Vipassana/ Insight meditation retreat

[Gerry]

I am going on a vipassana retreat this coming Wednesday. This is my third time to sign up. Both other times I got cold feet and pulled out the week before. However, this time I'm really committed to going and to staying for the full 10 days. From what I've heard, it's going to be really hard work, 10 hrs or more meditation a day for 10 days, noble silence, no reading/writing, no eating meals after midday,etc. I'm a bit concerned about my posture and getting somewhat comfortable for the 10 daily sessions. But I'm also very curious about what will come up and what effect 2 years of holosyncing will have on me on this retreat.

Anybody done one of these?- See http://www.dhamma.org/

Also excellent blog/site -http://gurmeetsingh.wordpress.com/2009/02/01/vipassana-meditation-t...

[Frank]

Wow, sounds very intense. I would be interested in how Holosync has benefited you too.

I checked their site and there's a center only about an hour from me. So, please report back on the whole experience.

[liz in nyc]

I think you're very brave to do this. Sounds like a serious commitment and a great opportunity for learning!
Best of luck, Gerry.

[Gerry]

Thanks Frank and Liz. I am sure it'll be a great opportunity for learning. I am really looking forward to it now. I'll let you know how I get on.

[Gerry]

Tx GWW .I'm sure that there'll be plenty of tough periods. I'm under no illusion that this will be a walk in the park, h/s or no h/s.

Just about to head off now. Be in contact a little after the 23rd Aug.

Much Metta

Gerry

[Joely Black]

Hi Gerry,

I've known other people successfully complete Vipassana, and it is tough! It certainly brings up a lot of material. I'll be fascinated to see how you find it, because I've always wanted to do one.

Joely

[Larry Bish]

Hi Gerry.

Well? How was it? I checked out the web sites you put here and signed up for 10 days (Sep 23 to Oct 4) in Maryland on the Eastern Shore. I don't think I'll have any trouble not speaking for 10 days. but I know I'll find it tough to not eat when I want for that long. This will also be the first time I've gone without HS in two years. I think I can do it. I hope my back will take it but not eating will probably help a lot of that sort of concern. I love to not talk. I love living by myself for that reason. Conversation doesn't do much for me but if someone starts one I can never seem to keep my mouth shut. Tend to blather on and afterward realize I don't believe half of what I said. I guess that's why, for an old guy, I really like the social media trend. We have more time to think about what we say before we say it. -- Larry

[elonblock]

Larry,

Sounds like a lot of fun and growth will be had by all. That's a perfect time to be on the Eastern Shore of MD!

Enjoy!

Elon

[Gerry]

I'm back from the Vipassana retreat since Sunday afternoon. I needed to give myself a bit of time to digest and reflect on my experience before posting back here. 10 full days and nights of deep meditation has been an experience like nothing before. I knew it was going to be intense but I didn't realize that I was going to be THAT intense. I went through such extremes of emotions. I laughed, I cried, I was so angry, depressed, sad, joyful, elated, fed up, bored to tears and frustrated. I was also so very fearful. All the anxieties of the past resurfaced again. All the stuff that I thought that I had dealt with came back full force. At times I thought I was truly going mad. On two occassions I really did entertain the thought of running away. I was so painful to have to sit and to face myself, my mind, my own demons. But somehow I got through it all. Day 1 became day 2 and day 2 became day 3 and before I knew it it was suddenly day 10 and the course was over. I had done it. I had completed my first Vipassana course. It was only then that I understood why it was important to stay the for full duration. Had I left on day 3, or day 7, 8, 9, which were the tough days for me, I would have missed out on how wonderful this technique actually is.

The technique is taught in 3 parts. For the first 3 days one is taught anapanna, awareness of breathing. This is done by firstly focusing on the breath as it comes in and out through the nostrils. Then by the end of the second day, one is taught to focus on the awareness of the sensation of the breath as it travels on the small area between the nostrils and the upper lip. This is to done to sharpen awareness (samadi) so that one can then move onto the next stag which is Vipassana itself. This is a scanning technique were one scans the body from the top of the head to the the tip of the toes, looking for both gross and subtle sensations. As the mind quietens down into samadi, one becomes more and more aware of the subtle vibrations that were there all along. The point is not to wish for these to subtle sensations but just to observe whatever is there whether gross or subtle. As one progresses on the path, eventually one can actually observe mind and matter interact at the atomic level. The 3rd part of the technique is metta-loving kindness. This is taught on the last day.

