Once I decided I would go to California for the permaculture course, I signed up for a vipassana meditation course as well. This is an idea that had been simmering on the back of my mind for about 9 years, since my second visit to Thailand. So I applied and got in for the 10-day silent meditation course (as thought by Goenka) at the Northern California Vipassana Center in Kelseyville. I knew that I needed to do this, but had no idea of how it was going to be... Here are some of my thoughts for you enlightenment...
December 1st, after having been hanging out with friends in SF for 2 weeks, I took the BART to Oakland to meet my ride to the centre. I new that this was the start a new phase to my life and I felt ready for it. Rich and Lillah had already done one or more courses before (Old Students), Brenda and myself were first timers (New Students). I had an instant connection with those fellow human beings, as we drove though the beautiful Redwood of Northern California it felt like I had know these friend for a long time. This is my favorite felling in the world; instant familiarity with long-term friendship; as I'm sure I will remain connected with these souls for a long time to come.
The Meditation Hall, before the start of the course
Arriving at the centre, I had some time with myself to organize my thoughts and my stuff (as we needed to surrender books and all electronic-communication device, etc). While getting settled in and having a hearty dinner meal, we got to meet fellow students (old and new). That evening in the Meditation Halls the course began. the "Nobel Silence" was in affect, that meant that for the following 9 days we were to abstain from all types of communication with fellow meditator (verbal & physical) and we were in complete segregation between man and women so as to not have any distractions for the mind, enabling us to go inside, deep inside...
The daily schedule resembled a life of a monk; In complete dedication to mastery of the mind and depending on others for basic necessities like food. We would wake up by a gong (a bell) every morning before sunrise, and be expected to meditate for 2 hours before breakfast, they say that the mind works best when the stomach is not too full. Thus this thinking would persist through the day, after each meal there would be a break period of about 1 hour. During the day there were 3 mandatory (1 hour) sits at the Meditation Hall. All other times we could meditate at the hall or in our rooms. Every evening we would watch a discourse by Mr. Goenka. He would elaborate on explaining the technique and soothing our doubts with his delightful approach.
Plenty of time for self refection... If one was able to maintain or slowly gain more focus of the mind, the benefits would start creeping up at a noticeable level. My biggest challenge through out the course was definitely the wandering mind, and the only way to change that was to bring my focus to the awareness of the body every time I caught it wandering into thought.
I must say that there were several instances that I remained focused for an extended period of time, only then I saw the tremendous value and impact that this technique had on my psyche, and now I can see how maintaining a daily meditation practice can be extremely beneficial on the long run.
My favorite tree in the men's walking path
By the 9th day, the last full day of nobel silence, I was starting to have a bit more consistency in maintaing my focus. That day I was able to open a few different processes that had been stored in my body for 10 year, 7 months and 10 days (to be exact). I maintained completed equanimity in my mind as my entire body was shacking and vibrating for over 40 minutes. Like every thing in life; rise... stay for a while... but sooner or later passes away. And so it did and my body became still. Ahhhh... I cannot even describe in words the feeling that came after this... bliss... pure bliss.
The following day was the last day of the course and at 10am we could talk about our experiences with our fellow meditators, if we so desired. The format of this course has been established for thousands of years and it works... I highly recommend it to everyone.
DISCLAIMER: I do not intend to teach or preach the Vipassana Technique to anyone. I'm simply sharing my wonderful experience and highly encouraging other to discover themselves by taking one of these course. The are 100% free (food & lodging) you may give a donation if you feel so inclined at the end of the course... Please visit their home page and look for a centre nearest you! www.Dhamma.org
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