The view from where my room was.
A detail of the bell which was rung to call for meditation and meal times taken in the morning. From here one could see the sun rise over the distant hills like a dome. It filled your being with gladness. A perfect way to begin the day. ^_^ 
The bell in the pavillion, the architecture is in Burmese style. 
View of the entrance to the Pagoda. At the top are little wind-bells which tinkle most beautifully in the wind. I have taken these pictures when the sun has'nt completely come up yet. By noon the gold of the pagoda shines brilliantly against the blue sky
Letting it all sink in, sharing the dhamma. (dharma)I've just returned from a ten day course of Vipassana meditation. Although this is my fifth time, it feels as if the work has only now begun. True, the earlier courses did help me, I derived much benefit from it. I used to suffer from migraines, and I mean suffer! but from the time I did my first sitting, gradually the migraines lost their intensity and faded away. Of course, the meditation is not meant only for those with migraines or serious emotional and mental issues. With Vipassana, that is something that just happens once you start practising , all these psychosomatic illnesses start going away.
About the courseNow, what is Vipassana meditation? The word Vipassana means insight, to look at things in a special way, from as many points of view. This technique of meditation was discovered and taught by the historical Buddha 2,500 years ago. Please read the official site to get better and more accurate information, I am after all only a student. http://www.dhamma.org/
Experience of other meditators.
While surfing the internet, I found much to my pleasant surprise plenty of blog-posts by first-time vipassana meditators, most having done the course while travelling in India or abroad. While doing so I found out that Alanis Morisette wrote the song, 'Thank You' afetr finishing her first course, vow! now I know the reason to the lyrics, I had always wondered about the song, hmmmm... I am posting links below but bewarned each one's experience is unique although everyone agrees it is beneficial in the end.http://www.adventureguide.com/articles/Vipassana.htm
http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Uttar-Pradesh/Varanasi/blog-138927.html http://lifecoachesblog.com/2008/01/07/thai-sojourn-vipassana-part-1/
A basic sketch of the ten days
When you join the course you for 10 days, you are asked to take five precepts, (no intoxicants, no stealing,....) which will strenghten your sila, (pali language at Buddha's time in India)that is morality. This is essential to the practise. You also refrain from speaking to your co-meditators for nine days. Of course you may speak with the teachers regarding the technique or the management if you need anything. All this has a good reason which becomes clear as you go deeper into your practise and the practise requires you to go very deep indeed. Take my word for it. On the ninth day you can talk as much you like and make friends with everyone. ^_^
Next for three and a half days you will practise samadhi, that is concentration, mastery over the mind. What is the tool with which you will practise? your breath, natural breath, for this is universal.
By the fourth day, now that your mind has become sharper and concentrated you practise Vipassana, which means you observe the sensations on your body wether pleasant or unpleasant and remain aware and equanimous. No one becomes a master Vipassana medtitator in a ten days course but you are taking the first step on the path to liberation.
By practsing Vipassana, you are developing wisdom from your own experience since none one can help you but yourself. Vipassana is a non-sectarian practise and anyone can do it without giving up their own faith or beliefs. It is a universal practise. In my own experience I have seen people from all denominations of life at the course. I find this experience hugely good for my ego. It brings me straight back to earth. In everyday life we tend to separarte ourselves from those we don't want to mix with. But here we are meditating with Christians, Buddhists, Hindus, Old people, young people, the rich, the poor, people from different counries, everyone, we are kind to all. Everyone is treated equally.
http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Uttar-Pradesh/Varanasi/blog-138927.html http://lifecoachesblog.com/2008/01/07/thai-sojourn-vipassana-part-1/
A basic sketch of the ten days
When you join the course you for 10 days, you are asked to take five precepts, (no intoxicants, no stealing,....) which will strenghten your sila, (pali language at Buddha's time in India)that is morality. This is essential to the practise. You also refrain from speaking to your co-meditators for nine days. Of course you may speak with the teachers regarding the technique or the management if you need anything. All this has a good reason which becomes clear as you go deeper into your practise and the practise requires you to go very deep indeed. Take my word for it. On the ninth day you can talk as much you like and make friends with everyone. ^_^
Next for three and a half days you will practise samadhi, that is concentration, mastery over the mind. What is the tool with which you will practise? your breath, natural breath, for this is universal.
