Imagine getting into a "shell", totally cut-off from the whole world that too for more than 10 days? But surrounded by a lovely environment full of positivity. It must sound thrilling to you, right? And it was thrilling! Yes! I ventured out to enjoy the "complete solitude" by learning Vipassana Meditation for 10 days at a place named 'Dhamma' (cosmic law and order) in Chennai, popularly called as 'Dhamma-Setu'. "Vipassana" means 'seeing things as they really are'. It's a technique taught by Gautama Buddha himself 2500 years ago.
It all started the day I was frustrated to find myself falling asleep in just 10 minutes when I try to meditate. When I shared this with my husband (must mention here that I am blessed with a person who really understands what my 'search' is), he said my mind is not trained enough to meditate peacefully so, I fall asleep. He suggested that I must go and learn Vipassana meditation since he found me so interested in doing meditation yet felt frustrated because of lack of progress. He himself initiated the process to apply online and finally I got selected to take up the course.
The course involves five percepts and got a list of strict rules like :-
Noble silence - observe complete silence and cannot even communicate with fellow meditators not even through gestures, eye contact or by any other actions. We can only talk to teacher and other Course Co-ordinators.
No phone, internet or any outside contacts which means I have to stay away from my daughter & husband and can't talk to them even. I will not be in touch with my relatives/friends with whom otherwise I am always in touch every second through social networking sites.
No music, no reading and no writing - I guess now almost all those who know me will understand how difficult it could have been for me to avoid all the above three.
So many other rules there perfectly suited me like 'saatvik' food and that too only twice a day (no dinner will be provided in the night but only a small snack in the evening). Time table of the course looked a bit stretched since we must start our day by 4 am and it goes until 9.30 pm in which almost for 10 1/2 hours we must sit and meditate and sit for further 1 1/2 hours to listen to the day's discourse.
I kept asking my husband, "will I be able to stay for 10 days like that"? "will I quit in between and come back"? Everytime, he smiled and replied, "I know you can successfully complete the 10 days course"! I knew he always have had that faith in me that I can do anything if I am convinced. This time, actually his belief about me had been my strength which helped me stay there for 10 days with ease. Though I had so many responsibilities his strong intention of sending me to the course made me determined to take it up.
I felt so nervous reaching the centre the previous day of my course (registration usually happens the previous day of the course commencement date) and thankfully I had a roommate and I got very comfortable with her within a few minutes. Destiny is such that both our daughters share the same name. That evening around 7 pm all the rules of the course were explained and our Noble silence started by then.
Systematically we were introduced to the 'Vipassana meditation' step-by-step. It was not that easy actually since it takes a lot of patience, strong determination to learn this technique. We need to listen to all the instructions of our teacher and must follow them meticulously to get fully benefited. Though it sounds demanding there is nothing to panic. It's difficult but quite possible to learn and practice. Anybody with 'persistent' and 'compassion' can learn this technique.
Now I must give a fair account of the techniques right? It is believed that this technique was practised by Gautama Buddha himself and he got liberated through it. He is an authentic testimony for that hence there is no R&D required to check it's authenticity.
Next comes who teaches us right? Our teacher, S N Goenka ji teaches the technique through audio/video tapes, and we also had a teacher physically present in the hall who clarifies our doubts then and there.
This is one scenario that I saw, on the other hand, we also hear about about so many 'so called' Babas, who teaches meditation, some asks us to do a head shave, some dances insanely to the tunes, some request 'bhakhts' to do Lotus Pooja, pada Pooja, does marketing for his products and what all. Some goes to an extreme where they want us to give all our property to them and enter their jungle (aashram) for the rest of the life. To me, they are more of a 'sect' or a 'religio-political' organisation. But our guruji doesn't expect all these and he neither look like a 'monk' with long 'beard' nor wears 'malas' or perform any extraordinary stunts which is hard to believe. However, if someone wants to pay him 'respects' that can be done only with our eyes closed since he has reached the heavenly abode in the year 2013 itself. So you can understand that there is no personal benefits attached to him in this.
