Since the childhood I had many curiosity based questions: how to cope up with anger, negativity, irritation, why am I so sensitive…and so on. As I grew up…there was addition to such questions: why is there complication and tension in relationships, how to accept death and the agony because of such feelings, is there a way to face the world better and more such. The journey to find answers had begun. The quest was on! I read many books, listened to online audios, saw videos, attended different courses and workshops … but nothing was appealing to me. I was looking for a path which was pure.
A few sentences would haunt me from time to time:
- No one can hurt you without your consent.
- Positive change does not happen when circumstances improve--- Change happens when you DECIDE to improve your circumstances
- Do your duty without expecting anything in return, and accept the outcome with reverence as a gracious gift.
- Relationship is not a business where you give only when you get; it is a beautiful feel for someone where you love to give, even if you don’t get.
- The only person who is educated is the one who has learned how to learn and change.
- Two ways to be happy in life: Never give the help of tears to your emotions AND never give the help of words to your anger.
- Sometimes apologizing doesn’t mean that you are wrong and the other person is right. It only means that you value the relationship much more than your ego.
- It is very simple to be happy……But it is very difficult to be simple.
Alas, I had known how to implement the principles! While searching on my quest, I kept on bumping into a few people every now and then, who were guiding me to a path – “Vipassana meditation” – these people had literally imbibed Vipassana! A cousin who had followed this path for a long time and had evolved tremendously, an aunt who was steadfast even after losing her husband in an unfortunate accident, a mentor and a friend who had become a better human being, my grandmother who had gone beyond her religion and had discovered and learnt Vipassana. I got inspiration from them from time to time. And I decided to learn Vipassana!
I gathered information. Vipassana is a type of meditation. With regular practice of the same one’s mind becomes quiet, balanced, patient, happy and full of compassion. Gautama the Buddha taught the technique in India a long time ago, later Mr. S. N. Goenka brought the wisdom back to India. It is being taught in multiple centers spread across the globe. It is organized purely based on donations of people who have attended a 10 day course and learnt Vipassana. It is passed on to anyone and everyone without any differentiation. I realized that this path was away from fame or money making. Every center carried out the same program. You need 12 days to learn Vipassana. You reach the center on the first day, learn Vipassana for the next 10 days and return in the morning on day 12. You need to maintain noble silence. You have no contact with the external world. You are given a very specific program, which you need to follow firmly. As this is an experiential learning, it is necessary to maintain silence and look inward. You do not need to talk as all arrangements are taken care of. If necessary you can talk to the assistant teacher to clarify your doubts or to the dhamma sevak/sevika about any inconveniences. The day starts early in the morning. The program is well structured and you are methodically taught Vipassana. There are meditation sessions of 1 or 2 hours throughout the day. You are expected to follow the instructions provided and work diligently. I understood clearly! I applied online to a 10 day course. With utmost determination, I started my journey on this path!
I reached the center on the prescribed day and time. We were told about the foundation of the practice - 3 precepts:
Good moral conduct (शील pronounced as sheel)
Concentration of Mind (समाधी pronounced as samaadhee)
The wisdom of insight (प्रज्ञा pronounced as pannya).
Everyone began the course by deciding not to harm others by way of speech or by action, so as not to disturb the other by way of practicing शील “Sheel”- moral conduct.
The next step was Anapana – समाधी - Samadhi. We were guided to calm our mind, to concentrate and to conquer and make the mind sharp, by just observing our natural breath. I was surprised to learn how fast the mind was wandering all over instantaneously. It was travelling in time-past or present or future. It was thinking about all relations, friends, family, emotions and what not! The mind was going on and on, on whatever, about whoever, whenever and wherever!! I realized how difficult this stage was! There was progress slowly but steadily. After a while it was easy to concentrate on breathing. The mind started to become calm and focused.
A few times a few things would bother me during the course, like Guruji’s different voice, a few talkative attendees, a few inconveniences, a few bodily aches and pains, but I overlooked them, for I was here with great determination to change myself – in a positive manner!
प्रज्ञा -Pradnya was the next step – Vipassana. There was education on how to practice Vipassana, why we should practice, what to do, what not to do, what is the meaning and alike every day for the next 6 days. I understood the concept and the philosophy through the discourses of Guruji. Vipassana is observing reality as it is, by observing the truth inside. It is purifying the mind of defilements by developing insight into one's own nature. Vipassana eradicates 3 main causes of grief: attachment आसक्ती/राग, aversion द्वेष and ignorance अविद्या. The root cause of one’s suffering lies within oneself – due to the blind reactions given to the sensations. Vipassana teaches to observe the reality as it is, without any reaction. It teaches to accept whatever it is, as it is. It helps to understand the laws of nature. Towards the end of the course we were taught “maîtri bhavana – loving kindness”. It was an overwhelming experience. I did not realize how the 10 days had passed.
