I recently attended and completed a Vipassana
Course and I don’t think that I’ll ever be the same again. For those of you who
do not know what Vipassana is, here is some information taken directly from the
dhamma.org website:
Course and I don’t think that I’ll ever be the same again. For those of you who
do not know what Vipassana is, here is some information taken directly from the
dhamma.org website:
“Vipassana, which means to see things as they
really are, is one of India’s most ancient techniques of meditation. It was
rediscovered by Gotama Buddha more than 2500 years ago and was taught by him as
a universal remedy for universal ills, i.e., an Art Of Living. This
non-sectarian technique aims for the total eradication of mental impurities and
the resultant highest happiness of full liberation.
really are, is one of India’s most ancient techniques of meditation. It was
rediscovered by Gotama Buddha more than 2500 years ago and was taught by him as
a universal remedy for universal ills, i.e., an Art Of Living. This
non-sectarian technique aims for the total eradication of mental impurities and
the resultant highest happiness of full liberation.
Vipassana is a way of self-transformation
through self-observation. It focuses on the deep interconnection between mind
and body, which can be experienced directly by disciplined attention to the
physical sensations that form the life of the body, and that continuously
interconnect and condition the life of the mind. It is this observation-based,
self-exploratory journey to the common root of mind and body that dissolves
mental impurity, resulting in a balanced mind full of love and compassion.
through self-observation. It focuses on the deep interconnection between mind
and body, which can be experienced directly by disciplined attention to the
physical sensations that form the life of the body, and that continuously
interconnect and condition the life of the mind. It is this observation-based,
self-exploratory journey to the common root of mind and body that dissolves
mental impurity, resulting in a balanced mind full of love and compassion.
The scientific laws that operate one’s
thoughts, feelings, judgements and sensations become clear. Through direct
experience, the nature of how one grows or regresses, how one produces
suffering or frees oneself from suffering is understood. Life becomes
characterized by increased awareness, non-delusion, self-control and peace.
thoughts, feelings, judgements and sensations become clear. Through direct
experience, the nature of how one grows or regresses, how one produces
suffering or frees oneself from suffering is understood. Life becomes
characterized by increased awareness, non-delusion, self-control and peace.
The technique is taught at ten-day residential
courses during which participants follow a prescribed Code of Discipline, learn
the basics of the method, and practice sufficiently to experience its
beneficial results.
courses during which participants follow a prescribed Code of Discipline, learn
the basics of the method, and practice sufficiently to experience its
beneficial results.
The course requires hard, serious work. There
are three steps to the training. The first step is, for the period of the
course, to abstain from killing, stealing, sexual activity, speaking falsely,
and intoxicants. This simple code of moral conduct serves to calm the mind,
which otherwise would be too agitated to perform the task of self-observation.
The next step is to develop some mastery over the mind by learning to fix one’s
attention on the natural reality of the ever changing flow of breath as it
enters and leaves the nostrils. By the fourth day the mind is calmer and more
focused, better able to undertake the practice of Vipassana itself: observing
sensations throughout the body, understanding their nature, and developing
equanimity by learning not to react to them. Finally, on the last full day
participants learn the meditation of loving kindness or goodwill towards all,
in which the purity developed during the course is shared with all beings.”
are three steps to the training. The first step is, for the period of the
course, to abstain from killing, stealing, sexual activity, speaking falsely,
and intoxicants. This simple code of moral conduct serves to calm the mind,
which otherwise would be too agitated to perform the task of self-observation.
The next step is to develop some mastery over the mind by learning to fix one’s
attention on the natural reality of the ever changing flow of breath as it
enters and leaves the nostrils. By the fourth day the mind is calmer and more
focused, better able to undertake the practice of Vipassana itself: observing
sensations throughout the body, understanding their nature, and developing
equanimity by learning not to react to them. Finally, on the last full day
participants learn the meditation of loving kindness or goodwill towards all,
in which the purity developed during the course is shared with all beings.”
I’ve been wanting to do the Vipassana course
for the past 5 years however could not find 10 days where I could comfortably
justify my complete disconnection from the world. Then about 6 months ago, I
was clear that I would enter 2020 in deep silence & meditation and proceeded
to schedule my life accordingly. Thankfully my family, my friends and my
employers were in complete support of my choice to take this on. Honestly, it
is pretty funny to have to work so hard and make so many arrangements in order
to completely cut off from people, my phone and any other source of
communication.
for the past 5 years however could not find 10 days where I could comfortably
justify my complete disconnection from the world. Then about 6 months ago, I
was clear that I would enter 2020 in deep silence & meditation and proceeded
to schedule my life accordingly. Thankfully my family, my friends and my
employers were in complete support of my choice to take this on. Honestly, it
is pretty funny to have to work so hard and make so many arrangements in order
to completely cut off from people, my phone and any other source of
communication.
