I had always been a meditation enthusiast. But I didn’t know how to. All I could do was close my eyes and try not to think. But that never worked, as one or the other thing kept creeping into my mind. Growing up, I had tried practicing Kundalini yoga watching few videos on YouTube. Despite mugging up all theoretical aspects of the seven energy centers of human body i.e. chakras – their forms, shape, color, seed mantra and so on, I could hardly open any of the chakras. Frustrated, I was seeking a package to guide me on practicing one or the other forms of meditation. And then I came to learn about Vipassana meditation. Trying to get a break with my office chores and stress, I decided to enroll in the ten-day Vipassana course. And that ad hoc decision happened to become very fruitful in learning an aged-old meditation technique discovered by Gautam, the Buddha. It is believed that he practiced same meditation to get “Enlightenment”. In this article, I will try to share my experience with Vipassana. I hope this article will be beneficial to all those who are seeking inner peace and real happiness.
And that ad hoc decision happened to become very fruitful in learning an aged-old meditation technique discovered by Gautam, the Buddha.
Course enrollment
Searching a Vipassana meditation centers on Google, I found this dhamma.org website having a wide network throughout the world. Digging deeper, I found a ten-day course suitable according to my time at Dhamma Kitti Vipassana Meditation Center located at Kirtipur. The status of the course was “Open” and I clicked “Apply” right there. After making some formalities of “I-Agree” type of clicking, I filled up the application form and submitted. Next Day, I got an email from Dhamma Kitti asking if I had read and understood the Vipassana and Code of Discipline. There was a long list of such stuffs on website. I just made a reply that I will abide by the rules and regulation of the meditation center.
Next hour, I received a loooooong email with notifications of being accepted for the course and the “DOs and DON’Ts” of the meditation center. Sounds serious. Believe me, I read them all. I replied again that I will abide by all those rules. Next week, I again received an email seeking re-confirmation of my participation. I was left to wonder, “Am I so horrible that I have no courage to give ten days of my life?” Anyway, I gave a short reply re-confirming my participation. I was then acknowledged by another email to reach the center in time for the course starting next week.
Preparation
I was mentally prepared for the course. But there were other stuffs of family and office matters to be address before going on the ten-day long “vacation”. I informed my parents and wife that I’ve decided to join a meditation class starting next week. My wife had no problem as she was enjoying “post-pregnancy leave” at her maiti. However, mom was skeptic initially, for her son had gone through any mental anomalies or so. General understanding of a meditation center is that these centers are for people who have depression or who try to get rid of mental stress. Still today, some sects of people consider meditation centers as a rehabilitation center for mental patients. In some way, it could be. However, I never had such problems. The only objective of joining the course was to get rid of office chores for ten days at least, and have some mental exercises. Anyway, my dad had heard about Vipassana. He convinced mom and encouraged me to join the meditation class and recommend if it is fit for him as well, after I finish the course.
At office, I got my leave approved for ten days. Writing a vacation note on email, I was all prepared for the ten-days of stress-free life. Packing clothes and accessories required for ten days, I reached Dhamma Kitti, Kirtipur a day before the course started, as directed in the confirmation email.
Registration
The gates of the center were wide open. I was surprised to see lots of foreigners at the registration desk seeking to take the course. There were very few Nepalese including me. It seems the center was a sort of tourist attraction. I realized the foreigners value Vipassana more than us. Anyway, I also filled up the registration form as I was also shortlisted. I was handed over a card with my name and other details of my accommodation. Before getting to the room, I had to deposit my wallet, mobile phone, pen and diary. I wished they would exempt me to keep the diary with me as I’ve been writing diary everyday for ten years. But it was clearly mentioned that no reading and writing materials were allowed in the meditation center. I made a last call to mom, dad and wife to inform that I was at the meditation center and my phone won’t be reached for next 10 days. I prepared myself to completely isolate from the outside physical world.
I made a last call to mom, dad and wife to inform that I was at the meditation center and my phone won’t be reached for next 10 days.
