This is probably the most transparent, honest & informative video I have come across on Vipassana! Even a couple of friends who have attended this 10 day retreat have never shared so candidly. Thank u so much for sharing!
There's a reason why most people don't share our experiences. It's specifically to not influence anyone's journey. If they watch things like this or any positive or negitive review then when they do Vipassana they will look for things, or expect feelings, or just have any sort of expectations, when the real beauty of Vipassana is that it's so individual. The whole point of not talking or looking at eachother the whole 10 days is to note share your journey or influence a journey that isn't your own.
@@mackmurdoc1029 Yes that is a good point. However in all honesty I don't think I would have just turned up to a 10 day retreat without watching RU-vid videos about it or reading reviews. For me personally I don't think the experiences of others impacted my own because they were so vast. Each to their own I guess!
Which meditation you practise now?? I wud assume if one has cough then vipassana wud be disruptive ?? I can do aanapana good when doing guiding othweise when i do aana pana its very very hard to concentrate on breath unless i say go in and go out but very tough to do with natural..do you get back support in the vipassana centee..like wall as example or atleast a chair??..i do have upper middle back stiffness problem
You were very lucky to have the chance and the time to do this. Im sure you learned a lot. All that negative reasoning is your ego fighting you! It doesn't want you to see it for what it is! Then it will lose power over you and your life. At a shallow level, that is life threatening! You choose a deeper life and let that shallow overlay go, no matter what negativity it throws up. For serious meditators, this is just the beginning. For us, all difficulties are just ignored and plowed thru because they are "The Guardians of the Gates". I encourage you to continue, and to put your concentration firmly at your heart within. Keep going until realization occurs. Fevers, physical itching or creepy crawly feelings. etc. are the physical signs that your nervous system is settling down into deep calm and ease. Let it go thru the changing into another energy pathway and don't give up. Don't pay any attention to it or give any importance to it. Just keep going and do not be impressed by the drama your mind throws up. Tears or laughter, its just the nervous system adjusting. Something wonderful awaits you! When all that negativity arises there are some useful techniques: From Baba Ram Das: "And this too, and this too." and from Suzuki Roshii: "Not always so." Also from Suzuki Roshii: " Always bowing mind." enables acceptance and respect to all appearances as a manifestation of Enlightenment mind.. And from the Zen tradition: "Sun-faced, Buddha! Moon-faced, Buddha! " also allows equanimity, patience, and respect for our own minds' drama and the drama of the external environment. This gentle, kind, and respectful acceptance helps the mind and emotions to calm down, because you arent' fighting them. Not easy, but a useful habit to develop.
I recently finished my first Vipassana 10-day course and found your descriptions very helpful. I definitely felt like I was being attacked and at first, didn't realize it was my own mind, trying to stop me from gaining control. I expected mild sensations but what I got was pain, creepy crawly feelings and many hallucinations. Thankfully by Day 3, I was regaining my balance and able to participate fully. Also, thanks for the tips and names that you mentioned. I read a lot and with many books I find I'm not comfortable with what the author is saying, it just doesn't feel right to me and there's so much information out there that it's hard to choose what to read, so it's helpful when Vipassana students that are further along the path than I am, provide these tips and resources to those of us looking for the truth.
I feel very very very lucky I am doing vipassana. After eight of ten day courses at the age of 22 years to 28 I didn’t like it. I left vipassana for ten years. After ten years I tried it again and found I’ve made some major mistakes in understanding it. Now I have understood it and think it’s the best thing happened to my life. Ask me questions if you want to know anything more on my comment. To not to like vipassana at the beginning was my mistake and my ignorance. Now I understood my own mistakes and I’m a much better person than I ever thought of.
