Vipassana's topics - tribe.net

international student application.......

2008-10-17T10:40:19Z

- not quite sure what happens here... anyway I post this a second time:

Dear you,

I'm starting over studies and have been accepted in few colleges around the san fransisco bay area. so far, i could go to the peralta colleges (berkleley - laney - alameda - meritt), the college of san mateo and foothill college (los altos hills).

Even though i didn't choose those colleges out of the blue, i'd love to get some advices here, from you.

which area would be the best to settle down - regarding my following profile?

I live in squats and community houses throughout europe, i mainly do butoh and contemporary dance, massage, and I'm undergoing a reichian therapy.

The important point is : community houses. i'm not going to work like hell for the air i breath, the roof i sleep under, the water i drink and the food i eat. i only work hard to take steps forward in the direction i want to go. this is luxury. i live and wanna live in the abundance that life offers. (that kind of life doesn't seem like that to many though)..

any thoughts are welcomed.

thanks

posted in Vipassana - 2 replies

Why Goenka?

2008-09-24T10:16:15Z

He is def. a qualified teacher and I have been to his teachings. But there are so many other teachers in the world.

posted in Vipassana - 1 reply

Back from my 1st ten day

2008-09-23T19:24:04Z

It was amazing. Incredibly difficult, but amazing. My impressions are in my blog :

http://sanfrancisco.tribe.net/template/pub%2Coc%2CDetail.vm?topicid=819c67fc-ef24-4e33-a6c7-f52fadbf45a1&plugin=blog&inst=3810538

I'm told that my experience was not at all unusual.

Keep in mind that I'm just starting my practice.

May all beings be happy.

B

posted in Vipassana - 18 replies

Dogma

2008-09-23T17:37:23Z

Has anyone else come across the dogma of vipassana as taught by Goenka?
I ask because I have this recurring issue. 2 years ago after I having sat two 10 day sits preveiously, I applied to serve a course. Because I said on the application that I did "other" forms of meditation, they asked that I sit the course instead of serve so I could "decide" if vipassana was the meditation practice for me. At that point I was sitting 2 hours a day. I ditched Vipassana. I stopped practicing.
Now I wish to resume practice. I applied to sit a 10 day course and on this application I wrote that I did not do any other meditation practices. I have been called and asked if I stopped doing the other practices or what is going on with that...like they have it in my file that I do other practices or something.
The frustrating thing to me is that it does not matter. Would the Buddha turn me away? No.
I am abandoning the Goenka Vipassana centers. I feel that their approach is like most of Christianity...it's just not following the teachings of the teacher.
Thanks for listening. I am really frustrated.

Lesson is: When applying for a Goenka course do NOT say that you do other meditation practices. THey don't need to know.

posted in Vipassana - 40 replies

Goenka degrades the human being just like all the other religions do...correct me if I am wrong!

2008-09-23T17:26:16Z

Goenka mocks other religions but most of all, he mocks the human being for his/her imperfections. Goenka was or still is a rich hindu. His former religion has caused much suffering and his family is hindu as far as we know. Look at his centres. Do you know who runs his centres? You might be surprised. It is not about money in the sense of cash. It is about persuading people to serve on the foundation that people need to serve to 'make it' to a better existance. They need your free labour. All these people of flesh and bone can serve in some kitchen and take insults from each other and later on they can die just like some cat or dog dies. Think about it. You are better off seeking money or fame or women in this short life rather than serving some old bastard who sounds like dracula when he speaks. Ask yourself, what has he done for you? His meditation technique is not his. Vipassana is a technique of suppresion and works to a degree but it is taxing. Goenka takes this technique and forms it into a school for down and out westerners like you and me. If we we were not down and out westerners then we would not bother. Vipassana people(Goenka school) live in a false world of insults and superiority based on the colour, creed and up bringing. They are no better than you or me and the meditation makes no difference. Say hi to your fellow human in your street and you can expect and honest reply.

posted in Vipassana - 0 replies

Why Vipassana(Goenka school) is a load of poop

2008-09-23T16:59:19Z

The Goenka school of Vipassana stems from U Bah Khin in the former country of Burma. It is a south east asian country which has suffered from various bafoons and still does. I sympathise with the suffering of these people. They are much better people than us in the west. However, Goenka says that U Bah Khin was a holy man and us westerners could go along with that. U Bah Khin could have been a wife basher for all we westerners know. We just go along with SN Goenka. This to me is cult. It is not about the money, it is about the brainwashing for any deluded individual who wishes to be a guru. SN Goenka does not consider the individual to be more than a mass or rising particles according to his theory yet he preaches love. He preaches love to a mass or sub atomic rising(and passing) particles!. Goenka is out of touch with the human suffering because he relates suffering to mere sensations. He cannot separate motive from sensation. He simplifies the human and the human marches along with his simplification if they believe him. If Goenka is so great then let us see him to do the Madonna trick by going to the poor and adopting them. Let all the high people (rich ones) go to the aid of the poor. They will not do this because they do not care about the poor. If they did, then they would get of their rugs and help the poor. They would go from their centres and help the poor. If all the bald headed wanna be bhuddas cared about the poor then they would leave their cosy homes in the bush and help the poor. This point is made because us western consumers who do not prey and meditate are not lower than these Bhudda people. We are on a level playing field folks! They are not better than any creep who wants to climb any corporate ladder because they want to climb a spirtual ladder for their own good. Let us see them serve the aborgines of Australia or deal with the drug addicts. They would prefer their temples. To them I say pfft!!!

posted in Vipassana - 0 replies

Why?

2008-09-21T16:09:04Z

Why does everyone care about Goenka? There are plenty of other teachers. If you dont like his style, move on.

posted in Vipassana - 1 reply

Converting "Vipassana" into a pure Science

2008-09-21T15:59:26Z

"meditation is not a substitute for psychotherapy"

I think Vipassana or dhamma as taught at the 10 day courses is the best psychological therapy, an empirical science. & It's about time it be recognized as such. The trouble is, how can it be made into a pure science? Yes I agree that many do find the repetitions of Goenka instructions objectionable. Also reference to Buddha and Buddhist scriptural authority needs to be avoided if "Vipassana" is to emerge as a science. For only if it becomes a science can it become universally acceptable by all religions. I am in the process of writing about how how the sensation observation technique of "vipassana" can be made into a branch of psychology. Empiricism (Locke) say that the only way to gain knowledge is from experience via our senses.

I would like your feedback on this. And if there is any psychologist among us, I sure would like to know your views on this.

posted in Vipassana - 5 replies

Revealing clothing ...

2008-09-21T15:38:02Z

It's just another thing I noticed at the centre. We are all told not to wear revealing clothing or sunbathe which is fair a request. I can remember many times seeing a woman sitting a course or serving in a revealing outfit yet guys couldn not wear trousers which did not cover their knees. When you consider what I mean as revealing, consider the shape of a womans rear end and breasts in tight clothes and push up bras. Im all for that yehah but cut the garbage about not wearing revealing clothing. Goenka likes the feminist environment at his centres because he isn't there. Chances are that the old fart wouldn't last more than a few minutes in a Goenka kitchen. Goenka says this and that blah blah but does he walk the walk? Nope.

posted in Vipassana - 0 replies

Vipassana friends in Bristol

2008-09-21T11:15:21Z

Friends,

Having been here in Bristol for 5 days i feel it is amazing place! Few friends told me it is better than London but it took me 6 months to finally come and have a look. So i want to move here on the 29:th of September when my contract is finished with the room i have in London.

So a bit about me: name is Yari, 29 years young guy born in Finland but have lived in UK for the past 8 years. My lifestyle is quite unique, i practise yoga and meditation daily if possible, i don't drink or smoke and like more quiet life. Recently i read a book "highly sensitive person" and this describes me well. Five years ago i did my first Vipassana retreat in India at Delhi and have done 5 or 6 since, all in India. One day when i feel like it i will go to do another one. Goenka is great!!!

When i was 17 i read a few books by Osho and fell in love so i am also a sannyasin. Right now i would like to train to become a biodanza teacher and that is one reason also i'd like to live in Bristol, because of the wonderful biodanza school there. Also i'm interested about tantra.