Accommodation
The card I was given reads “N-8” in the accommodation box. A Dhamma-Server helped me to locate my accommodation. I had thought “N-8” was my room number. But it happened to be my bed number like that of hospitals. There were six other beds like that which means I had to share the room with six other co-meditators. I had lived a hostel life before. I have no problem in sharing room.
I looked at my bed. The bed and blanket were all uncovered. A freshly washed bed sheet and blanket cover were placed on the blanket. I had to prepare the bedding all by myself. I saw a pillow was missing in my bed which was there in that of others. I didn’t want to nag the Dhamma-Server in the very first day. I was prepared to sleep without a pillow. It was a clue that one should not assume the mediation center as a luxurious hotel or a recreation center. Each meditators were supposed to live a secluded and sage life.
Orientation
All the participants were asked to gather at the Mini-Dhamma hall where the orientation class was organized. The course instructor recalled the meditators with the code of discipline to be maintained at the center for ten days. He highlighted that everyone should conscientiously undertake Panch-Sila – the Five Precepts:
1. to abstain from killing any being;
2. to abstain from stealing;
3. to abstain from all sexual activity;
4. to abstain from telling lies;
5. to abstain from all intoxicants.
Moreover, maintenance of noble silence, no physical contact, separation of men and women, no revealing or tight clothes, no intermixing of other meditation techniques, following the course time table strictly, and as so on … were the highlights of the code of discipline to be maintained stringently in the center. Unless one has addiction to any intoxicants, it wasn’t tough to abide by the rules of the meditation center.
After the orientation class was over, we were welcomed by a delicious haluwa dish in the evening at 5pm. It was the only source of energy till next morning. So I took some extra haluwa to prevent myself from starving at night.
The place we first chose to sit for dining was supposed to remain the same for all ten days at the center. So everyone was asked to tag the spot with each individual’s name. After finishing the evening meal, all the individuals were supposed to wash their own dishes. Back at home, I barely had to wash my plates as it was my wife or mom doing such “menial” work. The center was making me do all that by myself. Another clue that I had to be self-reliant in the meditation center. The cleaned dishes were placed on the spot tagged before. Same dishes and same spot should be used for dining everyday – another “rule” of the center.
First Meditation Sitting
I was expecting to start meditating from next day morning as the course was schedule to start so. But all the participants were asked to gather at Dhamma Hall for meditation at 7pm. Outside Dhamma Hall was long list of DOs and DON’Ts inside the Dhamma Hall. I got used to with that. The Dhamma Hall was a small hall with 7X6 matrix of cushions laid on the floor. There was a long separation line at the middle of the room, indicating a sort of lakshman rekha between men and women. A tall and wide chair covered with white cloth was at the front for teacher. Sound systems including players and amplifiers were placed at the left side of the chair and on the right side was a big LCD TV. When we entered the hall, our teacher in all white dress was sitting on the chair with eyes closed.
There was a long separation line at the middle of the room, indicating a sort of lakshman rekha between men and women.
We were given a chit of paper with seat number at the orientation. My chit read B3. That indicates third row of second column was my spot. I took my seat. There were two extra cushions on each side of the hall near the teacher’s seat. It was meant for male and female Dhamma-Servers. The Dhamma-Servers were like volunteers to help run meditation smoothly and manage other logistics in the meditation center.
As everyone got seated, the teacher started our first meditation class. I was expecting him to give instructions of the meditation. But instead, he played the sound system. Actually he was there as an Assistant Teacher. Late S.N Goenka, the Guruji who virtually lives inside the sound system, was going to teach us Vipassana meditation. As the sound system was turned on, Gurujistarted chanting a slow but intense hymn in the language somewhat like Sanskrit. It’s called “Paali” language. The voice was so intense that I thought, had he auditioned for Indian Idol, Anu Mallik would have bluntly said, “… STOP! STOP! STOP! … Oh old man! You might have enjoyed your youth. Why are you ruining ours, making us listen such a terrible chanting?”
The voice was so intense that I thought, had he auditioned for Indian Idol, Anu Mallik would have bluntly said, “… STOP! STOP! STOP! … Oh old man! You might have enjoyed your youth. Why are you ruining ours?”