I had missed two most important aspects of the technique. Understanding of IMPERMANENCE and maintaining EQUANIMITY towards SENSATIONS. I had been only feeling SENSATIONS and reacting to them that made me more miserable. Goenkaji 🙏 says all these things in his discourses. I had missed the essence of his evening discourses and only enjoying the amusing stories. Ten day course is just the kindergarten of VIPASSANA. Until you practice it at home daily you wouldn't get the benfits. No subject can be learnt in just ten days. This is not like any other subject. This is a life time job. If vipassana is a language you only learn that it has and alphabet. Try learning a language in ten days. You'll hate the teacher and will not touch that language again. But if you practice what you learnt in the class for ten days and practice it two hours morning and evening for one year you'll learn it for sure. But my dear friend Vipassana is a lifetime job. If anyone has problems watch the ten day discourses carefully on youtube. Have your questions in mind. You'll get answers for sure. If one doesn't want to listen to all the 11 discourses just listen to.... 5th 8th 10th and 11th day discourses. I assure you you WILL find the answers for sure. And if you do please share it here. You might save someone else too from leaving most precious gem one can come in contact in this human life. Love you all dear friends. ❤️😊 I'm enjoying lots of peace and harmony within me. May you all enjoy it too. ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤🙏
I hear the important awareness you achieved when you returned to another course was that you found in your first course that you were just starting to experience sensations as they are, yet you become aware that during that course you had still been reacting to them. It is a slow process to get to the depth of the human condition. Yes, sankharas translates to reactions. This is exactly what you are becoming aware of and then bringing equality to these very sankharas (reactions). This really is a true embodied way for liberation from those otherwise unconscious reactions. Bringing more freedom in daily life.
1. Regarding pre and post Vipassana discipline- Once we start vipassana meditation, it brings up our negative aspects. The more we stay equanimous, in your case- the indiscipline, it takes away that negative aspect. If you stay the course, you will soon enough become very disciplined. (Whether to keep practicing or not is your choice) 2. After my first course, I did not practice at all. After something drastic happened in my life, I made a decision to come out of it and I started taking vipassana seriously. Even after my serious attempt, I didnt practice it sitting 2 hours, but tried to find time here and there. It still benefitted me. I am out of my depression and have understood how to be happy through all the suffering. And today, after understanding and realizing its value, i practice daily- again not with a 2 hour mindset, but whenever I find the time. Vipassana is not about ending the suffering, but accepting it. I am sure you will get a different meaning the next time you do this course. It is like, we are kindergarten students, given a Graduate level book. The meaning we understand changes with our experience and understanding.
Thank you for sharing your experience with Vipassana meditation. It's inspiring to hear how it has helped you navigate through life's challenges and fostered discipline within you. Your point about Vipassana not being about ending suffering, but accepting it, is particularly profound. It's a reminder that the goal isn't to avoid or eliminate life's difficulties, but to develop the resilience and equanimity to face them. I guess as we continue to practice and grow, our comprehension deepens, and we gain new insights from the same teachings. 😊
@@singh.blaise I was introduced to Vipassana when I was 25. I have been following the practice for last 15-16 years. This has helped me to navigate toughest of time very beautifully I would say, as previous Karma are bound to come out and cannot be avoided. Only thing that can be avoided is new bad karma. With this practice we build our future that will help to remain totally equanimous (long process though). I would say Vipassana is the best thing that has helped to me.
I've been a practicing Buddhist since the late 80s. Been to many vipassana retreats, a solo 3-day in-the-desert fast (no food, books, walking around, etc.) two trips to India, one being a pilgrimage... and to a Goenka "Vipassana meditation retreat". Goenka's version of Vipassana is not THE way to do it, most versions/retreats are very different. I could spend several long paragraphs going into how my 10-day Goenka retreat was. You brought up much of it. I didn’t care for the rigidity, lack of human warmth, constant sense of striving, etc. I'm pleased you were able to have some good takeaways. Let me just say that from my view it is uniquely non-Buddhist, or like any other meditation session I've ever been to. Hopefully this didn't turn you off to Vipassana meditation. There are so many Vipassana retreat alternatives that are more genuine and useful. (There are also better ways to learn about the foundations of Buddhism.) Learning and practicing Vipassana meditation isn't really such a mountain to climb. Kuddos to you for making it the whole 10 days!
I was born to a "Buddhist" family and country went to a "Buddhist" school my whole life has been the Dogmatic "Buddhism" you seem to be proudly labeling yourself which speaks nothing of Dhamma which is law of nature and is common to everyone. I only found the pristine practice of Dhamma through Goenka ji (Sayagi UBA kin,Webu sayadaw).been practising for 7 years and every single world Buddha has uttered about Bhanga (total dissolution of 5 senses) and Jhana (absorption states) are achievable through this technique if you surrender to the practice where your daily effort paired up with correct morality+paramis go a long way!(Just like Goenka ji says). There is no Buddhism in Dhamma.Buddhism is for the one who cannot let go of the labels and the theories of belonging to something which again comes down to ego. As I said In another comment here.Dhamma is so simple but it's not for everyone.Because it shatters your ego chunk by chunk.There is no "ism" to hold on to.If you want to end suffering practice observing the law of nature not a man made religion.