So i'm looking for the following with this ad: friends with similar lifestyle or interests, anyone who has a sofa i could sleep on until i'd get a room for myself, anyone who knows of a job i could do to get to get some money, or anyone who would just like to say hi. Or anyone who would like to practise some meditation together.

Have a beautiful day!
Love
Yari:)

posted in Vipassana - 0 replies

my experience at Vipassana

2008-09-15T18:46:01Z

I've written an article about Vipassana for those interested:

http://www.practicalhippie.com/vipassana.htm

posted in Vipassana - 10 replies

Benefits we see and experience

2008-09-15T15:21:40Z

I want to start a thread that is about the positive aspects about Vipassana. I can appreciate that people need to process their concerns about the technique, and...

I want this tribe to be about other things too that benefit all budding meditators. Like other questions we have as meditators in this particular practice, and benefits we are receiving.
So..whatcha got? I don't have any right now but i'll pipe in.

be happy,

posted in Vipassana - 11 replies

A Critique of Vipassana as taught by S N Goenka

2008-09-15T15:13:03Z

http://harmanjit.googlepages.com/vipassana-critique.html

or in PDF:
http://harmanjit.googlepages.com/vipassana-critique.pdf

Comments welcome!

posted in Vipassana - 8 replies

Retreat kick boxer

2008-09-15T06:03:52Z

I remember on my 20th or 21st course at a Goenka center seeing some tough guy who was built like a tank and into kick boxing. During the course which was about midway through, I was walking past the pegoda and its surrounding bush and seeing this guy doing scissor kicks like he does them every morning for warm ups. He was tough like acid and the male manager who was a pretty big guy himself told me he just backed off from this guy. I remember seeing him(kick boxer) on top of a compound barrier checking things out. The barrier is there to block out traffic noise from the busy main road. He was like a character from Quake or Unreal Tournament. All these people in the main hall had no idea what was going on. It never ceases to amaze me what can on on under the noses of the Vipassana lifeguards who are responsible for the lives of hundreds of people on a course but ho hum. People are vulnerable on the vipassana courses whether they agree, see it or not. Anyway, this tough guy had a great sense of humour and made people laugh in the main hall but you wouldn't laugh in his face for he would have put a hole in it. Has anyone else had interesting experiences? I know that someone else tried to burn the center down and another guy went apeshit when his application was rejected. This is the kind of stuff that they don't tell you about which goes on at an otherwise dull vipassana center.

posted in Vipassana - 16 replies

Anyone been to the Vipassana retreat in South Korea?

2008-09-13T13:44:49Z

I have been thinking of going to the one in South Korea. Has anyone been?

Also, is a month enough time to prep for such a retreat? Should I be doing yoga and sitting for a few hours a day? What would you guys recommend so that I can be more physically prepared for this?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

posted in Vipassana - 1 reply

Mixing practices?

2008-07-26T21:01:44Z

i was wondering if anyone has some insight on mixing different buddhist traditions...i've been practicing kadampa tibetan buddhism for 4 years and started doing vipassana for only the last year...i have found a lot of value in the meditative techniques from both traditions...

i don't like the idea of 'shopping around' for buddhist practice...but, i have really enjoyed learning from each tradition....

though sometimes i feel somewhat disconcerted...like i need to just choose one and stop wavering...to quit going after the 'spiritual cocktail' i've created...

any thoughts??

posted in Vipassana - 38 replies

The gold plated pegoda at darma giri?

2008-07-26T20:43:28Z

I've been wondering if they've completed that gold plating yet because I'm a bit behind the times with the goenka scene. With all that gold that the Vipassana people (westerners of course) pay to be put on that pegoda, wouldn't it be possible to feed a 1000 local indians for their life times?Why can't the loving vipassana people who finance the gold just throw food at the poor? Forget the silly pegoda. Its concrete and gold won't keep it going any longer. I salute thee. I don't know how to salute in a forum though : " > % $

posted in Vipassana - 1 reply

Listen to my spirituality/meditation podcast!

2008-06-07T16:56:21Z

http://davidroel.wordpress.com
Daily reading on spirituality, meditation, etc.
RSS and email delivery available.

posted in Vipassana - 2 replies

Goenka vs. Vipassana?

2008-05-29T17:05:47Z

Hello everyone,

I'm new to this tribe. And I'm also new to some forms of meditation practice. I hope some of you can answer a question for me.

Is this group for Goenka-style vipassana or all Vipassana as a whole? I attended the 10-day retreat pioneered by Goenka and found it much different from other Vipassana groups I've sat with. What do you see as the discriminations between the two? And what is represented here in this particular tribe? Thanks in advance!

posted in Vipassana - 20 replies

towards my self

2008-04-21T12:25:24Z

I look at this post as a deep transition in my practice towards building a self (=/= than lifting an ego...). Since I'd like now to stick to one set of exercises, i want to have some points clarified - some points I can't find in past posts. I give you guys credit for raising. I take a step forward and don't want to spend more time trying to figure out what works for me.

The main technique i use is and will be for the next year the undoing exercises (dr. hyatt) - even though I red about a "third wave" wish I understood as being a sharpening of that kind of exercises (??). Then for what i'll combine with it (as purposed in the book) there is few issues that i'd like to discuss: brain wave entertainment, vippassana, gurdjieff's "i am" exercise, the "awakening kundalini" cd from brain-sync and some purposes you might have.

- BWE = neuro-programmer 2 : www.transparentcorp.com/products/np/
- vippassana : goenka's "ring of purification"...
- Gurdjieff "I am" exo : www.gurdjieff-internet.com/arti...s.php
- "Awakening kundalini" cd = combination of breathing exercises and BWE : www.brainsync.com/product.asp

First of all is there any value and then any way to combine the undoing exo with brain wave entertainment ?
maybe that could be a discussion about any purpose to use BWE at all combine with exercises that wasn't design for it.
But i'd like that we speak about the effects that the undoing exos are meant to have on the brain and thus brain waves...
Does anyone know what dr. Hyatt was thinking about BWE ?

Then, knowing that i did 2x 10days vippassana sitting, I'd like to know what results to expect from the combination of the "undoing" and vippassana, gurdjieff technique or brain-sync (or something else) - in order to chose the best one to stick to regarding how they work, the power they have, the skills they bring (focus flexibility, sensibility sharpening, mind balance, accelerated perception, and so on... or the ability to fly or to destroy the entire universe by closing your fist...), etc...

And what about BWE mixt with those techniques too ?

I think that we can start from there and see where it goes.

I'll post this thread on other communities to get random points of view. Please let me know if you see any community (tribe or not) where it could be interesting to discuss it.

Any advice or remark regarding this post are welcomed.

posted in Vipassana - 0 replies

Retreats in India

2008-03-29T10:52:45Z

has anyone been to a good retreat in india? i'm heading there in the fall and ideally would like to spend some time meditating. i've read some things about goenka, but wonder how much is hype.

posted in Vipassana - 16 replies

vipassana centers in California?

2008-03-26T20:02:11Z

Hi: I am an 'old student' undert the Goenko Vipassana tradition. Is anyone aware of centers that have long term sits (up to one year retreat mixing sitting and serving) available in California, Colorado or Oregon? Thanks.

posted in Vipassana - 5 replies

Anyone been to Thailand for a 10 day? Looking for details.

2008-03-06T13:44:41Z

Hi All,
I am planning my winter travels and thought a 10 day sit in Thailand sounded really great. Looks like there are 2 different centers (Prachinburi, near Bangkok and Phitsanulok). Anyone like to share your thoughts and details about each of the centers, are the discourses in English for the group or separate for English speakers? How's the food, are they noisy, how about sleeping accomodations, is there a pagoda? Thanks for the info!
Metta.
D

posted in Vipassana - 13 replies

Coffee!?

2008-02-21T13:21:48Z

I have a pretty serious coffee habit: at least one or two double espresso's every day. Wonderful, organic, fairly traded beans, but I'm certainly addicted.

I am booked for a 10 day Vipassana starting in late January.

I anticipate that I'd start cutting down at the beginning of '06, so that I am down to 0 for my retreat.

Just thought I'd get feedback from others who've been through this whole process.