I was relieved when he finished his “spell” and started speaking Hindi and English in turn. They were clear and comprehendible. Only while uttering slokas of Paali language, he murmured so bad. I wondered whether the words of the language were so difficult to be spoken or the Guruji had to dip himself too deep while uttering the pious verses. Anyway, he gave the first instructions of the meditation. It’s called Aanapana meditation – to focus on breathe, which the meditators will be practicing seriously from next morning. After getting instructions for the morning, it was time to go to bed. It was hardly 9pm. Since we had to wake up early in the morning at 4am, it wasn’t that early to get some sleep.
Wake up bell
I didn’t have a sound sleep as I was disturbed by mosquito all night. Being the first night, no one could arrange mosquito repeller or a net. As I had already taken oath to not kill any being in the first sila of Panchasila – the Five Precept, a mosquito also counts. I didn’t want to break the sila by killing mosquito for the sake of my sound sleep. I woke up before the gong was hit by a hammer.
It wasn’t just me in the room who didn’t have a sound sleep. Although mosquito was the reason for my insomnia, my roommates had to suffer for other reason. The reason was me. I’m a very bad snorer while sleeping. I don’t know how my wife handles it. But my roommates, one of whom was a Dhamma-Server, couldn’t tolerate. The Dhamma-Server politely asked me in the morning, would it be okay for me if he changed my room. It wasn’t just about a night. There were nine more such nights. I didn’t want to be a reason of my roommates’ insomnia. So I agreed to be secluded in another room.
I didn’t want to break the sila by killing mosquito for the sake of my sound sleep.
Noble Silence Starts
As the course had already started, every meditators have to maintain Arya Maun – a Noble Silence, which means a complete silence of speech, body and mind. It seems even if one has to fart, he has to do it silently. LOL. Any form of communication with fellow meditators, whether by gestures, sign language, written notes, etc., was prohibited during the course. Exceptions were made only when one has to speak with the Assistant Teacher and Dhamma-Server whenever necessary. The rule was meant to cultivate the feeling of working in isolation. I told to myself, since I was secluded at bedtime, my snoring will also make an exception.
Focus on breaths
Every Vipassana meditators had to practice Anapana meditation for three and half days before starting the real Vipassana. It’s the major pre-requirement to prepare the body for Vipassana. All we had to do was breathe and observe. Although it looks like Pranayama yoga, it is complete opposite of it. In Pranayama, one has to control and manipulate the breaths. But in Anapana, regulation of breath is not allowed. All we had to do was take a normal breath and be aware of the every breath that goes in and out. Be aware if the breath was passing through left or right or both nostrils. Be aware if the breath was short or long. But never try to modify the breath; observe as the way it is. Although it sounds easy, doing same thing since morning to evening in the folded-legs sitting position was a nightmare. Breaks were given as per the course schedule; but I could feel some ache in my shoulder, back and knee. At times, every beginners are allowed to stretch their legs and back. But one of the DON’Ts at the notice outside the Dhamma Hall says not to stretch the legs towards the teacher’s seat even if he is not there; that would be considered disrespect to the teacher. Breathe – Observe – Breathe was what we did for three and half days. By the end of DAY 3, I got used to with it and no more backache was observed.
All we had to do was take a normal breath and be aware of the every breath that goes in and out.
Breaks
Besides the 5 minutes breaks after each 1-2 hours of meditation sessions, there were three other long breaks that lasted more than 5 minutes – Breakfast Break at 6:30-8:00 am, Lunch Break at 11:00-1:00pm and Tea Break 5:00-6:00 pm. With no provision of dinner in the meditation center, Breakfast Breaks were as pleasant as heaven. Unlike my home, everyday there was a new dish in the breakfast. Pure vegetarian food with no spices; I wondered how can such food be so delicious.
With no provision of dinner in the meditation center, Breakfast Breaks were as pleasant as heaven.