@@mipe3927 I'm seeing several different opinions in this thread since I last posted here and they have immediately drawn my attention. I know that Goenkaji worked hard to keep all sectarianism out of Vipassana courses but I still thought that Vipassana was a part of Buddhism. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and opinions, you've given me a lot to think about.
The benefit of "cutting yourself off from outside world" it helps us to learn how to reconnect with the part of ourselves thats been been socialised to Cut ourselves off from our inside world.
Coincidentally, my room had no window and it was very difficult the first few days, until I realized that, as you said, it's the best room - another distraction removed :)
Thank you for your sharing! The quality of the video is great, and i'm surprised that this video hasn't even surpassed a thousand views. Hope you can continue sharing your journey on the path.
Haha, right? It's a mystery how some videos blow up and others fly under the radar. But hey, as long as I have awesome viewers like you who appreciate my content, view count doesn't matter that much! 🙏
Taking psychedelics would be very risky for me. Also, the 10 day Vipassana course, both extreme ways of healing. I went through, in THIS life, extreme abuse including mind control, torture, programming and conditioning, sexual human trafficing, etc etc etc soooo the slower way, like 30 minutes twice a day, for example mighf be more acceptable for me. The food provided would not be workable for me. I can't digest beans, grains, and wheat and all those carbs and so much fruit sugar not good for me. I need some fish and eggs and vegetables otherwise I would be getting weaker. Anyway, your descriptionis valuable and I do a number of other healing modalities. I do noy go for this hard line that Goenka pushes. Everybody is different and unique. What works for one may not work for another. Thanks for your youtube.
@@singh.blaiseHi.I have done long courses (seven years in and only missed 5 days max of daily practice) where do I begin. 1) my allergies disappeared from the first course and I realised they were deeply linked to my childhood trauma.Now I can enjoy those same foods that would send me to a hospital. 2) relationships become easier and the ones that don't serve you fall away so easily with no effort whatsoever.But if it's a long term relationship that ends,the suffering is a lot less or non existent(Depends how much you have applied the practice to your daily life outside the cushion) 3) super crazy synchronicity.If you live a Dharmic life you will be taken care of even financially. 4) noticing the abundance even in my garden and how my pets react to me. Interspecies communication ( again depends on the person their karma sensitivity etc.) 5) super connected to the other side(whether it's departed souls deities etc.) this too depends on the individual.Past lives etc.not everyone has the same experience.I can see the not so great energies controlling others as well and stay away. 6)total dissolution of the 5 senses aka Bhanga stage and then you go in to absorption stages beeing able to see that this life is just a video game/a simulation and your body is just a costume reacting to the five senses. 7) absolute bliss of true happiness and love that flows from within you like a fountain once you truly see suffering for what it is. 8) How every single tiny act of love even if it's just a smile(is an act of Parami)and comes back to you as wisdom to eradicate your own defilements. I can go on and on. Dhamma service has even more benefits.I saw how another servers facial paralysis(bells palsy )got corrected just within a 10 day course.I can honestly write several books about how Vipassana has changed my life.
I did 1-2 a year over a decade my 20's. It helped me cultivate my true self. I recommed doing Vipassan in conjunction with a grounded bona fide wholistic mental health practitioner .
I'll just highlight the courses purpose. Isnt to develop discipline or transcendental experiences these are dependent on our own ability to empower ourselves. The course helps us learn to be non reactive to our thoughts feelings and physical Sensations. To develop the ability to distinguish we are not the body thoughts or emotions. And uncover who we are. That takes time and understanding it comes from within ourselves.