Thanks,

Ciao

W

posted in Vipassana - 11 replies

goenka 10-day vs. spirit rock residential

2008-02-20T17:30:59Z

considering my first residential retreat...torn between a goenka 10-day in north fork and an 8-day in yucca valley led by jack kornfield and other spirit rock instructors.

don't have enough vacation time to do both - how do i decide which is better for me?

any advice is welcome...

thanks,
m

posted in Vipassana - 23 replies

retreat fallout

2008-01-26T02:52:33Z

i just got back from a 10 day retreat a week ago. it was difficult, painful, i learned a lot about myself, and i grew a great deal as an individual; but peace and calm? not so much. this was both during the retreat (especially the last couple days) and now afterward, but the agitation i experienced now and then have very different sources and symptoms.

during:
the cult-like aspects were very hard to ignore. what one goes through is essentially 10 days of sensory deprivation, a dramatic change in eating, sleeping, and (if one is normally physically active) exertion patterns. this on top of the 10 hours of meditation per day puts one in a very receptive - and vulnerable - mental state. the first part of the course was excellent, but during the latter it became increasingly dogmatic (despite repeated protests to the contrary) and bizarre. they say one can leave out any part that he/she is not ready to accept but they wait until day 7 or so (when one is highly vulnerable) to get into the really religious stuff, tons of chanting (esp the last 2 days), spiritual vessels to be filled, ect... and they pound it in hard with constant repetition.
they also teach peace, love, kindness, and happiness for all beings; especially blessed are those who have found vipassana through "some good karma of past lives". i know that ppl probably want to leave all the time and through encouragement make it through and are happy to have stayed. but there are limits to the level of "encouragement" that is ethical. when someone is having a breakdown, stringing them on for days is anything but kind: "just stay for the discourse, what you're feeling is normal' "just stay the night; it's too late to leave now", 'just stay until lunch and talk to the AT"... three days later the person completely looses it and flees sobbing uncontrollably and staggering under the weight of baggage. how about giving up on getting the person to stay, help them understand that it is ok to feel the way they do, and that there is no shame in needing to leave? love, kindness, happiness, and compassion for all beings... except those who can't make it through such a psychologically harrowing experience.

hypocrisy leaves a vile taste in my mouth, and no doubt had a great deal of impact on my perception of the religious indoctrination i was simultaneously being subjected to. but regardless, many ppl seem to find great peace and solace and i will leave them to their chosen path with no further comment. the technique is excellent and useful and that is what is important. my question is about the after effects:

the few people i have spoken to have come from retreats calm and full of peace, ready to focus and get on with their lives. i, on the other hand, am a basket case. i feel like a child who has been watching way too much hyper television: i feel over-stimulated to the point of mania by the craziness of the world around me and my mind is constantly verging on either hysteria or shutdown or both. i have zero focus, every time i try to assimilate new information (i'm in school again) my mind just retreats: i constantly wake up in class or studying not even realizing that i had fallen asleep or remembering feeling tired in the slightest; complete mental shutdown. i feel centered but ungrounded; balanced delicately on a spire of nothingness. group socialization is a futile and painful endeavor; 1 on 1 is almost as bad; the resocialization process progresses in an agonizingly glacial manner (i know i am getting better but not nearly as fast as life requires). i find that i need to frequently retreat behind closed eyes, escape from the bombardment of stimulation, and almost instantly the sensations come flooding in, my body vibrating, pulsating, subtly expanding and contracting (separate from both the pulse and the breath): i don't know if this escape helps or makes things worse. it is almost as if all my senses sharpened and focused to the point where it seems like i have lost the ability to filter out extraneous sensory input and the sheer mass of it is overwhelming. i am treading water in a stormy sea. waves crash over my head. i am exhausted.

if anyone has any experience, insight, or advice they wish to share it would be most appreciated.

posted in Vipassana - 52 replies

Dhamma Vihara Theravada Buddhist Monastery in Mexico

2008-01-23T22:33:56Z

Anybody been or have information to share about this place?
I'm thinking of heading down there
but would love some more info first.

thanks!
http://www.dhammavihara.org/english/

posted in Vipassana - 0 replies

Turnings of the wheel of Dharma

2007-12-06T09:39:43Z

I recently have been reading more about the non thervardin traditions of buddhism, and have found the 2nd and 3rd + turnigs of the wheel of Dharma to be quite intresting. Buddha was a smart dude and i know "think" he taught different stuff to different people as they have different minds. Thoughts?
Also what are your thoughts on the Satipatthana sutta, i have sat SN Goenka 10days but have not taken a Satipatthana course has such but have breifly read it a few times just wondering what everyone else thoughts are?
Especailly the four foundations, the body, feelings , mind and mental objects. Are they are sensations at one level or another?

Metta
Dave

posted in Vipassana - 0 replies

very entertaining...

2007-12-04T22:46:45Z

and so relevant!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9z3OZt4DWT0&feature=user

posted in Vipassana - 1 reply

Vipassana advice

2007-12-04T13:21:13Z

Hello all,

A wee bit of advice needed. I've signed up for a Vipassana course at Christmas time. I've always dabbled in meditation, but the Vipassana course seems the best way to teach myself both technique and discipline.

I've been asked a lot of questions about my health, and have told them that I have occasionally used recreational drugs and have been prescribed anti anxiety pills.

Thing is, I am currently 'coming off' my prescribed drugs after three years of usage. Its only a small dosage, but its not been that easy. And perhaps I left a few recreational drugs off my application. I would say that I am an occasional user, but never have been a addict or been hospitalised. And I'm certainly not thinking of the course as some form of detox - I just want to both give my best and get the best from the course.

With all these questions from the course administrator, and what I've read of some Vipassana experiences, I'm a bit worried. Is it dangerous to do the course after using prescription or recreational drugs - or will it be beneficial to me in the longer term?

Sorry for the questions, but this seemed the best place to ask.

posted in Vipassana - 12 replies

Spiritual Soul Mates Group

2007-12-03T23:45:52Z

The spritual journey gets complimented if you have a like minded life partner in your life.

Thus, I feel that there is a need for a matrimony group for vipassanna meditators. Where the people can find their spiritual soul mates.

Revert with feedback.

Good Wishes

Sameer

posted in Vipassana - 1 reply

Vipassanaforum.com

2007-11-11T15:58:47Z

Hello everybody,

I am making this post with the blessing of the moderator of this forum, Alexander. I recently started a new forum over at www.vipassanaforum.com. I am simply pasting the welcome message from the forum here, in order to spread the word:

Many Vipassana meditators seem to have a hard time getting in touch with fellow practitioners. Our vision is that this could be a forum for Vipassana meditators all over the world to get together in one place and grow in their meditation; if this sounds interesting, feel more than welcome to join us! Please start out by introducing yourself; every traveller on the path of dhamma comes from a unique background, and we would love to hear about yours.

Peace to all!
Anders, forum administrator of www.vipassanaforum.com

posted in Vipassana - 5 replies

Interferes with Reiki?

2007-11-11T15:06:55Z

Hi all, I have recently applied for my very first Vipassana meditation retreat in Cuzco, Peru. I have been a Reiki master for the past five years and said so on my applicaiton. I often practice Reiki on myself as my own routine form of meditation. The administrator told me that Reiki interferes with Vipassana and said they were hesitant to process my application because of that. They then said that they'd make me a reservation if I promised NOT to use Reiki at all while I'm there. I agreed to refrain, but found it suprising that the fundamental meditation techniques used in Reiki would conflict so very much with Vipassana that it's completely prohibited. Thoughts?

posted in Vipassana - 12 replies

posture cure!

2007-10-11T23:18:34Z

my biggest challenge with vipassana is my posture and the ultimate fidgeting that occurs.
i just found this website which seems to be a good solution:

http://www.nadachair.com/

posted in Vipassana - 5 replies

Abdominal tension vs. shallow breathing - need advice

2007-10-01T13:23:58Z

***x-posted to Meditation***

Gosh, it's difficult to know where to start with this... I haven't found the answer I'm looking for on Google so I'm hoping someone else here (probably a girl?) has had the same experience.

