Vipassana Course

Looking for some sort of meditation retreat, I booked myself on the Vipassana course in Kathmandu. It was for 10 days and with over 10 hours of meditation a day, it was quite a challenge. 4am starts, complete silence, no reading or writing, segregation of men and women etc. After a little more of adjustment to the 'real world', I will see how it affected me!

The technique of Vipassana Meditation is taught at ten-day residential courses during which participants learn the basics of the method, and practice sufficiently to experience its beneficial results.

Vipassanā (Pāli) or vipaśyanā (विपश्यना, Sanskrit) in the Buddhist tradition means insight into the nature of reality. It is one of Asia's most ancient techniques of meditation, attributed to Gautama Buddha. It is a way of self-transformation through self-observation and introspection. In English, vipassanā meditation is often referred to simply as "insight meditation".

One of the most widely practised forms of Vipassana is that taught by S. N. Goenka, and this freely taught, non-sectarian teaching has been incorporated into the educational system in India, as well as in prisons across the world.

Vipassana meditation is the process of self- purification by self-observation. One begins by observing the natural breath to concentrate the mind. With a sharpened awareness one proceeds to observe the changing nature of body and mind and experiences the universal truths of impermanence, suffering and egolessness. This truth-realization by direct experience is the process of purification. The entire path (Dhamma) is a universal remedy for universal problems and has nothing to do with any organized religion or sectarianism. For this reason, it can be freely practiced by everyone, at any time, in any place, without conflict due to race, community or religion, and will prove equally beneficial to one and all.

Vipassanā includes contemplating Buddhist teachings, including the Four Noble Truths, as well as deep body awareness. It is a technique which depends on direct experience and observation. It can be related to the three trainings taught by the Buddha as the basis of a spiritual path: adherence to a sīla (Sanskrit: śīla) (abstinence from killing, stealing, lying, sexual misconduct and intoxication), which is not an end in itself but a requirement for the second part, concentration of the mind (samādhi). With this concentrated mind, the third training, in the context of this technique (paññā, Sanskrit prajñā), is detached observation of the reality of the mind and body from moment to moment. The meditation consists of the experiential observation of mind and matter (nāma and rūpa) in their aspects of impermanence, unsatisfactoriness and lack of an inherent, independent essence or self.

Although it includes body awareness as part of the practice, it is not a "body scan" technique. The purpose is also not to release past trauma, but to bring full awareness of the mind, body and all sensations and be fully present. This practice is thought to develop a deep, experiential understanding of the impermanence of all phenomena and also brings to the surface and dissolves deep-seated complexes and tensions.

Timetable
4:00 am Wake-up bell
4:30-6:30 am Meditate
6:30-8:00 am Breakfast
8:00-11:00 am Meditate
11:00-12:00 noon Lunch
12noon-1:00 pm Rest and interviews with the teacher
1:00-5:00pm Meditate
5:00-6:00 pm Tea break
6:00-7:00 pm Meditate
7:00-8:15 pm Teacher's Discourse in the hall
8:15-9:00 pm Meditate
9:00-9:30 pm Question time in the hall
9:30 pm Retire to your own room--Lights out

There were various 'rules'.

- Undertake the following precepts: to abstain from killing, stealing, all sexual activity, telling lies, intoxicants, eating after midday (although new students were allowed a bit of fruit, a small amount of cereal and tea), sensual entertainment and bodily decorations, using high or luxurious beds.
- All other meditation techniques and healing or spiritual practices suspended.
- Noble Silence. This means silence of body, speech, and mind. Any form of communication with fellow student, whether by gestures, sign language, written notes, etc., is prohibited.
- Complete segregation of men and women.
- No physical contact whatsoever between persons of the same or opposite sex.
- Yoga and other exercises suspended.
- No drugs, alcohol, or other intoxicants should be brought to the site; this also applies to tranquilizers, sleeping pills, and all other sedatives.
- No smoking.
- Simple vegetarian meals. No extra food to be eaten.
- Fasting is not permitted.
- Dress should be simple and modest.
- Stay within the course boundaries throughout the course. No outside communications is allowed.
- No reading or writing.

www.dhamma.org

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