What is Vipassana Meditation?
Vipassana, which means to see things as they really are, is one of India’s most ancient techniques of meditation.
It was taught in India more than 2500 years ago as a universal remedy for universal ills, also called the Art of Living.
S.N Goenka says:
“Everyone seeks peace and harmony, because this is what we lack in our lives.
From time to time we all experience agitation, irritation, disharmony.
And when we suffer from these miseries, we don’t keep them to ourselves;
we often distribute them to others as well.
Unhappiness permeates the atmosphere around someone who is miserable
and those who come in contact with such a person also become affected.
Certainly this is not a skillful way to live.We ought to live at peace with ourselves, and at peace with others.
After all, human beings are social beings, having to live in society and deal with each other.
But how are we to live peacefully?
How are we to remain harmonious within, and maintain peace and harmony around us,
so that others can also live peacefully and harmoniously?”
This was part of a talk given by Mr. S.N. Goenka in Berne, Switzerland. Read the whole story here.
The Vipassana meditation technique teaches you to see things as they are and not as you want them to be.
10 days in Dhamma Pajjota, meditation centre in Belgium
How does Vipassana meditation help me in daily life?
Before I started to practice this amazing technique I used to “get lost” in my own emotions.
If something would happen that made my angry, I would stay angry for hours in a row, sometimes even days.
Vipassana taught me how to control my mind and my emotions. It took the sharp edges of things.
Don’t think that when you go for a 10 day course that you will see the light and go through life as a enlighten person and that nothing will get to you. LOL
The first things I started to notice was that in a situation that got me angry for ten hours before, now only lasted for 8 and later only 6 hours…. etc etc.
Many people say “I would love to this, but 10 days?” can’t I just go for 2 or 3?
Eventually you can, but first you have to do 10 days.
It takes ten days to learn this technique it provides an essential introduction
and foundation to this technique.
Practice is a lifetime job :-)
Of what I read in different books, Vipassana was traditionally taught in retreats lasting seven weeks!
But we live in the 20th century and the teachers of this tradition began to experiment with shorter times to suit the quickening pace of life. They tried thirty days, two weeks, ten days, down to seven days–and they found that less than ten days is not enough time for the mind to settle down and work deeply with the mind-body phenomenon.
There are still meditation centers around the world were you go and meditate for longer periods of time. 20, 30 60 or even 90 days!
This is me after 10 days :-)
What does it cost to attend a 10 day Vipassana course?
Many other meditation retreats cost hundreds sometimes thousands of dollars, but Vipassana is based on donations.
Each student who attends a Vipassana course is given this gift by a previous student.
There is no charge for either the teaching, or for room and board.
All Vipassana courses worldwide are run on a strictly voluntary donation basis.
At the end of your course, if you have benefited from the experience,
you are welcome to donate for the coming course.
So actually somebody else paid for your stay and your donation will enable someone else to participate.
So we spoke about what vipassana is, but lets talk about what vipassana is not
- It is not a rite or ritual based on blind faith.
- It is neither an intellectual nor a philosophical entertainment.
- It is not a rest cure, a holiday, or an opportunity for socializing.
- It is not an escape from the trials and tribulations of everyday life.
What Vipassana is:
- It is a technique that will eradicate suffering.
- It is a method of mental purification which allows one to face life’s tensions and problems in a calm, balanced way.
- It is an art of living that one can use to make positive contributions to society.
It’s for everybody to practice, no matter what your background or religion is.
The foundation of the practice is sīla — moral conduct.
Sīla provides a basis for the development of samādhi — concentration of mind;
and purification of the mind is achieved through paññā — the wisdom of insight.
How do I know what to do if you’re not allowed to talk?
There is a gong and with every new meditation block or dinner or waking up, somebody will use this gong.
So you know exactly when what to do.
This is the time table :-) Don’t freak out!
4:00 am Morning wake-up bell
4:30-6:30 am Meditate in the hall or in your room
6:30-8:00 am Breakfast break
8:00-9:00 am Group meditation in the hall
9:00-11:00 am Meditate in the hall or in your room according to the teacher’s instructions
11:00-12:00 noon Lunch break
12noon-1:00 pm Rest and interviews with the teacher
1:00-2:30 pm Meditate in the hall or in your room
2:30-3:30 pm Group meditation in the hall
3:30-5:00 pm Meditate in the hall or in your own room according to the teacher’s instructions
5:00-6:00 pm Tea break
6:00-7:00 pm Group meditation in the hall
7:00-8:15 pm Teacher’s Discourse in the hall
8:15-9:00 pm Group meditation in the hall
9:00-9:30 pm Question time in the hall
9:30 pm Retire to your own room–Lights out
How Vipassana meditation helps me to grow my business?
Change can cause stress and a feeling of uncertainty.
Meditation will help you to deal with this feeling so you will be able to focus better.
Your mind is clearer and your body is rested. This will make more productive.
You’ll get more things done in a shorter period of time.
And because seeing and excepting things as they are, it makes me aware of that I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be in my learning curve.
And of course by sharing my passion for Vipassana meditation on this blog will help
me to grow a bigger audience online and therefor my income.
Having an online business enables me to attend these 10 day courses whenever I want.
The Internet allows you to schedule ahead so everything continues while you are meditating.
May All Beings Be Happy