As the meditators were supposed to have one quarter of their stomach always empty, just tea along with few pieces of biscuits and fruits were provided in the evening before sun set as our only “dinner”. As a person fond of foods, I was like “What the hell is this?” when such feeble thing was provided in the “dinner” at DAY 1. However, I never felt starving during the whole course. Rather, I felt always attentive and was seldom drowsy. Another thing I learnt in the center – the heavy food we take in our daily life is responsible to make us lethargic.
The Only Source of Entertainment
Vipassana meditation center is like a prison – completely secluded from outside world. In prisons, the inmates are allowed to attend visitors, watch TV, listen to music, participate in recreation or at least allowed to talk to each other. But all such things are prohibited in the center. But there’s one thing that I consider the only source of entertainment. Every evening after 6:00-7:00 pm Group Meditation, we can watch TV. The content played on TV was called “Discourse” – the speech of Guruji late S.N Goenka. In such speech, the theoretical aspects of the technique we were practicing would be explained. I had started to enjoy it as he often tells story to explain his points. Those stories came at the point when my mind was tired of focusing on breath in and out. The Discourse acted as a refuel to make a fresh start next morning.
Mastery over Mind
The purpose of the Anapana meditation was to make one’s mind focused. First day, a beginner can hardly do that. Even if one focuses on the breath, the mind sway away and also feels drowsy. I really had a hard time being focused. I could hear myself snoring sometimes. So was the condition of other fellow meditators. And there was a bald man who looked like Johnny Sins sitting in the front row near the Teacher’s seat. He was meditating like a statue – unmoved. I didn’t see him going out even in the breaks. It seems Johnny Sins or a person who looks like him is Mr. Perfect in every “endeavors” of life.
On the contrary, there was me. As I take a normal breath and observe for couple of minutes, I don’t know at what point of time, I started thinking about something else. Relationship stuffs, career security, future plans, movies incident and so on kept creeping into my mind. It seems a naughty monkey was living inside my head which jumps aimlessly from one branch to next. “Daenerys should have flown into the Red Keep on her dragons to kill queen Cersei instead of indulging herself in killing innocents in the latest season of Game of Thrones. How could the writers be so mean to her?” As my awareness knew that I’ve swayed away, I tried again to bring back my attention to breathing. And then another minute, a hot scene of Hate Story movie, which I had watched long ago, came into my mind. All these years, these sources of entertainment have been feeding garbage into our mind. How can I be focused in just one or two days of meditation practice?
My eyes crossed the lakhsman rekha and started watching women. Those white skins and blonde hair made me recollect the beautiful girls of “KindGirls” website. And then my eyes started measuring the “curves”.
I was in a battle with my own mind. When I lose, I open my eyes and stretch my legs. As I look around, I see so much of foreigners both men and women – breathing as my co-meditators. My eyes crossed the lakhsman rekha and started watching women. Those white skins and blonde hair made me recollect the beautiful girls of “KindGirls” website I used to check long time back. And then my eyes started measuring the “curves”. Tight, transparent and revealing clothing were prohibited in the center and no one was wearing anything “flashy”. But it wouldn’t stop an aquiline man’s eyes to measure the curves. “Oops! That woman’s “curve” is as flat as LCD monitor.” I swayed away even with my eyes open. I again closed my eyes to focus on my breath, “That’s the long breath in. That’s through the left nostril …”
Little progress was made in the second day as I tried keeping focus on my breath and feel some sensation on the triangular area made by the nose region and the upper lip. Third day, we were instructed to feel some shuttle sensation on the smallest area bellow the nose, as a result of air passing in and out of nostril. As I progress to the end of the third day, I found some positive changes in my “swaying-away”. I don’t mean I was completely focused. But the pattern of swaying-away was different. Instead of any random objects, I had some visualization of patterns. Although visualization and verbalization is not allowed in Vipassana meditation practice as a means of increasing concentration, I had to consider this a progress. At least, the tendency of scanning the “curves” in the Dhhamma Hall had subsided significantly. And I had started to feel the shuttle sensation below my nose. In the evening Discourse, I was elated when the Guruji said that if we have started to feel the shuttle sensation below our nose, we had almost reached the stage of Samadhi– the mastery over our mind. It was time to level up.