From the time when I was a child, my mother got me in the habit of holding my abdominal muscles in at all times - the idea was that it improves posture and gives the impression of a firm, fit belly. When I started ballet classes they pretty much said the same thing, that firm, tight abdominal muscles were key. Add this to core stability training in recent years, where keeping the abdomen tight is pretty much the main idea, and basically you've got thirty years of me tightening my abdominal muscles constantly. Even sitting typing this now, I'm aware I'm holding my belly in. It's just a habit for me to hold it in all the time. I'm *capable* of relaxing it, but as soon as my attention drifts to something else I automatically hold it in again.

My first experience with meditation a couple of years ago was in shivasana (i.e. lying down) after yoga. I found this position to be very comfortable and when I'm lying down my belly does relax completely (as it does in sleep) and I have absolutely no problems with diaphragmatic breathing. I did try to meditate in a sitting position a few times, but something didn't feel right about it. I couldn't put my finger on exactly what the problem was at the time, but since I clearly didn't like sitting up I went back to lying down. I don't have a problem about falling asleep when meditating, which is the general argument against lying down, so I continued to meditate in shivasana because it felt the most comfortable and relaxing for me.

Well, fast forward to last week, and I've signed up for a 10-day meditation retreat, my first foray into public meditation. I've received an orientation pack from the organisers, and there are some tips and pointers about what positions people might choose for sitting... but nothing about lying down. I contacted one of the teachers, who said that sitting really is the best position, and if I could practice sitting between now and the retreat, I would probably get used to it over time and in fact begin to prefer it to lying down.

So for the past few days I've been experimenting with sitting, and I've finally pinpointed what my problem is. When I'm lying down, relaxing my belly doesn't put any strain on anything. But when I'm sitting up and I relax my belly, thirty years of heavy built-up abdominal muscles hang down and pull on my diaphragm, causing a tremendous dangling tension. This causes my breathing to become extremely laboured and shallow, like a dog panting. It really feels like someone has tied a huge lead weight around my diaphragm and lungs and the weight is just hanging there, dragging everything down. I guess my diaphragm never had to get used to holding the weight of my abdomen, because I always supported those muscles myself by keeping them tensed. If I tighten my belly up, it's like someone put their hand under the weight and lifted it up, releasing the tension (ironically). Breathing becomes easy again, but of course now I can't really meditate because I'm not completely relaxed.

Obviously I've got a problem here. I don't expect that over the next two weeks before the retreat I'll be able to build up thirty years' worth of strength in my diaphragm to hold the weight of all those hanging abdominal muscles, and the shallow breathing is distracting to say the least (and after a while the lack of sufficient fresh air makes me panic and gasp). On the other hand, if I keep my belly tight the whole time to support my diaphragm like I normally do in my everyday life, then not only can I not be completely relaxed, but I'm continuing to let my diaphragm be weak and nothing will ever get better.

Theoretically I guess I could just tell the teachers that I want to do the retreat lying down because that's physically the only way I can do it, but I do realise that that's just me running away from a problem that probably needs to be dealt with in a more direct way. They're probably right that I need to learn to sit up, but I'm not sure how I'm going to swing it in two weeks' time.

So what I'm hoping is that one of you had a similar problem and managed to overcome it, or someone has an innovative idea to help me get some breathing strength, that doesn't involve using my abdominal muscles to help support the breath.

Ready for your suggestions.

posted in Vipassana - 3 replies

Stand with the Burmese Protesters

2007-09-30T16:09:49Z

"To Chinese President Hu Jintao and the UN Security Council:
We stand alongside the citizens of Burma in their peaceful protests. We urge you to oppose a violent crackdown on the demonstrators, and to support genuine reconciliation and democracy in Burma. We pledge to hold you accountable for any further bloodshed."

Sign the Petition:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/stand_with_burma

posted in Vipassana - 0 replies

can't stop vibrating!

2007-09-28T05:47:45Z

and for about 2 weeks sleeping has been difficult but i still have tons of energy upon waking!? close my eyes to meditate and the pulse is is so strong! just observe and remain equanimous.... stopped all caffeine then also sugar/chocolate before bed. Anyone else relate to this? I'm a very active person by nature so i don't notice as much when not at rest. cheers.

posted in Vipassana - 4 replies

Cult-ish

2007-09-05T04:39:29Z

By way of introduction, I've experienced three Goenka retreats in the past 9years, the first outside Jaipur, the second near Sydney, and the last in 2003 at North Fork, Ca. Each time is revelatory and I look forward to a chance to serve or maybe take the next step to a Sat. course.

I had the opportunity to ask Goenkaji a question when he visited Berkeley in 2001: "Some would liken your technique and approach to military brainwash. How would you respond?"
Goenka said, "Nonsense. But if this technique is brainwash, perhaps your brain needs washing!"

For myself, on the last day, when we are having "metta meditation," I'm thinking of all of the people in my life who could benefit and be liberated. And yet, most people that I try to encourage to sit have negative reactions - I am sure anyone reading this realizes that Vipassana meditators are few and excuses not to sit are many!

The perception from the outside is often that we are involved with a cult. We quote Goenka, we watch his videotapes, we listen to his audiotapes, we enjoy seeing his image. While this keeps the technique "pure," it also has trappings. I have one friend who I respect, a therapist who graduated from CIIS in SF, who sat for a month in a monestary Burma - he laughs out loud about Goenka retreats, and finds the whole "taped instructions" thing quite corny. He admits that the Goenka retreat he did in Dharamshala was exceptionally challenging, particularly the "sittings of strong determination," and that he got a great deal out of it - but he takes issue with the approach/method of delivery.

Anybody else out there struggle with this issue? Thoughts?

posted in Vipassana - 61 replies

Vipassana for addiction

2007-09-04T00:44:53Z

Does anyone know how Vipassana is used for addiction in Australia? I'm going there and I'd like to observe....

posted in Vipassana - 6 replies

Vipassana in the Heart of Europe

2007-09-02T18:40:54Z

I just returned from a 10day course in the International Meditation Centre in Austria.
It is a institute in the tradition of Sayagyi U Ba Khin, teaching "Vipassana" in the middle way.

I have to tell you, it was one of the most pleisurable experiences in my life.
The practice and the teachings gave me a lot of insight and it was a very nice and familary atmosphere,
where especially new students who come first to this technique are really taken care of and can
take a very nice insight into the practice aswell as into the Dhamma.

I bow my head in deep respect to my teacher and to the whole crew of this institute...
Take a look here for yourself:
http://www.imc-austria.com/

CulaBOdhi

posted in Vipassana - 5 replies

Narrow Minded Exclusivity in Vipassana?

2007-08-29T01:38:09Z

Hi There..
I've had a few friends do Vipassana and I felt it was time for me to finally go and sit for ten days and focus on inner healing work. So I applied and told them the truth on my application - I do intentional/spiritual erotic massage, I am into ecstatic trance/dance/singing, I like to psychadelic journey on occasion - though the last time I did that was in January..? I had to talk with the woman from Vipassana over the phone and she basically told me that I wasn't allowed to do Vipassana because she was worried that I would my presence would be unsafe for the other meditators, and that it would be unsafe for me psychologically because I have "too much going on" to do Vipassana. So she told me to reapply later.

I got really upset about this and told her that I thought she was coming from a very narrow minded, fear-based mind state.

My question for all you Vipassana folks is, should I lie on my next application and tell them that I've never had sex, never done drugs in my entire life and that I work as a librarian? Is that what I have to be in order to meditate?

By the way, the woman who denied my application into Vipassana was Kathleen O'Grady, for the Pacific Northwest location in SW Washington.

/sitka

posted in Vipassana - 27 replies

Psychic Symbols

2007-06-11T07:17:21Z

Has anyone here every used psychic symbols in Vipassana after achieving the state of pratyahara to induce a deeper state?

posted in Vipassana - 2 replies

Vipassana housemate needed - philly/south jersey area

2007-05-16T18:17:04Z

Need Housemate (or two)

$400 - 450 a month, available June 1st.

Fig & Pippi seek a relatively neat female, in her late 20s, early 30s, to share our 3-bedroom bungalow house, interested in creating a feeling of community and family in our space. We’ve three sweet cats, Mango, Yellow & Iris.

