10 Days Vipassana Course – Part 2

My 10-Days Vipassana Experience

If you are considering attending a Vipassana course, please keep in mind that each person has their own experience so never compare nor judge your experience with others’. Here I will share a few highlights more on the take-aways for me.

So, my take-aways come from two experiences: one is from the conditions of living in noble silence with simple basic living ~ no luxury! The other is the meditation technique itself.

Through observing noble silence and renouncing the mundane life -just like a monk or a nun would live- I have learnt the following;

• We can be happy with simple living. The key is acceptance! The site was what is called a gypsy camp yet was enjoyable for me.
• We do not need words to communicate with each other! I had two roommates -first time ever to share a living space- we did not talk but we were all sensitive towards each other that made sharing the room and facilities easy and enjoyable.
• A couple of incidents took place which made me experience what it means to give with no expectation for a reward! Just giving with love! Unconditional Love! This course is offered for free, meaning accommodation, food and teaching are all provided with love and compassion! Volunteers who manage the day-to-day activities are so loving and compassionate too and would do anything they could to facilitate the 10 days course with minimal interruptions.
• After the course, I have noticed that we talk A LOT! Words that are unnecessary! This also make us more prone to telling lies!
• It was such a blessing to be away from technology for this period! I realized how much of a mobile addict I was! It actually consumes a lot of time and take us away from enjoying the moment! Being present!

Through the meditation technique I have learnt the following;

• Suffering is a mental condition ~ our mind creates this state! After Day 3, we are asked to sit still for 1 hour three times a day without changing our posture! During this time, I have noticed how my mind can magnify the pain into intolerable suffering! The strange thing is once the one hour is over I can stand up and walk with minimal or no physical pain whatsoever! It just shows how we can create suffering, physical pain and ailments by reacting to situations and not seeing things as they are!
• Our mind creates the physical structure to which we identify ourselves with! Our consciousness, however, is expansive and not limited to the body structure!
• Sugar-coating situations and believing in what others believe in would only move those beliefs to a sub-conscious level! It doesn’t mean they are over, it means they are operating from an invisible space ~ the unawareness!
• Do not believe in teachings just because others believe in them or because of the culture, religion or traditions say so! Believe through your own experience! Nourish the curious child within and grow into liberation!
• Let life situations be the ripples on the surface of a deep ocean! Life situations arise to pass away both the pleasant and unpleasant ones! The law of the universe is one of impermanence!

Upon completion of the course, I saw how still and content I was within! It felt like each moment, each situation was a visitor that passes by and leaves and that I was the witness of that process!

Seeing the potential of this technique, I hope to continue the practice and witness the changes through my own experience!

I hope many of you would give this a shot and see what is in it for them! It might not be a technique for everyone but it is definitely very empowering!

Please feel free to share the article and any comments below.