In your video at 46 minutes and 59 seconds, I am sorry to say but it seems there might have been a misunderstanding about the essence of Vipassana. As a non-native English speaker, I'm using AI to convey my thoughts, so please let me know if I'm not getting my point across clearly. Every instance of suffering in the body leads to an increase in breath and the emergence of some form of sensation. At that precise moment, one experiences the suffering. To alleviate it, we must identify it and allow our minds to perceive it as transient, understanding that it will change over time. Vipassana, meaning 'to see things as they really are,' teaches us to train both our minds and bodies to observe sensations in an equanimous manner, regardless of whether they are pleasant or unpleasant, without judgment. This awareness is cultivated not only intellectually but also through direct experience, which sets it apart from other processes. Whenever suffering arises, there is a corresponding increase in breath and bodily sensations. With Vipassana, we learn to accept things as they are and let them go on a moment-to-moment basis. Regarding enlightenment, Buddha attained it through this process, but each individual must find their unique path to enlightenment. There is no one-size-fits-all route; it's a personal journey for each individual. During the course, nobody claims that you will achieve enlightenment through it.
Thanks for your detailed response and sharing a broader insight into the technique. I wasn't able to find the part you're referring to from the time code as the video ends at that point. But you are correct - the course does not promise enlightenment and there are lots of great benefits from the technique if practised correctly 🙏🏼
Thanks for sharing...Yes the Vipassana retreat in the Goenka tradition is not for beginners. I had been siting regularly for 10 years when I went to my first Goekna style retreat. I remember housing with a woman at my last retreat. One day I had to leave the meditation hall because I was in so much 'pain' that I needed pillows to help me lean in to my discomfort....I went back to our shared living corners and propped myself up on my bed and got back to scanning...one of the attendees was cleaning the space...I mean from top to bottom....the cabin floors, the showers.....this went on for about 2 hours....she simply could not stop her mind. Goenka wasn't playing. If you're new to meditation, please don't attend a Goenka retreat...that's like forcing yourself through a marathon without properly training, and then blaming running for negative experience. We've all got to walk before we can run🙏
excellent and honest review of your experience. thanks for your courage to share this information. i'm expecting to go in two weeks for my first retreat. i laughed a few times and really enjoyed your video. thank you.
Wonderful video. Thank you very much for sharing your experience. This is the most thorough video I have seen on people's testimonials of their Vipassana experience. Question, was body odor an issue in the group hall? My nose is very sensitive to body odor. I wanted to point out a correction regarding Goenka and his headaches. Despite common belief, Goenka actually didn't get rid of his migraines from practicing Vipassana. He went to visit U Ba Khin to register for a course but none was available due to no offerings during the rainy season. He had to wait 3 months before the start of the next course. Upon talking to U Ba Khin and getting accepted into the course, his migraines immediately disappeared before ever starting the course.
Thanks for watching and your correction suggestion 🙏🏼 One may encounter odors in the room yes, however if focused on the technique in theory this should not be an a major hindrance (although could make it all the more challenging for some!)
Hi, i recently left my course in the middle. I was super pumped and used to meditate diligently before the course, however, i developed serious issues in my body during the course like insomania, mouth ulcer, constipation and boils on the body. I will not call it as my past karmas etc but i put my body in a lot of strain and i am still recovering. I would suggest anyone to take the course be less than 35 years of age beyond that its too much to ask from your body. But again it depends on individual. I would consider my self to be super fit, but please be careful and dont neglect your body at the cost of meditation
you shouldnt have left in middle its mentioned many times but any which way hope u recover soon.my first experience was life changing n i worked very hard for it to get the results.dont suggest people without experiencing anything at all,any aged person can do it.its ur will power and if ur not someone who pushes urself a step ahead everytime then try other meditation which will give u temporary peace
and you are not fit at all mentally thats y u went there and u gave up because after all the pain n sufferings is the game changer,weak minded people should visit sadhguru n pay 3 lakhs just for mere copied technique of breathing
@@sudhirchoudhary4823 you ask not to suggest people without experiencing anything at all, yet you do just the same. your experience is your very own experience. you do not have unlimited knowledge to make the evaluation that any age can participate and that it's all about will power. You suggest from your experience (it's not the ultimate truth) and @gauravmehta4882 did the same from his/her perspective and experience. That's called "opinion" from very own experience and you can expect readers to be clever enough to understand that they might not have this issue. It's like declaring the effects of a medicine or treatment sucess. It's important to write, e.g. 20 out of 1000 had severe headache, 100 out of 1000 experienced gut issues, 50 out of 1000 participants terminated the procedure due to XY etc. Defending something no matter what and silencing people comes across as a cult-like mentality.
I am 73 y.o. and recently completed my first 10 day retreat. I haven't formally meditated in years and have some health problems that I was concerned about, but the whole experience was nothing but enriching, stress free, and uplifting. As a matter of fact I have a problem with back pain, and surprisingly had NO pain the whole time. I did sit in a chair to meditate.
