Ba Khin - Worldwide Influence

Worldwide Influence

It was Ba Khin's wish that the technique, long lost to India, could again return to its country of origin, and from there, spread throughout the world. Ba Khin made a determined effort to travel to the west to teach Vipassana there. Due to travel restriction in place at that time, he was never able to personally fulfill his wish.

When he realized his time was running out, he commissioned the following foreign students and entrusted them with teaching Vipassana in their respective countries.

Authorized by a letter dated April 23, 1969:

1. Dr Leon Wright, PhD., Professor of Religion, Washington, D.C., U.S.A. 2. Mr. Robert H. Hover, La Mirada, California, U.S.A. 3. Mrs. Ruth Denison, Hollywood, California, U.S.A. (to teach women only). 4. Mrs. Forella Landie, British Columbia, Canada (to teach women only). 5. Mr. John E. Coleman, Maidenhead, Berks., U.K. 6. Mr. J. Van Amersfoort, The Hague, The Netherlands.

Authorized separately in July 1967, when a ten-day meditation course was conducted for the Hindu community in Mandalay with guidance coming from Sayagyi in Rangoon:

7. Mr. S. N. Goenka, Bombay, India.

In Burma, the ten members of the Vipassana Research Association assisted Sayagyi in his teaching, and in particular, Mother Sayama Daw Mya Thwin, U Chit Tin, U Tint Yee, U Ba Pho, and U Boon Shain.