For 10 days I have decided to book myself into a Vipassana Meditation Centre. Vipassana is one of India’s most ancient meditation techniques. It was rediscovered by Gotama the Buddha more than 2,500 years and has since become increasing popular throughout the world. Vipassana means to see things as they really are through natural self-observation. One starts my observing the natural breath to concentrate the mind. With this sharpened awareness, one then proceeds to observe the changing nature of the body and mind and experiences the natural truths of impertinence, suffering and being egoless. This experience of realisation of truth is the process of purification. The entire path (Dhamma) is a universal remedy for universal problems and has nothing to do with any religion. Therefore, it can be practised freely by anyone regardless of race, caste or religion, in any place, at any time and is able to prove itself to be equally beneficial to each and every individual.
Vipassana meditation aims at the highest spiritual goals of total liberation and full enlightenment. It’s an art of living which eliminates the three causes of all unhappiness: craving, aversion and ignorance. With continued practice, it relieves tensions and enables you stop the habit of reacting in an unbalanced fashion to each pleasant and unpleasant situation in life.
Ten days is certainly a very short time in which to penetrate the unconscious mind to the deepest levels and so continuity of using the technique is the secret of reaching the peace, harmony and enlightenment in which you desire.
When signing up to complete such a course, you have to commit to the full 10 days and abide by the precepts.
The Precepts:
All students have to observe and follow the following rigorously:
– Abstention from killing
– Abstention from stealing
– Abstention from all sexual activities
– Abstention from telling lies
– Abstention from all intoxicant
All of the old students have three more, which are as follows:
– Abstention from taking food after 12 noon
– Abstention from sensual amusements and bodily decorations
– Abstention from using high and luxurious beds.
For anyone who knows anything about Buddha would be aware that he found enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree in Bodhgaya. It was this that made me determined to travel to this location and hunt down a Vipassana Meditation Centre to find this enlightenment myself. If it’s good enough for Buddha, then it’s good enough for me.
Since having discussed this course with others, they always ask me why on earth I would choose to do such a gruelling thing. The reason is that I came across the concept of an ashram, which India was renowned for. Meditating and finding inner peace, what location could be more perfect than India? But after some research and having the need to always challenge myself as much as possible in life, I felt that if I wanted to get into meditation that I was going to fully commit to the idea. No tiptoeing in the shallow water but diving straight into the deep end instead. Hence, how I came across Vipassana and their strict disciplinary rules. Difficult and painful? Successful for enlightenment and inner peace? Where’s that dotted line to sign me up?!
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