We are actively interested in:
Hatha & Kundalini yoga
Vegan & Macrobiotic cooking
Vipassana meditation
Organic gardening
Camping (rainbow family)
Dancing (gaian mind, bellydancing)
Biking
Massage & Energy Healing

Room available is furnished with bed, built-in headboard, dresser, closet, vanity mirror, and removable entertainment center. We live simply with no cable (yes, movies) and no house phone. We try to conserve water and energy, reduce, reuse, recycle, share, swap, trash pick, dumpster. Veggie/strawberry/flower gardens. Composting. Large basement = storage, space for artist, and screen-printing.

Washer/Dryer & clothesline, street & driveway parking, electric, gas, water included in rent. Please no smoking or obvious drug use. If you are handy at energy conservation renovation, electrical work, flooring installation we could discuss trade for rent.

We are one block from downtown shops, farmers market, 3 blocks from health food store and 4 blocks from Collingswood PATCO station. Takes 15 min to get to center city. We have 3 parks within walking distance with a lake, river and pond.

We would love a woman that is a:
Musician
Artist
Gardener

posted in Vipassana - 0 replies

why are we not in the science and history category ?

2007-05-14T04:17:03Z

hi people i have not posted this topic for debate. i know we will all agree that vipassana is a scientific technique to help inculcate in us our true religion (dhamma) through continuous, dedicated and determined practice. By 'our' I mean mankind. What would have happened if newton discovered gravity and called it 'Gods thumb rule 1' instead of explaining the law as a force of attraction between two bodies directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversly proportional to the square of the distance between them?(forgive my choice of words and the example, to make my point, but I had to hit the nail right there ) Coming back to gravity, what would have happened is that we would still be calling it gods thumb rule 1 and leave alone launching space shuttles and predicting gravitons we would still be working hard to extract gold from copper and searching for the philosophers stone. The point i am trying to make here is that vipassana is not a belief or a meditation technique .
We call it meditation because there is no word even remotely close (except insight, which comes very near) to describing what it really is. Meditation or to be precise, observation of the self without distraction or loss of concentration is only a small but very important part of the process to attain or build in us the foundation for vipassana or insight. It is the quality to observe reality as it is. Any description of this reality shatters this foundation and breaks it to pieces. All meaning dissapears in true reality because only words have meaing and words are the basis of language and language is a human tool to describe what we see, hear, feel, think and smell !! So all language is limited to our senses.
How would we give this gift to all the ignorant people suffering without the knowledge of this science if we called it a religion and a matter of belief ? Do the people of this planet think about the origin of a new technological invention before using it? No. And they don't need to. Why limit the spread of the technology of vipassa by calling it budhist and a a matter of belief ? Vipassana is like linux and Gautama was like linus torvalds ;-) We all will one day acheive right toughts which will lead to right actions forming the right morals and then we shall be budhas ourselves. Love and Peace.

posted in Vipassana - 2 replies

Any clues to experience?

2007-05-12T13:58:24Z

I went to a 10-day Vipassana retreat here in Sweden august 2003.

I did not quite follow the instructions, specially that you should keep your attention moving and not stay anywhere more than 1 minute before moving on. I stayed at my chest area for a full hour without moving. I also sat 2 straight hours without moving the first morning after we had started the Vipassana meditation, before someone told me that it wasn't what we were supposed to do. I also meditatet when it was resting hours and all my thoughts were about the meditation, that was the way I interpreted the instructions.

Well, what happened to me is that I discovered a feeling in my chest that I hadn't felt before, and started to experience it. In my mind I had a vision of a black cloud, and that it grew from my thoughts feeding it and my thoughts grew from it. It felt like a self-sustaining phenomenon. I got even to a point where I could feel this experientially, when I was going to bed. The same night a thunderstorm ruled the country side at the retreat.

The night before I had a feeling of being disconnected from my body, from the things I experienced in the body. My heart would pound, my throat would ache, but nothing of that seemed directly related to me. At the same time I could feel all the muscles and bones in my hand when I moved it, and I could sense other parts of my body with a clear feeling of them. I had a sudden experience of being the observer and a real understanding that I was always that observer and nothing else. Somehow I came to the conclusion that I now was enlightened, and that was the state I should try to maintain. I thought that if buddha had to sit for 40 days and nights, so would I, so I was awake all night and just experiencing this new state, and thinking of how wonderful it was to be enlightened at last (yes, it's preposterous, I know, I have a little messiah complex going in me ;).

The following day, day 7, I started to feel anxious. Specially since I feared that I was doing the technique wrong so that it would hurt me if I lost my minds balance (I think that S.N. Goenka says that you should keep an equanimous mind towards the things we are experiencing in the meditation, and if you loose it, deep suffering will follow). I also feared to loose the state I had the night before. That if I lost the state of enlightenment, of clear insight into things, I would yet again have to tread in the darkness of ignorance, and that was not a pleasant idea. This fear, together with an enormous feeling of emptiness and loneliness filled my whole being and I fell to the ground at a break and started crying uncontrollably.

This led eventually that I had to leave the retreat early since the instructor deemed that it would not be beneficial to continue my meditation at the retreat. I had a deep feeling of balancing at an abyss all the time. In sudden attacks I would loose all bearing of the world. I could not find a way to relate to myself or anything else in the world, I had a fear of being sucked into an unlimited void and living totally separated from everything else, all alone.

This passed after a day when I got home, I found hope in the thought that I would reach enlightenment and help other people who went through similar experiences. That phase lasted for 8-9 days and after that things suddenly started to fall apart. I tried grasping after something to hold on to, as I had a feeling of falling and falling and falling. I was ruled by fears. Fear of becoming insane. Fear of not being able to handle whatever was going on inside of me. Fear of being taken over by hostile entities. Fear of fear. Fear of manifesting my fears. Fear of not being accepted. Fear of not being loved. Fear of loneliness. Fear of emptiness.

I was plunged into something that seems to be a depression. Days would pass and I could hardly remember what I did. I started to have problems sleeping, and after a few hours of sleep I would wake up and feel my whole body full of tension, sleep didn't bring any release from whatever it was that was going on inside of me. The only thing that saved me from taking my life was the belief in incarnation, that if I didn't deal with this now, I would just be born again and having to deal with it then.

Now, a couple of months after it all started, things are calming down. I still get episodes where I think that everything is lost, I wont be able to do anything that matters. A feeling that everything is inherently meaningless. That there is no point to anything, and that I don't know what to do next.

So, I'm wondering if any of you have had any experiences similar to this, or if you have any other insights to share with me? I would be more than happy to explain anything that obscures clarity on my experiences.

And if you don't have anything to offer, thank you for reading :)

posted in Vipassana - 15 replies

IMC

2007-04-12T16:33:27Z

Has anybody done a 10 day course at the U Ba Khin's IMC centers? I was thinking of going there someday. Maybe the next time I visit the USA. But would surely like to know if there's any difference to the Goenkajee's Vipassana courses.

posted in Vipassana - 4 replies

virtual group sit

2007-04-10T23:27:24Z

Hello, glad i found the site!
I'm an old student that admittedly needs help, and i'm in an out of the way place with not much chance for a group sit, i'm also committed to not instigating another activity that will necessitate folks getting into their carbon emitting cars one more time: SOOOO we've started a "wherever you are" group sit every Wednesday Morning at 5am. West Cost Time.
Just come on in and sit with us, let me know your name if you like and I'll put it out to the list, and we'll all have a cuppa tea together at 6am and mention each other, quietly, then get on with our day.
OUr first sit was last Wednesday, and it was "well attended"...believe, me, it's easier to keep that "strong determination" up when you've got a group sit going.
metta to all!

posted in Vipassana - 5 replies

Suggested donation

2007-04-10T22:54:09Z

This is my very first posting on this tribe even though I have lurked here for a month or so. I have signed up to do my first 10 day Vipassana retreat at the North Fork centre in California. I do realize that donations are optional and that the amount is whatever the student feels is appropriate and wants to give willingly. I am just looking for some guidance on how much to donate. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I apologize for making my first post on this tribe be about such a mundane topic.

posted in Vipassana - 5 replies

Newspaper Article

2007-04-06T04:26:10Z

My 1st article on Vipassana got published in all the editions of The Times Of India last week on the editorial page. Here's the link:
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JTS8yMDA3LzAzLzI2I0FyMDE2MDI=&Mode=HTML&Locale=english-skin-custom

Much metta

posted in Vipassana - 0 replies

Vipassana as taught by S.N.Goenka

2007-03-10T00:59:45Z

There will be a 10 day course on the Big Island from May 23-June 3, 2007.

