When was S. N. Goenka born?

S. N. Goenka was born on 30 January 1924 in Mandalay.

Government of India · GODL-India

S. N. Goenka

Burmese teacher of vipassanā meditation (1924–2013)

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Satya Narayana Goenka was an Indian teacher of vipassanā meditation. Born in Burma to an Indian family, he learnt Vipassana from Sayagyi U Ba Khin, retired from business in 1962 during business nationalization by military government in Burma, and moved to India in 1969 to start teaching Vipassana meditation. His teachings stay away from rites and rituals and emphasize that Buddha's path to liberation was non-sectarian, universal, and scientific in character, leading to Vipassana meditation appealing to people of all religions as well as no religion, from all parts of the world. He became an influential teacher and played an important role in establishing non-commercial Vipassana meditation centers globally where Vipassana Meditation is taught as a 10 Day residential program with no charges for food, stay as well as for teaching meditation, with centers funded by willful donations from past meditators. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India in 2012, an award given for distinguished service of high order.

Quick facts

Born: 30 January 1924 wd
Place of birth: Mandalay wd
Died: 29 September 2013 wd
Place of death: Mumbai wd
Citizenship: India, British Raj wd
Occupation: writer, Vipassana meditation teacher, businessperson, teacher wd
Spouse: IIlaichidevi Goenka wd