I'm 76 years old and preparing for my first 10 day Vipassana course. I have to tell you that reading your words was very disheartening for me. I am not deterred from taking my first Vipassana course but I'm concerned that others may be scared away by what you've said. And maybe they could have completed it. Maybe it could change their life.
I agree that vipassana may not be for everyone but it was interesting to do it. I do like quick methods but they do not always sort everything. I am here to understand stuff. Do I practices two hours a day? Nope. Do I keep scanning my body as they taught not really. I do enjoy the breathing techniques as that's what I feel meditation is about. Resetting and reaching higher levels of consciousness. I haven't done psychedelics but would be something of interest.
I would like to direct a question to all experienced Vipassana meditators. I hope that discussion of this particular subject is allowed. Recently, I completed my first 10-day Vipassana course and of course there were many highs and lows but I experienced enough to understand that there's a lot more to learn and I'm already thinking about my next course. However, I ran into a roadblock on Day 4 when the audio recordings began. I'm fine with the video recordings because I can read the closed captions and see the speaker but when it's audio only, I am completely lost due to hearing disabilities. I've talked to the women's manager and the assistant teacher asking if I could please read the transcript ahead of time so that I can be better prepared and able to pick up some of the words. I was told there were no transcripts available and I've searched online and can't find anything. Please note this is about the audio recordings only, I've found lots of transcripts for the video recordings online. Other students (on Metta day) assured me it was minor details and basically summed up what the recordings said in 2 minutes. Since the audio recording is one hour, I'm left feeling that I've missed something important and I really, really, really want to know the details of those recordings. It feels strange to be asking this, it somehow feels disloyal to the Vipassana organization and if that's the case, so be it, I won't ask again. If I'm not breaking any rules and if any of you are willing to share this with me, please let me know.
@@singh.blaise, it was very powerful on an emotional level, as well as other phenomena. First I should say that I went to the one in Yosemite National Park. But what was noteworthy was on the seventh day I had the distinct feeling of losing my wife. I almost broke down due to my realization of the transitory reality of relationships (on a more fundamental level than one would usually feel going about one's business- and not to mention we distance ourselves from others, even in our own homes.). At this point it was simply the fragility of my connection to my wife that seemed to overwhelm me. I talked to a counselor, we had a little chat. He basically said that he was dealing with the loss of life (a verbal bitch slap!! Lol) This put things in perspective for me. The emotions were beyond average, and just seemed to crop up out of nowhere. On the eighth day emotions started to subside, and I was back able to focus on the meditations more. Ninth night I acquired the loudest ringing in my ears that I have ever heard, and it lasted through the night (this tends to happen to me when I meditate, but not this intensely). On the ninth day, I felt a ball of what felt like qi [(energy) they don't like people using these types of terms, as they can be ambiguous] ten feet tall and eight feet wide sitting on my shoulders and over my head, that felt so real I wasn't sure I could fit through the gymnasium sized double doors of the meditation hall, as it felt like a growth from my body. This "ball of qi" lasted for three or four days after the retreat, it slowly subsided. It was odd getting in the car after the retreat with this feeling, just felt like I was squeezing myself in the car. Those were the most substantial points I can remember...But these types of phenomena happen in other types of energetic practices, too. Such as Taoist yoga and meditation and Shaolin style iron shirt training - which isn't simply about physically toughening your musculature. There is a level of qi-gong involved. Good commentary though! Vipassana is a phenomenal practice to be sure. I'm not sure what else is down the road. This experience I wrote about was my first and only time to attend a retreat, I will be going back for another ten days.
Every time I attend a vipassana retreat I attain a Jhana state at some point during the last few days You are dissolved completely devoid of ego, body or concept or time and space. You become love and when you come back your body sits perfectly and completely devoid of discomfort.
Goenka is not the "founder of vipassana." There are also many vipassana traditions like Mahasi. It's a Buddhist practice in Theravada countries here in Southeast Asia. Goenka is compassionate to spread this method to Westerners for them to benefit as well. Listening to him, and other westerners, they're like spoiled children. They're only concerned about their own comfort and their own benefit. It's better that Buddhism stay in Asia and we continue our meditation practices. For westerners, they just take some tablet to relieve their mental health problems.