For more information:
http://www.hi.us.dhamma.org/

posted in Vipassana - 0 replies

technique question

2007-02-18T12:35:08Z

Since I took the course last november, I've never really stopped doing vipassana...but I have not done it regularly either, because I've been trying to get settled into a new life. I've been feeling very inspired the last week, and have been doing vipassana for almost 2 hours per day.

My question is this....sometimes I feel like the mood and everything is right, so I meditate, and it goes really well. But as soon as I feel like it is gone....then I let it go and stop meditating (well...I stand up and so something, but try to keep my awareness). Sometimes just a short break then I hit it again. I work from home, so I have a really flexible schedule and would rather meditate spontaneously when the feeling hits.

Is there anything wrong with my approach? Would it be better to force myself to meditate for an entire hour at a time twice a day? Rather than spontaneous 10-45 minute sessions throughout the day?

posted in Vipassana - 19 replies

Engaged Vipassana

2007-01-29T00:12:14Z

Hey Folks,

There is a new tribe (tribes.tribe.net/bpfyoungadults) for people interested in the Buddhist Peace Fellowship's Young Adults retreats (www.bpf.org/ya.html) combining meditation practice for sitting, walking, movement, and communication.

T

posted in Vipassana - 0 replies

god bless that bumble bee

2007-01-20T15:15:16Z

saw this on another site:

"i was at a 10 day course once and a bumble bee started to buzz all around me. i hadnt been having a very good time and kept losing my focus over and over, then this bee starts f*ckin wit me and the thing was we werent supposed to move or do anything so i had to bear with this bumble bee. after two sessions i was so pissed off and frustrated that i just said f*ck it, im not going to get any work done... thanks bumble bee. suddenly i was vibrating at the same frequency as the bumble bee and this lasted about 40 minutes until the session ended. all i had to do was accept the reality of the moment and i was instantly propelled outside of myself to a place where everything was rising and falling away at the same velocity as the bee. it was unreal, so i understand you bro. i never did get back to that place, even with years of more meditation. god bless that bumble bee"

posted in Vipassana - 0 replies

Mindfulness in Plain English

2007-01-18T02:56:35Z

Mindfulness in Plain English

By the VENERABLE HENEPOLA GUNARATANA MAHATHERA

The complete text of this popular book is online here. Some people say it's the best book ever written for beginning meditators. Using down-to-earth, nuts-and-bolts language, it explains how to practice Vipassana meditation (also called insight meditation). The result is increased mindfulness (also called bare attention or witness consciousness).

http://www.realization.org/page/namedoc0/mipe/mipe_0.htm

---

Or you could buy it from amazon.com :
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0861713...glance&n=283155

posted in Vipassana - 3 replies

Free Wednesday Night Vipassana in the Mission...

2007-01-09T22:23:41Z

Come meditate with us on Wednesday nights at 8pm.

Megan Cowen is instructing classic Vipassana technique and leading silent meditation in the beautiful Sun Room at Mission Yoga.

We're on the 3rd floor at 2390 Mission Street at 20th.

Come early at 6pm for a Vinyassa Flow yoga class!

You can see our full shedule at www.missionyoga.com

posted in Vipassana - 0 replies

india centers

2007-01-09T03:37:52Z

which center have you done a 10-day sit in india?
any feedback on them?

i have done jaipur and have heard tons about dharamsala...
i'm considering doing one in india this season and am open to locations...

posted in Vipassana - 3 replies

Vipassana and ubnlocked smoking hynotism

2007-01-06T20:22:36Z

I just wanted to ask some experience Vipassana meditators about smoking and vipassana. I quit smoking in March through Hynosis. Two and a half weeks after coming back from my 10 day sit and meditating almost twice a day every day, I have a had a relapse and haven't meditated since. I am guessing that I possibly unlocked the hypnosis throught the mediatation and then the craving was back. I am guessing also since i haven't meditated, I have made myself wrong for having craving and have since not meditated to help with the craving. Any suggestions on help with this? I know that I need to be able to make the acceptance of the craving stop by observing the fact that I have the craving, but I am having a hard time. I need to do more group meditations I think as well. I know this is pretty obvious, but I am wondering if anyone else has experienced anything like this and has since dealt with it and gotten back on track. Thanks in advance for taking the time to write back.

One more thing, on metta, in the group sitting they don't listen to the metta. What is the procedure exactly? What should I be doing during that time?

posted in Vipassana - 21 replies

Vipassana Meditation at Mission Yoga

2007-01-03T01:39:05Z

Starting tomorrow night: FREE Vipassana Meditation instructed by Megan Cowan at Mission Yoga.

The sit will be held in our beautiful Sun Room on the third floor of 2390 Mission Street at 20th in San Francisco.

For more information, and our full schedule of yoga classes, please check out www.missionyoga.com

posted in Vipassana - 0 replies

couch needed to surf in portland with my dog dec.22

2006-12-21T21:01:22Z

i know its last minute but i need a place for me and my dog to crash in portland. were coming to work on an art project there for new years.

posted in Vipassana - 0 replies

Too rich. Too Rich...

