Goenkaji’s first course in English for Western students

In November 1970 Goenkaji gave his first course for foreign students in English. It was held in Dalhousie, India and 12 students attended. Eleven were from Western countries and one from Sri Lanka. The course was held in a private rented home that belonged to two of the students. It was named Shanti Kuti and in the early ’70s students who knew of it would visit to see where the first English speaking course was held.

Dalhousie was a hill station in Himachal Pradesh. This is where the English government officials would come to escape the heat of the plains during summer. World travelers soon started doing the same thing. It was a beautiful place in the foothills of the Himalayas with views of the huge peaks on North side. To the South the plains stretched into the distance for as far as the eye could see. During the summer months old students would descend on Dalhousie and rent a home for three or four months.

People staying in Dalhousie had heard of U Ba Khin and asked that he come and teach Vipassana to them. He wrote back that he could not come, but would send one of his students, who was living in India to teach the course as he could not leave Burma. This was Goenkaji and the beginning of a new era arrived.

It was a huge step for the progress of Vipassana around the world. Immediately more courses were held and they were attended by both Indians and foreigners. Most of these courses were held in Bodh Gaya at the Burmese Vihara. The word spread rapidly among the travelers and future courses became fully enrolled very quickly.