Thanks for sharing - just to clarify if I referred to him as the founder it was in relation to the course we're on in the UK and other centres under the same charity/organisation he set up and my video is directly in relation to the experience in Herefordshire, England. I would be open to practising meditation again some point in the future 🙏🏼
Buddhism is for the world and we in the west are better today because Buddhism is available to us. Buddhism saved my life, rendered me loving and caring and I am sure the Buddha himself would be happy that someone on the other side of the world has been blessed by his eternal and infinite gift 🎁
I have learned so much while studying Buddhism. Many westerners, including myself, are trying hard to integrate Buddhist philosophy into our lives, to bring peace and harmony to ourselves and others, one step at a time. I can't imagine not having this tremendous knowledge accessible to everyone in the world.
@@singh.blaise It would be better to clarify that the Buddha was the founder of this technique, wihich is found in the Sattipathana Sutra. Goenka-ji studied it in Burma, brought it back to India, and taught it in 30 day retreats to us in Dalhousie. We brought it to the west, and we invited Goengka-ji to found the Vipassana Centers here. Altho most of us have since then incorporated other Vipassana techniques as well, Goenka-ji was strictly against any changes at all. But we often found them to be beneficial for westerners.
There are many westerners who do not just take tablets to relieve their mental health problems and they certainly benefit from the Buddha’s teachings. In fact there are western monks and nuns both in the west and in Asia and Asian monks and nuns also live and teach in the west. Of course not all westerners and not all Asians want to meditate and the Buddha did not exclude any type of person if they were ready.
Did 10 days but didn’t change much. It was ok. Individuals are carefully chosen as they have to ask many probing questions. When you finish your course, you are asked if you like to make a donation, and as you sit to make a payment, the is a small chart that details the actual costs of your stay. What people normally do is to either double, triple or more that figure. There might a few isolated individuals who are unable to pay. Sometimes these people stay on as servers to repay back in that way. Overall, the donations are usually quite good.
@@singh.blaise Absolutely. What I meant to say is people are usually very considerate. It’s important to have funds to keep the centres and their good work going. I may attend another 10 day session next year.
Thanks so much for your very detailed account of your time at your first Vipassana course. I've watched a lot of Vipassana course videos by attendees and yours is probably the best I've encountered. Also, many of the comments to this video are very informative and helpful (one in particular - "watch the ten day discourses carefully on YT" - especially with my hearing, this is an excellent tip for me). I will be attending my first Vipassana ten-day course in a few weeks and I'd like to be as prepared as possible. You mentioned many things, like not hearing the morning bell (very important for me since I'm hearing impaired and I hadn't thought to bring a timer with me!) and the peppermint stick - did you need permission to bring that since it's a type of medication?
Hello! Thank you for your kind words! I'd recommend discussing your hearing impairment with the organisers before arriving. They may be able to offer some additional support. I didn't mention the peppermint stick, on reflection perhaps it could have been interpreted as medication, it certainly helped me to unclog my hay-fever symptoms! Good luck and hope it goes well 🙏🏼
@@singh.blaise Thanks! I'm looking forward to it !! Good idea about discussing with the organizers. I've sent them a message requesting to speak with someone.
i meditate lying down this doesn't sound like something that would work for me. I do appreciate the detailed description. I did notice that you could meditate in your room. That might work for me as long as I did not have to go to the hall. Not talking would not be problem for me.
Hey thanks for commenting. You are required to meditate in the hall at certain times throughout the day. If you don't attend the assistants come to look for you!
Thank you for this video! I was looking for a balanced overview of the 10 days Vipassana course having listened to the FT podcast "The Retreat" - have you heard this? If so I would very much like to hear what you thought of it. The setting I learned mediation regarded the course as a kind of boot-camp like experience for very experienced practitioners.
you will not get enlightened from goenka's version of vipassana. it's very crude. real vipassana requires you seeing the kalapas and the ability to venture through past and future lives to witness firsthand dependent origination.
@@singh.blaise use the buddha's method. try reading knowing and seeing by pa auk sayadaw (the ebook is free online). it's very systematic, you just need to reach the 4th jhana. it's super simple but not exactly easy. but don't worry about that it's different for everyone. you can never tell if it'll be easy for you or not until you try. you can also check out beth upton's youtube channel, she's an ex-nun of pa auk's monastery. you can book free interviews with her on her site - it's all by donation only.