2006-12-13T18:46:41Z

On my way home from the California Vipassana Center where I spent the past 11 days meditating, I was trying to think of clever headlines for this email. So many ways:
1.) How To Drive A Gemini Crazy? Vipassana.
2.) Get To Know Your Nozetrilzzzzz.*(See asterisk below)
3.) The Truth Lies Right Under Your Nose.
4.) How To Spend 110 Hours on a 22" x 22" cushion.
5.) Just Don't Do Something, Sit There.
* Goenka fans are laughing and poking themselves in the ribs saying, "It's funny because it's true. It's funny AND true."
Anyway. after completing the course, I have to say that it was probably the most profound experience of my life. And remember this, that's including Kathy Lee Gifford's Today Show performance. Wow.
Each day began at 4:00 AM. At 4:30, we sat for two hours. From 6:30 til 8:00, we had breakfast and small break for bathing, nap, etc. From 8 til 9 AM, group sitting/lesson, from 11 AM til 1 PM dinner(yes, dinner) and question answer period session with teacher. From 1 until 2:30, meditation, from 2:30 til 3:30 group sitting/meditation; from 3:30 til 5 PM, meditation. From 5 to 6, tea break, from 6 til 7, group sitting and lesson; 7 til 8:15, dhamma (universal law) talks, and from 8:15 til 9 PM, meditation. And they tricked me! I had to be vegan, AND silent! And dinner at 11 AM? "Here's your sesame seed and a thimble of water. See you tomorrow!!" I couldn't even complain about it. Imagine my agony. Oh, you also couldn't make eye contact with any of the over 100 participants.
Imagine the agony of sitting in one spot and NOT MOVING positions for 11 hours a day. The first day, all 11 hours, was spent feeling your breath coming in and out of your nostrils. Sounds easy. Your mind will NOT let you. It's amazing how many commercials, crappy songs you don't even like, inane memories, profound ideas occur constantly. Like about ten per second. It's really hard to listen to the constant chatter of one's mind. It really proves the point that we have lost the ability to feel sensations in our body. Through busyness, worry, memory, speculation, analgesics, alcohol, and drugs, we've numbed ourselves. To start having to listen to what your minds goes through constantly, it's pretty agonizing. To try and control it, even harder.
The week pretty much progressed like that, as people got deeper and deeper into their heads and bodies. People would burst out crying, remember abuses that were repressed, people that they had wronged, begin to understand their behavior patterns.
The thing that was so cool about it is that it is no mumbo-jumbo, it's just pure science. It's not dogmatic or sectarian. It's merely how the Buddha came to understand how the mind and universe functions. And he must have been on to something, as he was describing sub-atomic particles arising and falling 2,500 years before the electron microscope.
By day six, I was starting to have semi-transcendental experiences-weird colors, patterns, sounds. Had to learn to shut them off too. (To think of all the money one could have saved on acid, ecstasy and mushrooms...)
By day seven, I was feeling sensations all over my body. Internally. Externally. Vibrational. I could actually taste electricity moving over my tongue. Like when you're a kid and you touch your tongue to a six volt battery to see if it still has juice? Or when you're older and touch your right eyeball & left nipple to your car battery to see if it does? Okay, maybe I was the only one to ever do that.
And why do they ask you to do this? To show you that nothing is permanent. Nothing pleasant or unpleasant. If one starts just observing sensations on the body and not reacting to them, they will learn to train their minds to react like this in life.
So Buddha was no god, just a very early Stephen Hawkings or Einstein. I think that so many enlightened people have come out of the east because they have understood how the function of mind and matter and the function of natural law and the universe are in conjunction. When travelling in India, I learned that it was common knowledge or belief that Jesus spent nearly 15 years in Kashmir and India & Persia studying Buddhist philosophy. And it shows in His teachings.
What did I learn from the course? That I am responsible for my own misery and conversely, happiness. And I also know for a fact that my unhappiness was caused by turning down or actually turning off my feelings when my parents got sick. If I had allowed myself to feel the depths of my hurt, I thought I would have gone crazy. I never lost compassion for others, I just lost the ability to feel for myself.
I experienced real peace for the first time in my whole life. And I felt like the Grinch at the end of the course whose "heart had grown three sizes too big that day."
So, really, really profound.
I know this is a little deep, but a couple of people got the impression that my Christmas email was sorta a downer. No no no! I am so glad for my self discovery, at the risk of friends, family, strangers thinking I'm nuts. And I heard from about twelve people that I'd traveled with saying that they too had had significant depression readjusting to western society. So much of what we value is bunk. And you learn this in the East. It was and is vital. Career never was. Just a means to pay rent, as I would never define myself by my work.
So fret not, I am happy, energized, at peace and so grateful that I was able to do the course that has deeply changed my life. I especially thank David my pal for taking care of my very high maintenance pooch yet once again, so that I might be able to realize what I have longed to know for so long. And in turn, given me a longer fuller life. I don't say this lightly. Thank you.
So have a great holiday season. May the next year be one of peace and harmony for you.
Smooch.
Craig
Check out www.dhamma.org if you want to see where I went. I highly recommend this difficult, agonizing and fantastical experience. Christian, Jew, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, - anybody at all can benefit. It's free and it's in a city near you...
~originally written january 2001

posted in Vipassana - 3 replies

Going my second time

2006-11-20T20:48:14Z

Hi All,

I just got accepted for my second ten-day. My first was two years ago @ Joshua Tree, CA. This one will be near Jacksonville, FL (I've moved across the country).

I didn't keep up my practice. I was such a basket case when I went to Vipassana --daily hash habit, mind looping, anxiety, depression, violent visions, angry outbursts - and NONE of this had happened to me before this time period...and it had been going on for about a year when I decided to give Vipassana a try.

It most certainly cleared me out and gave me my mind back.

Since then, I ended a very bad relationship, moved across the country, started a kundalini yoga practice, quit drugs and tobacco...and have been a lot better.

Now, I feel it's time to go back...and this time I feel as if I should commit more to the meditation on a daily, or at least regular, basis. Last time, I just needed the ten days to stop the mind looping and get clear. By mind looping, I mean: sentences repeating themselves over and over and over again....accompanied by anxiousness.

My new course correspondance reminded me that this time may be different...if it gave me my mind back last time, it might take me to darker places this time...in a deeper clearing out. He reminded me not to think I was digressing...but to remember, there is simply more to clear out.

I am VERY happy to get the word that I will be going on Dec. 27 - Jan. 7th.

Anyone have any stories for the differences between the first and second time? Any recommendations or reminders?

Thanks!

posted in Vipassana - 4 replies

Variety in Vipassana

2006-11-18T17:09:46Z

Hi everyone. I'm new to this tribe, I'm glad to have found it.

I've been reading a few posts and have observed that there is alot of confusion about what Vipassana "is" and "isn't" and people wondering if they are practising it correctly. Having thought about it quite alot I've come to some practical answers that rest my mind. I'd like to share these with the intention that they may help provide an answer that will settle any questioning or doubt of the technique so that it will help you focus more of your energy into the practise of the technique, which is where real understanding will come from.

That being said, my interpretation of what Vipassana is you may find objectionable, or untrue. If thats so, then don't accept it, no need to :)

If Vipassana is, ultimately, to see or percieve things as they really are, then it is our attempts to do this that are Vipassana itself. Its not enough however to 'see' in terms we are already used to, purely because when we try to 'see' something under normal circumstances, we aren't trying to see the direct experience, rather the experience after it has already been filtered and transformed by our sankharas/attachments. No, we must be attempting to percieve beyond any categorisation, cognition or labeling.

So we cannot use our intellect, because our intellect is a mental activity based upon our perceptions. Nor can we use our emotions or bodily sensations for the same reason. In fact we have to be equanimous with all of these in order to be able to see 'through' them.

If we take the analogy of a person trying to see what is at the bottom of a lake that is constantly moving then this becomes clearer. Because we may squint as hard as we want to but it won't help us. It is our efforts to calm the lake that will make what is on the other side clear.

So it is our attempt to make that which is turbulent settle that allows us to see directly. This can take many forms. In fact, a person may be practising Vipassana that has never learnt a Vipassana technique. In this way there is Vipassana and Vipassana technique, or the method we go about adopting a Vipassana state of mind.

Obviously we are all questioning the technique here, and so you may be thinking 'well this is quite obvious' and fair enough, it may be. However, if we consider that Vipassana itself is not an individual technique, we have to really consider what "correct" and "incorrect" Vipassana means.

If you were to accept my definition of Vipassana as being the attempt to percieve directly, then there is no correct or incorrect Vipassana. You are either attempting to percieve or you are not. For me this is the beauty of Vipassana and indeed an explanation as to how it works with the depth of the mind. Simply because you are practising Vipassana or you are not.

The confusion people have over whether they are practising "correctly" or not are perfectly valid, however the important point is to acknowledge (if you wish to) that correct and incorrect Vipassana are concepts which do not exist in reality. What you are asking about instead, is "is this the most effective way?"

I hope this brings an ease of doubt for people to not hesitate and practise. Don't fear to make a mistake or regress, because in the long path it is impossible to do either. Practise and it will all become so clear :)

Blessed love to you all, thankyou for reading these words.

posted in Vipassana - 1 reply

Vipassana in Dharamsala

2006-11-18T15:35:39Z

hey..has anyone been to the dhamma center in or been in general to Dharamsala, India..
Im planning to go there for a vipassana course in november..and plan on spending a few days in mcleod...
any advice? tips? places of must visit? anything about the center itself? weather? any particular shops or restaurants? good meditation spots?
I know its going to start chilly since it is november so prepared for that.. but was hoping to get some more personal insight on dharamsala :)

posted in Vipassana - 5 replies

zipzapzop.tv

2006-11-09T03:54:12Z

hello again,

i've been collecting video resources on
http://zipzapzop.tv

they include videos about meditation, vipassana, consciousness, mayan calendar, buddhism, zen, and from people like:
Thich Nhat Hanh, Alan Watts, Terence McKenna, David Lynch, Eckhart Tolle, SN Goenka, etc etc...

please stop by, post a comment, subscribe etc.
or if you'd like to contribute, email me and let me know

cheers,
clark
zipzapzop.com

posted in Vipassana - 1 reply

vipassana in delaware county, New York, catskills?

2006-11-08T16:11:54Z

Hi there!

moving from NYC to delaware county, New York, northern catskills.
Any activities there?
I've found lots of Tibetan things going on, including a retreat place outside Delhi, NY that has 3 year 3 month, 3 day
retreats for Lamas! Nice vibes... Anyway, wondering if there are any other things going on in that area, vipassana-wise?

also, check the Dhamma Podcasts for some nice audio/video stuff, especially the Great Global Pagoda video:
http://pariyatti.org/podcasts/

best,
clark

posted in Vipassana - 0 replies

1 hour silent sit in great barrington, southwestern mass.

