This month I am done with one of the Great Course on
Spiritualism, Dharma, Meditation & Self-realization and that is Vipassana.
What is Vipassana?
Vipassana, which
means to see things as they really are, is one of India’s most ancient
techniques of meditation. It was rediscovered by Gautama 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..
(Taken from dhamma.org)
I came
to know about this technique during July 2014 from one of my senior. He had
done this course at Dhamma Bodhi, the International Vipassana Meditation center
at Gaya. According to him, it was a different type of experience. He had
further told me that there is no need to do any rites and rituals during the 10
days course. One has to observe complete silence for 9 days with approximately
10 hours of meditation every day from 4.30 am to 9 pm at frequent intervals.
The meditators are not allowed to write, read, talk even with gestures, touch
others or look at anybody. Food is given thrice in small quantities.
The Crave
for some extra sensory experience is yet another form of desire. I became
curious to know more therefore started collecting information on the internet.
Fortunately, I got the opportunity to do this course at Sodepur Vipassana
meditation center, Kolkata in October 2016.
The Facilities
The
Ashram is situated in a serene place with Ganges flowing nearby. When I entered
the campus, I had a feeling of natural calmness and peace.
The facilities were all pretty basic. Men and women were separated
the whole time. There was a dining hall, where we had breakfast, lunch and
dinner/ tea. Every student was allocated a seat in the beginning of the course.
The meals consisted of simple vegetarian food and we all got our plate, cup, spoon
and bowl, which we had to clean after every meal.
Every student had his own room in standard situation, however I
have been offered dormitory with other 20 peoples. The rooms were basically
little cells with a mattress and some space for the luggage.
The meditation was done in the Dhamma Hall. Again, every student
was allocated a cushion to sit on during meditation. There was also a
little room with a TV in it, which was used to show the teacher’s discourse (Dhamma
Talk) in English to the foreigners.
There was a little garden/ path were we were able to walk around
during the breaks.
The facilities will probably be very different depending on where
you do the course.
The Timetable
The
timetable looks really strict and terrible when you first look at it, but it’s
really not that bad once you get used to it. Don’t get me wrong, it’s really
hard, but it’s worth it and there will be a moment during the course when you
realize that it’s all worth it.
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
MY EXPERIENCE
So right after the course I wrote down everything I could remember
and how I felt like. Some of this probably sounds really irrelevant to you. But
this is what I found important the moment I walked out of the center.
Day 0
I smoked my last cigarette just before entering the meditation
center. Anyway, I quickly found my way to the registration place. After the registration, we were asked to deposit our cell phones, money,
books etc. at the counter. We could only carry our clothes and toiletries along
with us to the room. We have to do our own work like washing clothes, cleaning
our rooms/toilets etc.
At 7 pm,
we were asked to assemble in a hall. The teacher told about the rules and
guidelines to be followed for the next 9 days during the course then we went to the Dhamma hall to meditate for
the first time (just focusing on our breath) and the noble silence started. No
more talking from now on.
Day 1
I woke up on time and suddenly everything seemed so easy. I was focused,
I wasn’t too tired and I didn’t mind the pain from sitting in the same posture
all day. I also realized that even though I was surrounded by other people, I
was here alone. I completely stopped caring about the other people and tried to
get the most out of this experience.
Day 2
There was
little pain in the body particularly in the knees. My mind was wandering. There
were many thoughts with no clarity. In the evening, every day we were shown a
video film. The film was about the experience we would have had during the day
and a short guidelines for the next day. The discourse was very
interesting. The teacher often told some funny stories having deep meanings. We
laughed without making sound. It was funny when we could not
control laughing but we cannot make sound!!
Day 3 to
5
There was a flow of energy going through my body, which I was
again able to just observe. I felt really peaceful and happy all day. I thought
a lot about Dhamma and how all of this would affect my life in the outside
world. I realized that Vipassana gave me the one thing that was missing in my
life: hope – me too, I could also become a truly happy persons. All the things
from the past that were haunting me, I could be able to let them go. Of course,
the path was long and hard, but at least I saw the path now. The afternoons were
really painful, but for some reason that didn’t bother me. Most of the time I was talking with myself and sometimes scolding or
appreciating myself.
Day 6
One new meditation
technique was introduced. We were asked to observe the sensations all over the
body from head to foot. For the next remaining days. We have to do “Adhistana” i.e
to sit without making any movement for one hr. each time for three times a day.
It was like a challenge for all. There was severe pain in the knees and at
times I accepted defeat. At other times, I got determined not to accept defeat
and I completed one hour sitting like a wood. It is said that Gautam, the
Buddha got enlightenment by doing Adhistana.
I remember an experience on the
sixth day afternoon. Still I am puzzled whether that was an imagination or
something transcended upon me to teach me a great lesson of life. We were
asked to focus on the subtlest of sensations in our body. It required complete
attention and focus. Suddenly I saw - My physical body has totally collapsed
and divided into trillions of cells. Repeatedly I was asking where ‘I’ is, there
was severe pain in my mind and I could hear my throbbing heartbeat. I
could not control my tears. What for I am so proud? What am I?
I got disconnected from these
thoughts after the bell rang. I came to my room and I can’t say about the
intense emotions that I was going through. There was no complains, no regret
but only realization of the truth of human life. Uncontrolled tears was flowing
from my eyes. I didn’t resist it. A great feeling of relief and
cleanliness within have dominated me.
Day 7 to
9
I felt a
strong desire to surrender. There was detachment towards everything. No desire
to speak or express anything. As if I am letting everything and everybody
go free as their will. There is no want to control anybody. There was a strong
sense of acceptance. I felt as if all the divine
qualities have taken rest in me. Time and again, I felt my heart is so pure and
clean, I was feeling a “aha”. There was a flow of pure love towards nature and
human beings. I asked for forgiveness to all whom I have hurt and done harm. I
looked at the stars and felt happy. I again and again expressed my gratitude
for making my life so beautiful. Without any reason, I was smiling. I was
feeling so happy that I wanted to celebrate it with my family and friends. True
inspiration was flowing constantly.
During
these days, I saw some dreams which again taught me some good lessons. At
times, I woke up in the midnight and cried. We were not allowed to write so I
could not write my experiences. We were not even given enough time to think so
there is no question to recall your memories. Almost every emotion anyone can
think of crossed my mind. In short, it is said that every emotion and every
feeling is related to a sensation in our body. Good sensation gives us pleasure
and we want that experience again and again. Likewise bad or painful sensations
related to emotions like fear, guilt, anger etc. gives unpleasant experiences.
We resist it. The technique says neither to get attached nor avoid such
sensations. Just be detached and understand its momentariness. All will pass
away as per the law of Impermanence. So, if negative thought arises, transform
it to wisdom.
Day 10
Our
silence was broken. We talked among ourselves. We were smiling and laughing.
The Ganges passes nearby. We went there and had a photo session. We thanked the
teacher and the Sevika.
For me, this was a
unique experience that gave me the realization about the significance of
human life. It introduced me to myself.
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