Vipassana Giving
By the end of DAY 3, some of the co-meditators had already quit. Most of them were our fellow Nepalese. For remaining meditators in the center, it was Vipassana Day on the fourth day. It was going to be an auspicious day. So I decided to take shower as a means of purifying my peripheral body.
Until mid-day all the meditators had the same Anapana meditation – focusing on the small area below the nose and feel the shuttle sensation. We were still preparing our body for Vipassana. And then in the afternoon’s Group meditation, meditators were noticed that some serious meditation was going to be held. Meditators are required to stay inside the Dhamma Hall for two hours until the “Vipassana Giving” is over. Meditation is always a serious thing. But it seems this one required more seriousness.
The “Vipassana Giving” started and Guruji asked us to utter some slokas of Paali language as we were still focusing on the small area below the nose. Guruji then asked us to change the direction of our focus from below-the-nose to the top-of-the-head. As I tried to move the focus to the top-of-the-head, Guruji uttered some more slokas. We weren’t expected to repeat his verse; rather direct our focus on-the-top of the head. Suddenly, I started feeling an ice-cube being place on the top of my head. And then I felt like a fountain just burst from the top of my head. Wait! That’s the exact spot where the seventh chakra lies. In Kundalini meditation technique, opening the seventh chakra – the energy center of wisdom, is a penultimate objective. All these years I couldn’t even open the first chakra. And here at Vipassana center, I opened the final chakra at the fourth day of the meditation.
Suddenly, I started feeling an ice-cube being place on the top of my head. And then I felt like a fountain just burst from the top of my head.
It didn’t stop there. Guruji instructed us to observe the entire head starting from that point. He was still uttering the slokas when we were made to observe our face with the eyes still closed. Moving towards neck, Guruji asked to observe right and then left hand, part by part, to feel if there’s any shuttle sensation. Any sensation we perceived, we were required to remain equanimous. That means we shouldn’t react with enjoyment for the good sensations and react with aversion to the bad sensations. All we have to do is observe the sensation as we have been doing to our breaths for three days. In that way, we were instructed to observe our entire body, part by part, piece by piece and remain equanimous. The difficulty level of meditation had increased in a way like in the first chapter of Maths we were asked to mug of multiplication table and second chapter was to solve the quadratic equation. And I had thought Anapanana was difficult. I tried to observe my entire body with my eyes closed and my legs were killing me sitting for two hours. After the “Vipassana Giving” was over, we were excused for an hour of tea break. Almost everyone, except the Johnny-Sin-looking guy, was reacting to the discomfort in the lower limbs.
After tea break, all the meditators gathered again in the Dhamma Hall. A new rule of “Addhisthan: The Strong Determination” was introduced starting from that moment. In every Group Meditation during 8:00-9:00am, 2:30-3:30pm and 6:00-7:00pm, every meditators were required to sit in Addhisthan Dhyan for one hour each, with a strong determination to not open eyes or move limbs. The Addhisthan Dhyan would be over only after one hour, when Guruji starts singing “Anichya wata sankhara…”. The voice that could have been rejected by Anu Mallik in Indian Idol audition started becoming so pleasing that I would crave to listen to it so that I can open my eyes and stretch legs.
From DAY 5 to DAY 9, all the meditators were instructed to observe the sensations inside the body in different directions and forms: from head to feet and then from feet to head. After getting sensation on the surface of the skin, one can even dig deeper inside. But Guruji repeatedly instructed that we were here not to play the game of sensations. The sensations could be good or bad both. But a Vipassana practitioner should never LIKE the “Good” sensation and HATE the “Bad” ones; rather he should just observe them equanimously. That’s the essence of Vipassana meditation.
Mind and Matter
Almost every meditation technique is practiced with an objective of increasing the concentration and memory power. Vipassana meditation is more than that. Discovered by Gautam, the Buddha, Vipassana is all about purifying the mind. And that starts with observing the own body and sensation. The sensations are nothing but mere vibrations of the body. It has always been there. But our so called conscious mind had never developed that caliber to perceive the shuttle sensations. Practicing Vipassana with correct technique, one can develop a faculty in brain to start feeling those shuttle vibrations.