By the fourth day, now that your mind has become sharper and concentrated you practise Vipassana, which means you observe the sensations on your body wether pleasant or unpleasant and remain aware and equanimous. No one becomes a master Vipassana medtitator in a ten days course but you are taking the first step on the path to liberation.
By practsing Vipassana, you are developing wisdom from your own experience since none one can help you but yourself. Vipassana is a non-sectarian practise and anyone can do it without giving up their own faith or beliefs. It is a universal practise. In my own experience I have seen people from all denominations of life at the course. I find this experience hugely good for my ego. It brings me straight back to earth. In everyday life we tend to separarte ourselves from those we don't want to mix with. But here we are meditating with Christians, Buddhists, Hindus, Old people, young people, the rich, the poor, people from different counries, everyone, we are kind to all. Everyone is treated equally.
On the last day you break your silence. Before that, you learn a new meditation, metta-bhavana, where you share your goodwill with all beings.Each course after metta and breaking silence, my eyes glisten, as if my heart is melting. One has to see for oneself the joy on everyone's faces. ^_^
~~~~~~~~~~~
The reason why I am writing in such detail about my ten days is because I feel a great need to share this technique with others. So that it may help others as well. There is nothing mysterious or complicated about Vipassana. The teaching is so clear , it is as if you can see straight to the bottom of the lake. But the first dip in the waters only you can take.
Usually I shy from mentioning about Vipassana knowing people may not want to make a committment of any sort let alone give the technique a fair trial. But there are thousands who have done so and onl for the better of it. Come see for yourself. Do a course some time in your life. The Bodhi seed is there in all of us. ^_^
My own resolve
We have been so conditioned to look and see outside of ourselves that it is impossible to understand a life where after dinner instead of watching T.V for an hour which although may be entertaining we can instead medtitate, that too a practise which will help change our habbit patterns.
One has to have to have strong determination if one wants to bring a change in one's life. With continued effort it can be done. I intend to do so without losing heart. If I do happen to miss an hour of sitting in morning or evening , due to travel or any other reason, never mind I pick up and start again. Always the middle path, no extremes. ^_^
Love & light !Usually I shy from mentioning about Vipassana knowing people may not want to make a committment of any sort let alone give the technique a fair trial. But there are thousands who have done so and onl for the better of it. Come see for yourself. Do a course some time in your life. The Bodhi seed is there in all of us. ^_^
My own resolve
We have been so conditioned to look and see outside of ourselves that it is impossible to understand a life where after dinner instead of watching T.V for an hour which although may be entertaining we can instead medtitate, that too a practise which will help change our habbit patterns.
One has to have to have strong determination if one wants to bring a change in one's life. With continued effort it can be done. I intend to do so without losing heart. If I do happen to miss an hour of sitting in morning or evening , due to travel or any other reason, never mind I pick up and start again. Always the middle path, no extremes. ^_^
In the words of Goenkaji,
May you be happy! May you be liberated! ^_^
Additional linksVipassana introduced in Tihar Jail, Documentary "Doing Time Doing Vipassanahttp://www.dhamma.org/en/av/dtdv.shtml
modern medicine/health and vipassanahttp://indiahealthtour.com/alternative_healing/meditation.html
3 comments:
Hello Sabrina,
Very interesting entry. I guess those 10 day time was your memorable and invaluable event recently right? I hope myself can experience a trip like that some day too.
All the best for you,
Linh
thank you so much, on visiting the official website I discovered there are courses available in Venezuela , who would have thought it? Now if only I can abandon red wine and cigarettes.
Hi Heather ^_^
Glad to know u would want to do the meditation, its only for ten days !!! red wine and cigarettes are there all year round !!!
trust me its worth it !
Post a Comment