Vipassana meditation
Vipassana means “to see things as they really are”. This is one of India's most ancient forms of meditation. This form of meditation is meant to rid you of the mental impurities that weigh you down and bring you to a heightened state of happiness and fulfillment. It is considered the process of self- purification by self-observation.
Vipassana is taught in a ten-day residential course. Participants will have to follow a prescribed Code of Discipline which consists of the following (http://www.dhamma.org/):
All who attend a Vipassana course must conscientiously undertake the following five precepts for the duration of the course:
- to abstain from killing any being;
- to abstain from stealing;
- to abstain from all sexual activity;
- to abstain from telling lies;
- to abstain from all intoxicants.
There are three additional precepts which old students (that is, those who have completed a course with S.N. Goenka or one of his assistant teachers) are expected to follow during the course:
- to abstain from eating after midday;
- to abstain from sensual entertainment and bodily decorations
- to abstain from using high or luxurious beds.
During the course, students must be willing to give up what they think and give themselves fully to their teachers. Students must partake fully and in accordance with everything the instructor says. Vipassana is not a religion or cultural taboo. Therefore to get the full benefit from it, students must clear their minds and routines from all fasting, burning incense, counting beads, reciting mantras, singing and dancing, or whatever it is that you are use to with other forms of relaxation.
During the 10 day course students must observe Noble Silence from the first day of the course until the morning of the last full day. This is a concept that is hard for many students because Noble Silence means silencing of the body, speech, and mind. No form of communication is allowed. This means gestures, sign language, written notes, etc. It is all prohibited.
This course is challenging to all who enter into it but the reward at the end of this course is well worth it. If you want to achieve a state of enlightenment like never before then explore what Vispanna has to offer.
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