Overall I felt that I completed the course successfully! The quest, to find answer to one question of how to live an enriched life, had been rewarding. Vipassana, I found was a great path. I was experiencing peace and satisfaction. I felt respect for the way the profound knowledge is passed on to so many people without any promotion or prejudice. I found everything logical and I was satisfied. I realized many aspects for the first time. Instead of blind reactions one has a choice to give a productive response – an action proceeding from a balanced mind, a mind which sees and understands the truth. I understood that for many of the issues which are universal, Vipassana is a universal path, with the center being the core of all human nature and the basics of all religions and humanity.
After talking to the old students, I learnt that one can transform oneself as an enhanced person. I understood the technique and how to practice Vipassana at home. I bowed to Guruji, assistant teachers, dhamma sevaks and all those noble people on whose donations the program was carried out! I bowed down with gratitude. A seed was sown; I was determined to nourish it, by practicing Vipassana daily.
After this first course, I observed a few positive changes in me. If I was getting angry 10 times earlier, now it was slightly less, say 8 times. I also was conscious that I was not getting as irritated, gloomy or sad as earlier. To show affection, love or respect was easier. To accept mistakes was easier! I could enjoy things from the bottom of my heart. I also saw positive changes in my career. At office, I was more composed in many unpleasant situations. I could sense positive changes in myself, slowly and steadily!
I could not practice Vipassana daily though! I realized it doesn’t end with one course! I attended Vipassana courses again and again after a gap of a few years. Every time I understood a bit more, learnt a bit more and experienced a bit more. The tree was growing now. My positive attitude and the glimpses of staying in the present moment used to motivate me to continue the practice and remain on this noble path. I used to get doubts and come across obstacles, but I used to get advice and hand holding at such times from many people, and my journey continued!
I met a few people on this path, who had done the course, even multiple times, but had not understood what Vipassana is! They were still the self centered, egoistic individuals in daily lives, who did not care to change. May be they could not grasp the teachings. I ignored such people. There are shortcomings in every course; one may find such in this course as well, due to involvement of multiple people. But if you thoroughly understand the concepts and practice, keeping aside some of these inconveniences, one can positively change for the better! I met many people who had attended the course multiple times and who had meticulously understood the process. Such people always came across as calm, collected, compassionate people. They were empathetic, positive and took actions based on kindness, with balanced mind. Looking at their behavior, conduct, my faith in humanity increases, I get motivation, as there are so many such people to look up to!
Many people stay away from meditation. “I do not require it” is the misconception many people have. But it may not be so. Everyone can lead a better life, for oneself and for others around, that too from “now on”. Meditation is not for the last stages of life. With Vipassana meditation, one can improve one’s actions, one can remain in equanimity. One can face challenging phases of life without getting disturbed, with unruffled mind and with correct response. The environment around us remains the same, but one gets evolved and can respond better with more awareness and poise.
To maintain body, we exercise and eat cautiously, to stimulate our intellect, we study, create and debate, and similarly I found that to enhance the mind’s level Vipassana is a great daily training! Vipassana is an experiential, pure and excellent path. You need a lot of patience and hard work, and you need to practice regularly!
I have very good support from my family. With the blessings of my dear ones and guidance of the experienced many, I am progressing on this path! I want to inculcate compassion, service attitude, humility, with my mind in pure equanimity! There are many levels on this path. I want to keep moving ahead one step at a time, and make progress.
By reading my experience, I just hope that you get inquisitive about Vipassana and explore this noble path.
Mangalam! Metta!
More information:
The next step was Anapana – समाधी - Samadhi. We were guided to calm our mind, to concentrate and to conquer and make the mind sharp, by just observing our natural breath. I was surprised to learn how fast the mind was wandering all over instantaneously. It was travelling in time-past or present or future. It was thinking about all relations, friends, family, emotions and what not! The mind was going on and on, on whatever, about whoever, whenever and wherever!! I realized how difficult this stage was! There was progress slowly but steadily. After a while it was easy to concentrate on breathing. The mind started to become calm and focused.
A few times a few things would bother me during the course, like Guruji’s different voice, a few talkative attendees, a few inconveniences, a few bodily aches and pains, but I overlooked them, for I was here with great determination to change myself – in a positive manner!