Entire universe is made up of four basic elements: Air, Water, Fire and Earth. Each living or non-living creature is the combination of these four elements in different forms. To understand the law of nature, one has to understand his/her own body. Practicing Vipassana, one can make a deep surgical operation of the mind and body by observing the sensations. The sensation is nothing but mere vibration produced by a common phenomenon of “arising and passing away” of the maters inside the body. One will understand the fact that human body and every other living and non-living things are nothing but bubble masses of four elements which “arises and passes” every second, at an experiential level not just in an intellectual level. He/she realizes this fact and accepts it, not because any scientist or a religious scripture had said so; with his/her own experience of observing the sensation and vibration, he will comprehend the law of nature – the law of impermanence.
Practicing Vipassana, one can make a deep surgical operation of the mind and body by observing the sensations.
Wisdom of Vipassana
Practicing Vipassana, in the deepest unconscious level of mind, one will realize that everything in this physical world is impermanent. Whether it is good or bad, it has tendency of arising and passing away – Anichya: the law of Impermanence. In the vicissitudes of life, a Vipassana practitioner may go through pleasant and unpleasant moments. But having understood the law of nature in the deepest unconscious level of mind, he/she starts thinking that both of these moments are “Anichya” and will pass away sooner or later. So in case of trouble, he/she starts feeling bad sensations in the body; and remaining equanimous, he will become calm and tranquil, thinking that it will also pass away one day, “… Anichya… Anichya….” Even in times of pleasure, he starts feeling good sensation in the body; and remaining equanimous, he maintains the composure and does not gets sadden when it also passes away one day. Every Vipassana practitioner gets this wisdom; not just in an intellectual level but at an experiential level by observing the sensations of the body. This is the crux wisdom of Vipassana which teaches an art of living.
Vipassana Vs Religions
Although the Vipassana technique of meditation was discovered and preached by Gautam, the Buddha, Vipassana has nothing to do with any sectarian religion, including Buddhism. One may belong to this religion or may pray to the founder of that religion; Vipassana does not even have a minuscule of objective to convert him/her. It’s a pure science of mind and matter to help one purify his/her mind from all the impurities of craving, hatred and animosity. All of these will ultimately results to misery, which is accepted by almost all the sectarian religions. Although people follow different religions, the fate of misery and suffering is universal, regardless of the religions.
Born in the Hindu family, I was grown up watching the religious series like Om Namah Shivaya, Vishnu Purana, Mahabharata and Ramayana. I often read Bhagwata Geeta. And the crux wisdom of Bhagwat Geeta is to get rid of lust (kaama), wrath (krodha), greed (lobha), craving (moha) and ego (ahankar), as these are the root causes of misery. Every scriptures, regardless of its sectarian religion, teach its followers to develop the feeling of love and compassion. And Vipassana practically teaches how to get rid of misery and cultivate love and compassion – observing the sensations of the body equanimously.
Every scriptures, regardless of its sectarian religion, teach its followers to develop the feeling of love and compassion. And Vipassana practically teaches how to do it.
Last Battle with Mind
Although Guruji had told in the first day of discourse that many Vipassana practitioners feel DAY 2 and DAY 6 very challenging as it require lots of mental and physical efforts. But to me, DAY 8 was very challenging, mentally.