2006-10-01T22:32:54Z

Howdy folks, If ya wanna sit with us, we gots a yoga studio that we sit in every wends. eve. from 7:30 to 8:30.
Please join, most of us have sat goenka in the past, but we keep it at silence for any meditation to join in.
You can stop in you know what time at yoga 5 on hwy 7 between great barrington and shefield, next door to SoCo creamery.

Need better instructions, give me ringa, 413-528-9687 Clark

Peace

posted in Vipassana - 0 replies

Weekly sits in SF?

2006-09-29T20:57:16Z

Hi y'all. I just moved here and am looking to get my weekly sit on with a group of Vipassana minded people. I am sure there are probably a few sits each week; would anyone mind enlightening me as to where, and the other logistics.

Many thanks and meta.

Robin!

posted in Vipassana - 3 replies

NYC Vipassana Meditators

2006-09-25T21:21:35Z

I am curious how many NYC Vipassana meditators are on tribe. I thought it might be cool to also have a little network of locals to get together for informal meditations somewhere else (like a house etc) since I know it can be difficult to only have the Sat. downtown option in Manhattan. Also, has anybody been to that one yet? Just curious..

posted in Vipassana - 2 replies

Introductory Group Sit at PSU 9/17

2006-09-11T21:40:31Z

Introduction to Vipassana Meditation
As taught by S.N. Goenka and his assistant teachers in the tradition of Sayagyi U Ba Khin

Introductory talk given by Dr. and Mrs. Savla
appointed as Vipassana teachers by Mr. Goenka

The technique of Vipassana Meditation is a simple, practical way to achieve real peace of mind and lead a happy, useful life. Vipassana means "to see things as they really are." It is a logical process of mental refinement through self-observation.

S.N. Goenka is a teacher of Vipassana meditation in the tradition of the late Sayagyi U Ba Khin of Burma. After receiving training from his teacher for fourteen years, Mr. Goenka began conducting Vipassana courses in India in 1969; after ten years, he began to teach in other counties. In over three decades since he started teaching, he has conducted hundreds of ten-day Vipassana courses, and trained more than 900 assistant teachers who are conducting thousands of courses in over 90 countries.
During Festival of Faith 2006 in Portland

Sunday, September 17, 2006

Introduction to Vipassana: 2:30-3:30pm
Smith Student Center Ballroom
Portland State University

(at SW Broadway & Montgomery)
Free of charge

Free parking at the University on Sundays.

Group sitting with the Savlas for old students to follow the talk.

Group sitting at: Lesley Spector’s House in NE Portland.

5:30-6:30pm, Sunday Sept. 17th.

Call 541-968-2131 or 503-233-2174 for directions.

posted in Vipassana - 0 replies

meditators in the seattle area- i need some help!!

2006-09-07T04:35:07Z

greetings fellow vip. sitters. i am on my way to onalaska to spend the next 7 months doing service and meditating. however i am with out a car or a place to live/ store my things. i just moved to the pacific northwest for school and in waiting for my residency status i am going to the center. im looking for a place to stash some bags and a bike while im away. some one in the olympia area would be ideal since that is where i plan to return to apon finishing my service. but i know beggers cant be choosers. i thank you a hunderd times. metta. ellie

posted in Vipassana - 0 replies

Weezer and Vipassana

2006-09-05T16:23:08Z

Hey, check this link for an interview with Rivers Cuomo of Weezer on his Vipassana practice:

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/194/story_19416_1.html

posted in Vipassana - 2 replies

Vipassana / Theravada Monasteries?

2006-08-23T06:10:48Z

Hi, all, I've been reading you all this saturday and I'm quite glad to be in this tribe.

I've just came back from my first Goenkaji's 10 d.course and I feel just as another member of this tribed described people feel when they leave the course before it's ending: I'm sad, confussed and having lot of funky-strange phenomena. (teh 10 days were really not enough for me)

I can observe all that stuff while meditating but I don't know how to handle it afterwards. Sensations keep coming when I went to a starbucks (ooops) so I decided better to stay at home (for 5 days now) and, as I'm sitting my 2 hours recommended, the sensations and sensibility remains so I don't feel at all like socialize neither work.... I feel I just opened the nasty pandora's box and a huge process just started so I can't (and should not) stop it. so, that's the setting. now I have a big urge of going back to the Dhamma center -minimum- but ideally I want to enter a convent and stay in a retreat for at least 3 or 4 months

Have someone in this tribe have been in a Vipsassana / Theravada Buddhist monastery? any contact info, recommendations/advise will be quite helpful.

I've readed the discussions about retreats in India and I thank all who gave names and links but I feel like staying in a monastery for a longer time, also felt like learning Pali and becoming a Bihkkhuni but that may be really too much for me... so please, if someone knows about a monasteriy that accept westerners for relatively-short periods and also about some Master or other univeristy courses on Theravada Buddhism, or wichever alternative form to contact a teacher -besides John Bullit's wonderful website- and get deeper in that field I'll really appreciate it.

[I'm sure lot of you may know it, but for the ones that haven't found the mentioned site with tons of magnific information:
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ looks like promo but I've just found the site 2 days ago and I'm fascinated ]

great day, friendly regards, etc.

.Mariana

posted in Vipassana - 7 replies

Vipassana and the Dangers of playing games

2006-08-20T14:55:00Z

A thought.. Vipassana is not about "feeling a wave rush through your body" -- or any other sort of pleasant thing
you can illicit.

Early on, students don't know how to differentiate between observing sensation and "moving energy", I believe what happens sometimes is that students think "this feels good, this is a good meditiation experience, I should do more of this ", for some subtle action, its tempting, when you discover a whole new world of experience, the impulse to play is strong -- however, I think its also dangerous -- further, I think folks often just don't get the differnce.

Make sure as you are told again and again in the course, just observe. You wouldn't do neurosurgery on yourself
for fun, so don't go around tweaking nobs on your bodies energetic systems either.

My $0.02

posted in Vipassana - 15 replies

Vipassana, CREATIVITY, genital sensations, kundalini, general tom foolery, and Goenkan heresy

2006-07-26T06:11:13Z

How do you all experience your creativity in vipassana? Do you repress it? do you surrenender to it, how do you experience creative life force? For me it seems like i get these sensations in my gentitals and then its like rivers of fire are flowing in from my feet, genitals are vibrating, and fire is going up the spine into the brain (i am generally doing anna panna when this is happening, not trying to make this happen, it just happens on its own little crazy inner dragon will)

anyway.... i dont know, but this is my world, and i want to hear how other people experience and integrate / fight and repress creativity with their practice.... also by the way i dont talk to the at's about this because i feel like its generally outside the realms of their experience and i dont want to scare them :) I surmise this because they dont experience the feet as entry points, and i do, not because i am trying to, just because that is the reality of my experience..... i surmise that it has something to do with the fact that they are trying to liberate themselves from the suffering of life on the earth, and i love it hear, love the planet, love the animals, and would love to stay here forever......

metta
-todd

posted in Vipassana - 3 replies

Sensations in the Brain Region

2006-07-22T22:24:44Z

When during meditation I get to the part where I move the awareness around inside the body, and I come to where the brain should be, it almost feels like nothing is there - just a very light shimmer. I concluded from this that either I have no brain, I am doing something wrong, or there are no sensors inside the brain. I was wondering what other people's experiences are like in this area?

posted in Vipassana - 2 replies

Dhamma And Sex: THe snake in the Wheel

2006-07-12T20:49:17Z

I am exploring observing my mind and keeping myself equinimous during the act of sex itself..... an interesting flow has happened where my tested and hemispheres of my brain beging to synchronize and dance together.... its like my brain has harnessed my teseted and my testes have harnessed my brain........ lots of fire..... anicca annica annica..... comments, anyone else out there bringing their balls into their practice :)

posted in Vipassana - 0 replies

Adyashanti videos

2006-06-24T15:30:44Z

http://www.youtube.com/results?search=adyashanti&search_type=search_videos

posted in Vipassana - 2 replies