Goenka has been teaching U Ba Kin's body sweeping technique since the 60s, but he has not apparently gotten much out of it, because his discourses do not discuss the Fruit of the Contemplative Life. U Ba Kin never reported attainment of the Fruit of the Contemplative Life. Those who attend Goenka's retreats, who report attainment of the Fruit of the Contemplative Life, are typically asked to leave, and are never allowed back. We will have to conclude that U Ba Kin's body sweeping technique leads no where.
I might also point out that U Ba Kin's body sweeping technique is a reasonable interpretation of the Kaya-gati-sati sutta (MN-119) However, to the best of my knowledge neither U Ba Kin, nor any of his students, such as Goenka, has ever referred to this sutta. It suggests that U Ba Kin and his students, such as Goenka, have not even read the suttas.
Until one can learn to search out tension in the body, and release it, then I find no problem with body scanning as an introductory practice, but those who are interested in meditating deeply, should learn how to find and release tension in the body. Once one has learned to find and release tension in the body, then there is no use for U Ba Kin's body sweeping technique.
Once one can relax deeply one will find the still mind comes quickly. Once one gains some experience in stilling the mind, then the charisms begin to open up. At that point one will want a meditation master for guidance, not an amateur who knows nothing of the charisms.