It seems I was in the last battle with my mind. All these days, mind was giving command and I was following all its orders. Vipassana was teaching me to get mastery over the mind. I was an open rebellion of my own mind. And the mind was resisting the change in charge of the command. As I was meditating in the Group meditation in regular evening session, I started feeling strong sensation on my forehead. I tried to remain equanimous, thinking “Anichya…Anichya… it will also pass away”. I tried observing remaining part of the body. But I could hardly focus. I felt as if someone was playing a huge drum inside my cranium. Breaking the “Adhisthan”, I opened my eyes. I could still hear the drum. Following that session, I shared the problem with Assistant Teacher. All he could say was not to imagine much. I went to bed and tried to get some sleep. But the “drum” was still being played, even louder. I noticed the beat of drum was congruent to the heart beat. I decided to face the battle. Instead of trying to get my focus out of the beats every time, I decided to observe the beats of the “drum”. And then suddenly my sensation moved to the left ear. I could literally hear the ultrasonic sound produced by the heartbeat. I kept observing. And the next minute I got pushed up from my bed on one of the beats of the “drum”. I got scared. I felt I might need help at night if the situation aggravates. So I stood up and went downstairs to my original room where my roommates were already asleep. Somehow, I got asleep. Next morning when I woke up, the sensation in forehead had subsided significantly. I had no idea whether I won or lost the battle.
I was in the last battle with my mind. All these days, mind was giving command and I was following all its orders. Vipassana was teaching me to get mastery over the mind.
Breaking the Noble Silence
In the afternoon of the DAY 10, a new meditation technique of spreading Metta Vawana – love and compassion was taught. Sharing the real peace and inner happiness, achieved by practicing Vipassana, with all the living beings of the universe was the main theme of this meditation. Followed by it, the Noble Silence was allowed to be broken. Ten days of complete silence was finally broken and it was time to socialize with fellow meditators. We had been working together since 10 days but neither of us knew each other. Introducing each others, we shared our experience of the meditation. Almost every “survivors” who completed the course felt that Vipassana is a boon to the mankind. It isn’t difficult to become happy in the world full of misery. Coming out of egocentric mind, one can experience the real peace and real happiness by not producing and multiplying negative vibrations. That was the crux of the lesson learnt during last ten days.
Followed by the final discourse in the morning of DAY 11 by Guruji, which encouraged us to keep practicing Vipassana in everyday life, the ten-day course came to an end. It was a beautiful experience.
It isn’t difficult to become happy in the world full of misery. Coming out of egocentric mind, one can experience the real peace and real happiness by not producing and multiplying negative vibrations.
Fee-free Meditation Center
The teaching of the Vipassana is very valuable. No price can pay the wisdom gained. The technique of Vipassana is kept in its pure form by not commercializing it. There’s no fee or charge to get admission in the meditation center. The excellent facilities and delicious pure vegetarian food can be enjoyed by all the meditators for free. You must be wondering how is the services financed then?
Vipassana meditation centers are served voluntarily by the Dhamma-Servers and Assistant Teachers. For other logistics, the center accepts the donation only from Vipassana practitioners who had at least attended the ten-day course. Voluntary donations, large or small, are made with the volition that “I got this wonderful art of living by the generosity of past practitioners. Now let me contribute for the future practitioners who can also be benefited by the technique.” I also contributed a small amount as per my status, with the same volition.
The technique of Vipassana is kept in its pure form by not commercializing it. There’s no fee or charge to get admission in the meditation center.
In the end
If you have maintained patience in reading to this point thoroughly, you might have generated positive sensations in your body, wanting to join the ten-day Vipassana course. Great! But please don’t cultivate any misconception that a miracle will follow at the end of the tenth day. The ten-day course is just meant to pave foundation stones in order to get established in the technique of Vipassana. Of course, the Discourse at the evening will help you generate positive vibrations that will lead you to see things differently in everyday life. But don’t anticipate any magic to follow immediately.
On the contrary, if you got impatient reading this long article and have skimmed to reach this point, you are among those who really require giving a fair trial to the course. Social networking sites and mobile phones had enslaved human kind in modern times, making us lose our patience. Glued to these sources of entertainment, we have been feeding garbage all our life. That’s one of the reasons behind the widespread of negativity and fake news. Without taking a moment to learn the story behind, we believe it immediately and click the like /share button or even start making venomous comments. Vipassana will teach you to see things in a multifarious way. You’ll definitely start seeing some positive changes in life. End this modern days’ slavery and burrow yourself just ten days of your life to learn the art of living.
May All Being Be Happy!