This is the only course that I have come across till date which doesn't have a course fee. You are allowed to take up the course without being asked to pay on the first day. Only after the completion of the course on the 10th day they accept donations from us, which we give on our 'own will'. It can be any amount that a person wishes to donate. Those donations will be used for the future students who will be enrolling for the course. Hence this great technique is taught to people only through charity. There is no fees for teachers either and hence no one is after these "Dhamma Centres'' to take over in future.
I got benefited from this course because I went with a strong determination to acquire what I needed. I meticulously followed all the rules, never went late for any sittings. I had a right knee pain for the past 10 years and was bit worried about sitting for long hours on the floor. I thought of asking for a chair to meditate but when I saw so many elderly ladies seated on the floor I wanted to try meditating sitting on the floor cushions. To my surprise my knee pain disappeared on Day 1 of the course itself and till now I don't find any trace of it. After the course I am feeling very light and am able to feel my whole body and it's activities. I can't sit on the floor continuosly for an hour before but now I can proudly say I can sit the whole day on the floor. I am scared of being inside an enclosed space but that too with the help of Pagodas I have overcome to some extent. I am a calm person still used to become anxious during stressful times but now able to stay even more equanimous in any situation.
10 days of solitude had actually helped me to dig deep inside me to realise who I am. I remembered many things of the past and cherished a few childhood memories which was otherwise forgotten. One such recollection was that I used to spend time watching the sky often when I was a child. I had the opportunity to do that now after the lunch time at Dhamma. Love for 'nature' is always there in me but in these 10 days I found myself moving more close to it.
There are so much to add to this post, but I really suggest you to take up this course for at least once to get benefited. Just give your 10 days for this course and learn the real 'Art of being/living' through it. To reinstate, it is not any religious activity, ritual or some 'sect' formed for converting people. It's purely a spiritual experience and since we must learn it properly they ask us to follow their rules and regulations. We are free to choose the Vipassana or any other meditation technique after we come back.
I suggest you not to read any negative articles about the technique since it may refrain one from trying it. One such article that I read claimed that the course consists of 'Bhuddhism' prayers. It was not so. Since I can understand Hindi very well and have read the daily poem of Bhuddha about what we will be learning that day (instructions on the entrance of the hall) I know it isn't a prayer but an explanation about that day's activity. Since Bhuddha is the one who founded this technique, teacher use those verses as an 'induction' for that day's process.
To talk about Dhamma Setu, the environment is awesome with fresh air, 24/7 water facility, good boarding and lodging facilities, food of my preference - North Indian lunch with roti, chawal, dal, sabji was delicious, the volunteers and Dhamma employees are so polite and approachable. Teacher does clarifies each and every---even silly doubts--- we ask them.
There is nothing but 'truth', 'compassion' and 'peace'. Though the course is quite demanding it is worth trying as it provides a rich, life transforming experience. I am sure you can explore a new way of meditation you have never heard of or encountered before and I am sure you will be practicing it in your daily life. You will be able to understand your mind and it's relation to every matter, your mind and your body connection, the real path of wisdom and liberation.
I wish to take this opportunity to thank my husband, without whom I would have never got this wonderful experience, my daughter - who kept saying, "You go and learn meditation amma and get 'special powers' (thanks to Pokemon series), I will be with grandparents", my parents, brother and his wife who took care of my daughter in my absence, and my in-laws who were supportive and blessed me to complete the course successfully.
I request people reading this blogpost to share this as much as you can so that many can know about this course, some may show interest, even if one person gets benefited....it will make my journey fruitful. After all, all good things should be shared.
May all share my merits,
may all share my happiness and peace,
may all share my Dhamma (the way to liberation).
May all beings be happy, tranquil and compassionate!
Stay blessed.... Always!!
- Suganthi Sankaran
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