What Is Vipassana and Should You Try It
Truth can not be understood intellectually, it can only be experienced, yourself. ~ Gautam Buddha
This is the basis of Vipassana Meditation.
Vipassana is a 10-say silent meditation course where the technique of meditation is taught step by step, as it was initially taught by Gautam Buddha 2500 years ago.
It’s known that masters have preserved the technique in it’s most pure, pristine form and made it available in a concise, short course of 10 days. Earlier this was taught for 30, 60 days and even longer periods.
The same technique is taught, in exactly same manner at hundreds of Vipassana centres around the world, free of charge.
One has to follow a strict code of conduct, with complete noble silence. Vipassana is taught in the recorded voice of the last teacher S N Goenka, who taught Vipassana at Igatpuri centre in India till he left his body in 2013.
This is the Routine followed at every Vipassana centre:
The course start with observation of natural breath, a practice called Anapana, which helps the mind to become sharp and concentrated.
This concentration prepares one for further Vipassana practice, which involves observing bodily sensations with equanimity.
This brings a deep level of peace and connection with silence, becoming progressively more aware of the interconnection between mind and body.
What is the Art & Science of Vipassana:
Quantum physics has proved that our body and any other material object is actually not solid in form, but atoms and subatomic particles vibrating at high speed and different frequencies, which makes us perceive things as solid, liquid or gas.
Particles in all states of matter are in constant motion.
Every living and nonliving creature on the planet, including human body and mind vibrates at its own special frequency.
In our daily life, we are so occupied with activities and perceive the world mainly through our sense perceptions. Hence, we don’t perceive and realise that our cells and atoms are in constant flux and changing every single moment (rather multiple times in one second).
While during Vipassana technique, with practice our awareness becomes so sharp, that when we start to focus on our body inch by inch, we start to experience the vibrations on our body so clearly.
If we stay focused and go through the whole body with that awareness, we can experience the vibrational reality of the whole body.
In the beginning, we experience this reality on the skin level only, though as per the teaching of Buddha, with continuous practice, we can experience the whole body with bones, veins and internal organs as atoms with vibrational reality.
When we experience these vibrations, that’s an extremely pleasant experience. When one experiences this for the first time, it feels like elation and bliss. This happened in my first Vipassana course.
I’ve shared my full experience of Vipassana Meditation course here, click to read…
As I was in that deeply blissful state, the teacher’s voice came in my ears, no matter how pleasant or unpleasant the sensation is; stay equanimous. Do not cling to, or crave the pleasant sensation and do not feel averted or try to get rid of the painful (unpleasant) ones.
Slowly, one realises and experience many different sensations like heat, itching, prickly or gross painful sensations. The whole point is to stay neutral to what comes up.
Equanimity through it all: That’s the main teaching and practice of Vipassana.
That’s how it’s connected to the art life and teaches us how to live, go through suffering and death as well.
No matter what happens in life; good, bad or painful, training our subconscious mind to stay equanimous through it all. No clinging or attachment, no judgment, victimhood, blame or pity on oneself.
It doesn’t mean that you do not feel happy when things go well for you.
Of course! One should enjoy life and feel happy.
It’s just that don’t cling to the happy feelings because when you get attached to them, you start to crave them. When you don’t feel the same feelings or sensations; you feel miserable.
That happens with me in the first course. On the 6th and 7th day, I found my mind and I kept craving for the same blissful feeling as I had on day 4, while my mind was so distracted with thoughts of future and past that I couldn’t focus on body sensations at all.
I asked the teacher and she gently told me with a smile.
“Do not chase any feeling or sensation”, my child. Just notice what appears in your body and mind. Stay neutral and equanimous to whatever appears. That’s the path to liberation.
While, in our life, we’re always doing the opposite. Stay hungry and keep craving for more is the mantra for modern life success.
That’s how we get stuck in the loop of perpetual dissatisfaction.
Even if things are going well for you, they don’t generate the same feelings as they did when you got your first job, your house, or partner. YOu get addicted to those feelings and keep wanting more. Even though you have no idea, how much more; because it’s endless.
Should you try Vipassana?
That’s totally upto you and your deepest spiritual desires. I’d highly recommend this for everyone (only exception being, if you’re going through any mental health issues — then it’s not recommended).
I’d also recommend start spending some time in silence with yourself, practising short meditation or mindfulness practices, to prepare yourself for this and get the most out of this wonderful experience.
You can always begin with the simple practice of Anapana (first step of Vipassana) sharing the link below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oh5ii6R6LTM
Most of us think the purpose of meditation is to become happier and have a better life.
What I’ve realised with Vipassana that the real point, instead, is to stop being so preoccupied with trying to control one’s experience of the world, and to learn how to stop trying to fix what we don’t like.
When we merely observe our pleasant and not so pleasant thoughts, our pleasant and not so pleasant feelings and sensations without any judgement; something interesting starts to unfold.
We have to go through this experiment of being equanimous with life and see that through dropping the pursuit of happiness and wanting more, a deep, more profound peace might result.
The Only Challenge here and a really tough one is our conditioning to soothe or shame ourselves for our experiences.
While Buddha taught us to merely observe, without trying to pacify or soothe your painful feelings or even trying to reinforce positive thinking.
Just Observe.
May all beings be truly peaceful!
