What is the reason of one's existence? Where am I heading to? What is right and what is wrong? How does the mother nature and her rules abide us? Who am I? Infinite questions arise in our mind everyday since we step in to this world. Some of us simply tend to believe in what we are said and made learn by our parents, family, friends, teachers, systems and societies. But what about our own belief and understanding of truth? Vipassana takes you to this extensive journey within your mind and soul that discovers the truth that lies within one's own self.
Vipassana is India's most ancient science to discover one's own self through meditation. A ten day course as designed by Guruji, Acharya Shree Goenka takes one to core of mind and soul and brings out the truth hidden deep inside. Its not a kind of magic or art, its simply the truth that you learn through this journey.
For this Ten Days one is required to detach his/her self from external world and remain within the boundary of Vipassana centre while following Arya Maun (Complete Silence), well even not a gesture is allowed.. Vipassana centres are situated across India and can be found through its website www.dhamma.org. My personal choice was the one near to my motherland Kutch... Dhamma Sindhu, Bada Centre.
Dhamma Sindhu, meaning ‘Ocean of Dhamma’, is situated near the village of Bada, 22 km west of the historic port city of Mandvi, Kutch, Gujarat. This centre consists of 35 acres of land filled with lush greenery and wildlife, ideally suited for deep meditation. It is one in over 140 meditation centers around the world offering 10-day residential retreats in Vipassana Meditation as taught by S.N. Goenkaji.
Entering through the gates of Center one has to leave behind one's identity, voice, beliefs, attachments and have to become Bhikshu for all these days. One would be given an individual cell where all basic needs such as bad, hot water, clean and hygienic wash rooms are provided. For these 10 Days that very cell became my home..
On Day Zero evening we were given Diksha.. followed by strict decliplinery instructions that we were requied to follow by all means in order to achieve the objective.
Just when we were settling down... an elderly yet strong voice starting discourse... Goenkaji him self through the pre-recorded cassettes gives regular instructions and guidance throughout the course.
And then the real tough journey begins... every day one has to wake up by Four in the Morning and do the Two Hour Vipassana that follows healthy yet light breakfast. After a two hours' break Vipassana resumes at same Dhamma Hall. At 12 Noon lunch is provided. A very hygenic food is served while kitchens and dining are absolutely neat and clean. After a break noon session of vipassana progresses. At five in the evening New Students are allowed to have Rice Crackers, Fruits and Tea or Coffee while older students would only be allowed to have Fresh Lime Juice. One is not allowed to consume anything afterwards. But trust me with all mind and no body work one hardly feels hungry. while so many far important things are found, food and other objects become of no importance. Trust me.. well then an evening session begins which is followed by Guruji's discourse. and that's how a day ends...
Now a million dollar question what happens in those sessions... go check out your self...
Its IMPOSSIBLE for anyone to give words to what happens in those sessions. While no words are being said by anyone.. no hypnotism.. no lectures, no instructions.. nothing... First Four days new student is taught Anapan... which means concentrating on breathing... as it comes and goes through nostrils.. thats how after four days of concentration your mind becomes stable and sukshma... at this level you feel slightest of changes in body, atmosphere, and you feel every single sensation.. yet you are flooded with so many questions... and here is the magic.. every day when your mind is full of questions, in evening Guruji's recorded cassette will play down all your queries... and that's simply amazing...
On Fourth day vipassana is given... and here you are asked to sense all the sub-level sensations within your body. Sar se Pau Tak... From head to Toe you feel a flow of sensation moving like a water across your body, and thats not some illusion.. Here at this level comes deepest karma out of your self... Your mind will rebel and force you not to do vipassana. You will feel as if your made to sit in a closed room and the movie is being played... That Movie is your life... Yes you ll come across so many good, pleasent, bad, worst, fearsome, jubilant moments of your life.. they will drive you away from your vipassana but you need to learn to master this feelings and become one... more you ll try harder and tougher it will become but and then will come a moment that you will be enlightened with the truth .. that you understand nothing remains constant neither good nor bad and you understand that all is Anishcha... that is subject to end, whether life or death.. happiness or sorrow.. it all ends... I wish I could make better explanation then this but trust me the self discovery can only tell one what the truth is..
After ten days of Vipassana one can practice the same in day to day life. and one can definitely see the change in one's self.. It can be done by any one who is fit enough. Medical patients and expecting female need to take prior permission though. Yes it is tough but one cant expect truth to be revealed that easily. If Kiran Bedi can make Tihar Jail prisoners do Vipasana, and bring about a change in them, that thing must have something in it... Well its all upto one's belief but in end I would only say... rather than taking things the way they are said, one must explore the Truth on his own...
One may contact me for any details or queries, I would love to answer them if I could..