@@singh.blaise Bearllande, Who is your teacher? I know of only a few who teach past and future lives as it relates to Dependent Origination. Most schools or teachers do not go this deep. Pa Auk Sayadaw is one of them, Beth Upton is another. 🙏
It appears that this video has led to your conclusion that this is not a good course. Just goes to demonstrate how videos created out of misunderstanding of the teachings of the Buddha can create negativity in the minds of many & deter them from a technique that works in accordance with the Universal Law that's been proven over thousands of years by millions of people to eradicate the deep rooted defilements that cause so much suffering & bondage in our lives......& deprive them of such a great opportunity to be free!! The caption of the video itself creates such a negative impression. Although the description of the course was great, the teachings & the technique were clearly misunderstood. Only goes to prove how much damage can be caused out of ignorance - both to the creator & the listeners of videos such as these!!
LOLOL! Give up labelling "good" or "bad". see thru that childish trap of the ordinary consciousness. If it works on any level, its has helped to develop self-knowledge and maturity.
Regarding the distractions: when you know the teaching of the Buddha, all the information of the senses becomes a Dharma door. In Zen we vow: "Dharma gates are numberless, I vow to enter them." From that point of view, nothing is a distraction. Neither sitting easily in silence or hearing a train passing, or smelling a fart, all sensations that arise are to be noticed, accepted, and watched, arising, abiding, passing away. "Anicca, Anicca, everything changes." Just notice. From that point of view, its all fertilizer on your field, it teaches you how awareness, and sensation affect your mind. "No mud, no lotus!" Be patient. There is much to learn. Don't reject, just observe. ( PS: you fart too! It's not a personal attack by fart! LOL! )
I’m fking broken with the trauma of constantly having to react to stuff because my dad and most people I meet is like that and I being an empath would feel responsible if he gets mad. So whenever I try to ignore, he would guilt trip me to force me to not ignore. I think no one would ever be at my state tbh. From being calm to having anxiety and hate of people in general because it’s people who forced me to be like that. Fk this world tbh.
There is a way out, I've been where you are now, @waykee3. All the healing, all the answers are inside you. You can't change the outside world but you can change how you react to it.
Just one more question bro...when u go for 10 day vipassana...do they play any bsckground music like flute or natural stuff like waterfall etc or is it pin drop silencein the hall you meditate
Feel free to ask - the whole retreat is silent (no music/taking etc) until the last day this includes all the spaces outside of the meditation hall. The only thing you'll hear is the wake up and dinner bells, the instructors and Goenka's voice in the videos shown each evening.
I said BIG NO to Vipassana Retreat - at the very start, before even signing-in - just by reading the Terms and Conditions... ...and learning about about some freaky "Phone Policy" (of giving the cell phone and other belongings to the "supervisor" for the time of retreat "for you own safety"). Sorry, but NO. I just assume we are all adults. Most of us are having full-time jobs and do need to pay the bills. 10 days of retreat can provide great benefits, but is just a costly experience (both time and money). So are we adults... or kids? Found no real justification for this very rule, really. I understand phones can be VERY disturbing. But people and circumstances can be disturbing as well. Pain in the legs can be disturbing. Dogs bark, cats mew, monks fart. But it is WE that make this disturbance, really! And one more impression: the vast majority of people attending are young, immature Peter Pan - like dreamers, self-centred with little or no responsibilities in life, no money, no career, no kids, no purpose, no direction: just roaming. They "seek" for "something", not realising all they seek for is just right inside of them, in this very moment. So, all Goenka's Vipsassana looks is a strange fad for hipsters.
You sound like someone that could actually benefit from it to be honest. A lot of what you said came across harsh with negative connotation. If it wasnt for you, it wasnt for you. But its worked for so many. And to judge that its young people "Peter Pan" type of fad/fantasy... unnecessary. Although the answer is right, what we seek is within us, and we're searching externally, there is no harm using a guided method through a retreat. Its a collective rising. Some people need accountability and this could help them.
So basically of you have responsibilities in life you cant attend this retreat. And what a egomaniac to think that everyone attending these dont have responsibilities but only you do Mr. Bill Gates?
Its the electrical fields coming off the equipment. They affect us more than most people are sensitive enough to be aware of. They are poisonous to us. and they do affect our own subtle energy fields. Give them up if you are a serious meditators, limit their use. Hard to do, I know.
