The Challenges of Goenka’s Vipassana : How Participants of the Ten-Day Course Make Sense of the Intense Internal Experiences Induced by Vipassana Meditation

Abstract: In this study, 28 individuals were interviewed about their experiences and interpretations of S. N. Goenka’s ten-day Vipassana course, which involves intense meditation practices. A phenomenographic analysis of the interview material identified six qualitatively distinct categories of Vipassana experiences, and found that 22 out of 28 respondents had Energy-Like Somatic Experiences (ELSE), described in earlier research as “a type of sensation moving throughout the body described with the language of vibration, energy, current, or other related metaphors.” 1 These experiences were reported to range from extreme pleasure to overwhelming and frightening sensations. The most common interpretation of the Vipassana experiences was through a therapeutic framework linking inner pain to body memories of past traumas, challenging the standard interpretation of Vipassana within the Goenka movement. The study highlights the need for further research to better understand the nature, implications, and prevalence of ELSE experiences in the Goenka tradition, as well as in other meditative traditions where ELSEs have been reported, such as within Tibetan and Zen meditation, and Kundalini practices.