I was actually extremely excited to take the course, mainly to experience the
benefits post the 10 days however I was also curious about how I would manage
the intense schedule (see below):
4:00am – Wake up
4:15am – cold water bucket bath
4:30am – 6:30am – meditation
6:30am – 8:00am – breakfast + rest
8:00am – 11:00am – meditation
11:00am – 1:00pm – lunch + rest
1:00am – 5:00pm – meditation
5:00pm – 6:00pm – snacks + rest
6:00pm – 7:00pm – meditation
7:00pm – 8:30pm – evening discourse
8:30pm – 9:00pm – meditation
9:30pm – lights out
This was truly one of the most rigorous and
profound experiences of my life. The
schedule was tough, days just felt long and my body hurt from sitting for so many
hours, especially my legs and back. To
be honest, in the beginning it felt like jail, then meditation boot camp and
then finally a long, arduous and highly impactful meditation course. For me,
though, the real impact was felt when I came home and reunited with my wife. I
experienced a lightness throughout my whole body, clarity in my mind and love
& compassion oozed out of my heart.
profound experiences of my life. The
schedule was tough, days just felt long and my body hurt from sitting for so many
hours, especially my legs and back. To
be honest, in the beginning it felt like jail, then meditation boot camp and
then finally a long, arduous and highly impactful meditation course. For me,
though, the real impact was felt when I came home and reunited with my wife. I
experienced a lightness throughout my whole body, clarity in my mind and love
& compassion oozed out of my heart.
As this is a sports blog, I won’t go into
details about the technique or my daily practice however I will share a list of
3 key takeaways from my experience which could be transferred to any area of
life:
details about the technique or my daily practice however I will share a list of
3 key takeaways from my experience which could be transferred to any area of
life:
Group Accountability Works: Prior to beginning
Vipassana, I told everyone in my inner (and some outer) circle what I was up to
and that I would be in touch after 10 days when I completed the course. Given
this, I knew that there was no way that I would leave the course in the middle
and get in touch with my friends & family unless I was genuinely suffering.
It was this group accountability combined with my determination which ensured I
made it through the 10 days even during the hardest of moments. It’s almost
like asking a group of friends to wait for you at the finish line of a marathon.
Vipassana, I told everyone in my inner (and some outer) circle what I was up to
and that I would be in touch after 10 days when I completed the course. Given
this, I knew that there was no way that I would leave the course in the middle
and get in touch with my friends & family unless I was genuinely suffering.
It was this group accountability combined with my determination which ensured I
made it through the 10 days even during the hardest of moments. It’s almost
like asking a group of friends to wait for you at the finish line of a marathon.
One Must Be Sincere to See a Sustained Shift: Many
people may question the rigorous 10-day schedule which includes 10 hours of
meditation a day, 2 meals a day, confiscated phones and no communication with
anyone except the teacher as and when required.
However I believe that in order to see real transformation in your life,
you must sincerely enter into whatever practice that you are doing or the
shifts will not be sustained.
people may question the rigorous 10-day schedule which includes 10 hours of
meditation a day, 2 meals a day, confiscated phones and no communication with
anyone except the teacher as and when required.
However I believe that in order to see real transformation in your life,
you must sincerely enter into whatever practice that you are doing or the
shifts will not be sustained.
An Aware & Equanimous Mind Helps One Access
Bliss: Throughout the course, we practice training our minds to be aware and
equanimous. After 100 hours of intense training, it starts to become abundantly
clear that a mind that does not crave or reject anything allows for bliss to be
experienced throughout the being. I’ve
taken this strengthened mind into GISB and have witnessed tremendous amounts of
effectiveness and ease in my work which can only be attributed to the insights
I gained while on the course.
Bliss: Throughout the course, we practice training our minds to be aware and
equanimous. After 100 hours of intense training, it starts to become abundantly
clear that a mind that does not crave or reject anything allows for bliss to be
experienced throughout the being. I’ve
taken this strengthened mind into GISB and have witnessed tremendous amounts of
effectiveness and ease in my work which can only be attributed to the insights
I gained while on the course.
I plan to continue to practice Vipassana on a
daily basis and bring more love and harmony within and around me.
daily basis and bring more love and harmony within and around me.
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| Me just after completing 10 days of silence and 100 hours of meditation:) |