Vipassana is about awareness and equanimity. It differs, at least in my understanding of, other forms of meditation-Zen, mindfulness,etc, in its use of the awareness of sensations as the path to liberation. All craving and aversion begins with a sensation. By being aware of these sensation one is able to develop equanimity. Also, by using the scanning technique with equanimity, one is able to purify oneself of sankharas. It's all new to me, so forgive my clumsy explanations. There's plenty of info available on the web.

This was a very worthwhile 10 days. I've learnt a massive amount about myself and the nature of the mind and matter. I was 100 % experiental-No dogma, no theories, All DIY. I walked out of the centre feeling light, radiant and deeply at peace with myself and the world. This is a wonderful wonderful technique. Its the real deal. This is the original technique with which Gautama become enlightened. Now the trouble is I have two beneficial techniques. H/s and Vipassana......

-Larry don't worry about the food. You'll be surprised by how quickly the body adjusts to eating 2 meals a day plus fruit in the eve. If you have any diet concerns let them know. I had special requirements and they were happy to accommodate me. Other attendees had there needs met whenever they asked. Feel free to ask me any questions:)

Metta

Gerry

[Gerry]

Swimology

Once a young professor was making a sea voyage. He was a highly educated man with a long tail of letters after his name, but he had little experience of life. In the crew of the ship on which he was travelling was an illiterate old sailor. Every evening, the sailor would visit the cabin of the young professor to listen to him lecture on many different subjects. He was very impressed with the learning of the young man.

One evening as the sailor was about to leave the cabin after several hours of conversation, the professor asked, "Old man, have you studied geology?"

"What is that, sir?"

"The science of the earth."

"No, sir, I have never been to any school or college. I have never studied anything."

"Old man, you have wasted a quarter of your life."

With a long face the old sailor went away. "If such a learned person says so, certainly it must be true," he thought. "I have wasted a quarter of my life!"

Next evening again as the sailor was about to leave the cabin, the professor asked him, "Old man, have you studied oceanography?"

"What is that, sir?"

"The science of the sea."

"No, sir, I have never studied anything."

"Old man, you have wasted half your life."

With a still longer face the sailor went away: "I have wasted half my life; this learned man says so."

Next evening once again the young professor questioned the old sailor: "Old man, have you studied meteorology?’

"What is that, sir? I have never even heard of it."

"Why, the science of the wind, the rain, the weather."

"No, sir. As I told you, I have never been to any school. I have never studied anything."

"You have not studied the science of the oath on which you live; you have not studied the science of the sea on which you earn your livelihood; you have not studied the science of the weather which you encounter every day? Old man, you have wasted three quarters of your life."

The old sailor was very unhappy: "This learned man says that I have wasted three quarters of my life! Certainly I must have wasted three quarters of my life."

The next day it was the turn of the old sailor. He came running to the cabin of the young man and cried, "Professor sir, have you studied swimology""

"Swimology? What do you mean?"

"Can you swim, sir?"

"No, I don’t know how to swim."

"Professor sir, you have wasted all your life! The ship has struck a rock and is sinking. Those who can swim may reach the nearby shore, but those who cannot swim will drown. I am so sorry, professor sir, you have surely lost your life."



You may study all the "-ologies" of the world, but if you do not learn swimology, all your studies are useless. You may read and write books on swimming, you may debate on its subtle theoretical aspects, but how will that help you if you refuse to enter the water yourself? You must learn how to swim.

[Tess]

That was no clumsy explanation Gerry, it was very informative and inspiring. Thanks so much for sharing your experience. I had no idea such retreats even existed. I'm intrigued.

[Larry Bish]

Thanks a million, Gerry. You've led me to something I feel is exactly the right thing at exactly the right time. I get a lot of good stuff from this blog. I hope I can offer something of value to some of the folks here sometime.

I have a month to get prepared for this retreat. A month would have once seemed like ample time to pack for most things but lately the days flash by like the cars of a speeding train. Loved your story about the sailor. I have a master's degree in distance education. In the process of earning it I became disilllusioned with education for much of the same reasons we see wrong with the young professor's reasoning. I never pursued a job in the field of DE even though it was and still is the up and coming thing. Instead I study playandteachyguitarology because I can.

Hope your glow lasts -- Larry

[Que Sera Sera]

This all sounds great...I just don't think I could sit still for long. I am far to active of a person. Can you talk more about that?