Top takeaways
- I actually learned to meditate: Through the course, I realized that I’ve done a fair bit of intellectualization of spirituality. Listening to people talk about meditative experiences feels nice but it is hard to push yourself to try and meditate and that too without verbalizing / visualizing. I loved the rigor and the amount of meditation one does day in and day out during the program. The emphasis on working extremely hard to find success was refreshing and appealing. The understanding the control one has over the effort one makes not just helps one during the course, but I’m certain that it transforms to other walks of life as well after getting back.
- Silence is beautiful: be it people marching out of the meditation hall in complete silence after a session, or about 80 individuals grabbing meals in the dining hall with no human noise for 10 consecutive days is surreal!, The sound of people’s spoons touching their plates is the main music one hears. There are phases of emotional and psychological highs and lows one goes through during the course of 10 days. I cannot imagine how it would feel when you just want to be by yourself after a calm meditation session but you need to chat with someone? Or when deep rooted complexes come to the surface and socializing with a stranger and pretending that one is doing alright?
Another benefit of the noble silence is that one is able to undertake a journey that is extremely personal. Imagine a bunch of people gathering at the end of each day and sharing their experience? The resultant comparisons and the need to experience something because a number of other individuals feel so? The emphasis on the fact that every experience is different in the course design is certainly commendable. After all, every individual has their own baggage and discussing aspects when one is going through the process of ‘deep surgical operation of the mind’, as it is called can be detrimental.
- Make the process and the technique supreme: The Vipasana center and the teachers there act as facilitators. Time and again, the technique of Vipasana meditation, the process of learning it the right way and most importantly, participants practicing it is emphasized. There is no ritual, individual, or scripture that is above the process. This is reflected in the course design that recommends about 10 hours of meditation each day and just an hour of recorded lecture that speaks about rationality of the practice and certain basic principles the idea is based on.
Challenging my assumptions
There were certain aspects that were different than what I expected and therefore challenged my assumptions:
- The objective of having grate meditative experiences: I went in with the idea that I would be successful if the quality of my meditation experience could While this was true to some extent, I figured that the right matrix to measure success is the equanimity one develops. I know better not to get carried away with a nice meditative experience or be disappointed with one that might not be as expected. Even in meditation, only your effort is in your control 😊
- Being away from devices was easier than I imagined: I thought I would crave devices and that would cause me a grate deal of discomfort at least in the first couple of days. The hectic time table coupled with the idea of doing my best while I’m exploring myself hardly reminded me of devices.
- Following the routine was easier than I thought: be it waking up at 4 am, or having your last meal at 5 pm felt simpler than I thought. Was it because I was living in ways that were more natural? Or just the spirit of the place? I don’t know, but it definitely felt alright!
Some aspects I would have ideally liked:
- It would have been interesting if the participants were allowed some material for journaling. Putting some stuff down in terms of how one feels each day and looking at it after 10 days and beyond would be interesting. While this is a wish, I do understand the idea of not doing this. A Vipasana course provides an opportunity for participants to get rid of negative aspects in ones unconscious mind and when this is happening, journalling would only strengthen the idea and therefore make it hard to let go.
- Over-emphasis on the idea of ultimate liberation during discourses: The hour long discourses on certain days extensively speak about the idea of ultimate liberation and how that should be the final goal. While this makes sense, some more emphasis on just the day-today life might have been more helpful. I love the fact that the last discourse asks us to put aside any theory we do not agree for now and continue to make progress just by practicing.
Overall, I had a brilliant experience that challenged me, taught me, and filled me with gratitude. It wouldn’t be wrong if I said that I feel lighter and more aware when I compare myself at the start and end of the course. It feels magical how the place takes in so much from each participant and sends a more peaceful you after ten days.