This thesis explores the relationship between S. N. Goenka's technique of Vipassana meditation, an approach inspired by the Buddha designed for the liberation of human suffering, and constructive social engagement. The first chapter introduces the general field of Theravada Buddhist meditation practices to demonstrate how Goenka's approach conforms to and differs from traditional Theravada meditation. The second chapter provides an overview of Goenka's reformist movement, while the third chapter investigates his methods of dissemination and the supporting theories behind them in light of traditional Pali canonical sources. The final chapter examines the notion that social reparation depends on the alleviation of individual afllictive mental states. This claim is analysed through reports concerning the therapeutic effects of Vipassana on the practitioner, and through case-studies regarding the integration of the technique into the curriculums of various social institutions in the fields of health, corrections, and education.
