip
Noble Speech is, without a doubt, much more difficult than
silence. It is therefore an important training for anyone
following the path of Dhamma.
Izskats
In the eyes of others, Dhamma servers are representatives of
the Teaching and the center. For this reason, the appearance
of servers should always be neat and clean.
Clothing should be simple, modest, and comfortable.
Striking, tight, transparent, or revealing clothing (such as
shorts, short skirts, tights and leggings, sleeveless or skimpy
tops) should not be worn. Jewelry should be kept to a
minimum or not worn at all.
Smēķēšana
The use of intoxicants or recreational drugs (such as alcohol,
marijuana, hashish, psychedelics etc) is not permitted on the
course. Smoking, vaping, or using other nicotine products is
also not permitted. This is to create the best atmosphere for
serious meditation practice. It is prohibited to leave the
course site to use these substances and then return during
the course.
Food
The food served on courses is vegetarian (but not vegan),
without any eggs, products containing eggs or alcohol.
The center provides simple, wholesome meals without
subscribing to any particular food philosophy. The servers,
like all students, are expected to accept what is offered in a
spirit of renunciation.
Servers observe Five Precepts and may therefore have a meal
in the evening if they wish. Fasting is not permitted.
Reading
Servers may read newspapers or news magazines to keep
informed of current events, but only in the rest areas set aside
for Dhamma servers and out of sight of the students. Anyone
wishing to read more than the daily news is invited to choose
books from those that appear on the recommended reading
list or from the Dhamma library at the center. Novels or other
books read for entertainment are not permitted.
Kontakts ar ārpasauli
Servers are not required to divorce themselves entirely from
the outside world. While serving on a course, however, they
should leave the site only on urgent business and with the
permission of the teachers.
The use of phones and internet devices should be kept to a
necessary minimum, with teacher permission. Each Center
has a policy regarding internet use.
Private visitors may come to the center only with prior
permission of the management.
Keeping the Center Clean
One role of the servers is to help keep the center neat and
clean. Besides the kitchen and dining hall, the residences,
meditation hall, bathrooms, offices and other areas may need
attention. Servers should also be prepared to do occasional
tasks unrelated to food preparation and cleaning.
Use of Center Property
Every student of Vipassana undertakes to abstain from taking
what is not given. Servers must therefore be careful not to
take anything for their personal use without first obtaining
permission from the management.
Staying at the Center for Longer Periods
With the agreement of the center teacher, serious students
may stay at a center for longer periods in order to become
more established in the theory and practice of Dhamma.
During this time, they will be able to meditate on some
courses and serve on others, as decided in consultation with
the teachers and management.
Dāna
The Code of Discipline for meditators states that there are no
charges at courses or centers, either for the Teaching, or for
board, lodging, or other facilities provided to students. This
applies to Dhamma servers as well.
The teaching of pure Dhamma is always given freely. Food,
accommodation and other facilities are offered as gifts made
possible by the donations of previous students. Servers
should recognize this, making best use of the gifts received,
so that the donors may receive maximum benefit from their
dāna. Servers can develop their own dāna parami by giving
donations according to their means, for the benefit of others.
Courses can only continue because of the donations of
grateful old students.
No one may pay for themself, either by giving money or in any
other way. Every donation is for the benefit of others. Nor can
Dhamma service be a form of payment for room and board.
Service is of benefit to the servers themselves, as it gives
them further valuable Dhamma training. A course or center
provides an opportunity to practice meditation and also to
practice applying Dhamma by learning to serve and deal with
others with compassion and humility.
Conclusion
Dhamma servers should serve following the guidance of the
teachers and management. They should do all they can to
assist the meditators without disturbing them in any way. The
conduct of the servers should not undermine anyone’s
confidence in Dhamma.
They should always bear in mind that the purpose of their
service is to help others, and in so doing help themselves to
grow in Dhamma.
If these rules present any difficulties for you, please seek
clarification immediately from the teachers or the
management.
May your service help you to advance on the path of Dhamma,
of liberation, of freedom from all suffering, of real happiness.
May all Beings be Happy!