प्रज्ञा -Pradnya was the next step – Vipassana. There was education on how to practice Vipassana, why we should practice, what to do, what not to do, what is the meaning and alike every day for the next 6 days. I understood the concept and the philosophy through the discourses of Guruji. Vipassana is observing reality as it is, by observing the truth inside. It is purifying the mind of defilements by developing insight into one's own nature. Vipassana eradicates 3 main causes of grief: attachment आसक्ती/राग, aversion द्वेष and ignorance अविद्या. The root cause of one’s suffering lies within oneself – due to the blind reactions given to the sensations. Vipassana teaches to observe the reality as it is, without any reaction. It teaches to accept whatever it is, as it is. It helps to understand the laws of nature. Towards the end of the course we were taught “maîtri bhavana – loving kindness”. It was an overwhelming experience. I did not realize how the 10 days had passed.
Overall I felt that I completed the course successfully! The quest, to find answer to one question of how to live an enriched life, had been rewarding. Vipassana, I found was a great path. I was experiencing peace and satisfaction. I felt respect for the way the profound knowledge is passed on to so many people without any promotion or prejudice. I found everything logical and I was satisfied. I realized many aspects for the first time. Instead of blind reactions one has a choice to give a productive response – an action proceeding from a balanced mind, a mind which sees and understands the truth. I understood that for many of the issues which are universal, Vipassana is a universal path, with the center being the core of all human nature and the basics of all religions and humanity.
After talking to the old students, I learnt that one can transform oneself as an enhanced person. I understood the technique and how to practice Vipassana at home. I bowed to Guruji, assistant teachers, dhamma sevaks and all those noble people on whose donations the program was carried out! I bowed down with gratitude. A seed was sown; I was determined to nourish it, by practicing Vipassana daily.
After this first course, I observed a few positive changes in me. If I was getting angry 10 times earlier, now it was slightly less, say 8 times. I also was conscious that I was not getting as irritated, gloomy or sad as earlier. To show affection, love or respect was easier. To accept mistakes was easier! I could enjoy things from the bottom of my heart. I also saw positive changes in my career. At office, I was more composed in many unpleasant situations. I could sense positive changes in myself, slowly and steadily!
I could not practice Vipassana daily though! I realized it doesn’t end with one course! I attended Vipassana courses again and again after a gap of a few years. Every time I understood a bit more, learnt a bit more and experienced a bit more. The tree was growing now. My positive attitude and the glimpses of staying in the present moment used to motivate me to continue the practice and remain on this noble path. I used to get doubts and come across obstacles, but I used to get advice and hand holding at such times from many people, and my journey continued!
I met a few people on this path, who had done the course, even multiple times, but had not understood what Vipassana is! They were still the self centered, egoistic individuals in daily lives, who did not care to change. May be they could not grasp the teachings. I ignored such people. There are shortcomings in every course; one may find such in this course as well, due to involvement of multiple people. But if you thoroughly understand the concepts and practice, keeping aside some of these inconveniences, one can positively change for the better! I met many people who had attended the course multiple times and who had meticulously understood the process. Such people always came across as calm, collected, compassionate people. They were empathetic, positive and took actions based on kindness, with balanced mind. Looking at their behavior, conduct, my faith in humanity increases, I get motivation, as there are so many such people to look up to!
Many people stay away from meditation. “I do not require it” is the misconception many people have. But it may not be so. Everyone can lead a better life, for oneself and for others around, that too from “now on”. Meditation is not for the last stages of life. With Vipassana meditation, one can improve one’s actions, one can remain in equanimity. One can face challenging phases of life without getting disturbed, with unruffled mind and with correct response. The environment around us remains the same, but one gets evolved and can respond better with more awareness and poise.
To maintain body, we exercise and eat cautiously, to stimulate our intellect, we study, create and debate, and similarly I found that to enhance the mind’s level Vipassana is a great daily training! Vipassana is an experiential, pure and excellent path. You need a lot of patience and hard work, and you need to practice regularly!
I have very good support from my family. With the blessings of my dear ones and guidance of the experienced many, I am progressing on this path! I want to inculcate compassion, service attitude, humility, with my mind in pure equanimity! There are many levels on this path. I want to keep moving ahead one step at a time, and make progress.
By reading my experience, I just hope that you get inquisitive about Vipassana and explore this noble path.
Mangalam! Metta!
More information:
Bhagyashree spending time with oneself is important and to make the mind quite is very difficult.I was successful with Vishwas techniques.Will give this one a try.Maybe we talk next time you will see this change in me.
ReplyDeleteHope you soon get a chance to do the Vipassana course! All the best Tanushree!!
ReplyDelete