Photo Essay: Dhamma Aranya, Vipassana meditation centre in Raj’than’s Chaksu

         ‘Vipassana’ literally means ‘seeing things as they really are’. It is a practice to be enlightened. Its website says, “the foundation of the practice is ‘sīla’ — moral conduct. ‘Sīla’ provides a basis for the development of ‘samādhi’ — concentration of mind; and purification of the mind is achieved through ‘paññā’ — the wisdom of insight.”

Meditation hall at Vipassana centre in Rajasthan’s Chaksu on Oct. 2, 2023. (Pic by R. Suresh Bhardwaj)

         ‘Vipassana’ centres are spread across India. ‘Dhamma Aranya’, is one of them. It is situated in the forested area of Chaksu, about 45 km away from Jaipur. 

         Although it is a small and new centre with the sitting capacity of only 35 students, but it is totally surrounded by nature. 

Meditation hall at Vipassana centre in Rajasthan’s Chaksu on Oct. 2, 2023. (Photo by R. Suresh Bhardwaj)

         Meditation Hall is the core of all Vipassana-related activities, where students meditate by the teacher's guidelines. It is designed conjugating the old architecture of Buddhism with modern facilities—mikes, speaker, TV for ‘pravachan’, fans and bulbs with traditional bells, ‘chaitya’ (living room) and pot to keep water. 

Drinking water facility symbolises old and new technique to cool water near dining room
 at ‘Vipassana’ centre in Rajasthan’s Chaksu. (Photo by R. Suresh Bhardwaj) 

        Meditation Hall is such located in the premises of Vipassana centre, which resembles a unique pattern of ‘chaitya’ and the footway to come so that students can walk in the morning and evening circumambulating it. 

Drinking water facility symbolises old technique to cool water near meditation hall at ‘Vipassana’ centre at Rajasthan’s Chaksu on Oct. 2, 2023. (Photo by R. Suresh Bhardwaj)

        Along the footway to the meditation hall, ‘chaitya’ is built to accommodate the students. It is entirely simple with only a bed and washroom. It actually motivates a student to live ascetic life beyond all luxurious lifestyle.  

A combination of photos shows ‘chaitya’ (living room) in the forested area and footway to the meditation hall or living room at Vipassana centre in Rajasthan’s Chaksu, on Oct. 2, 2023. (All photos by R. Suresh Bhardwaj)

A combination of photos shows a newly-constructed ‘chaitya’ (living room) (L) allotted to me and its inside at Vipassana centre in Rajasthan’s Chaksu, clicked respectively on Oct. 2 and Sept. 29, 2023. (Photo by R. Suresh Bhardwaj)

        The meal here provided is totally simple. In breakfast, milk, tea, 'daliya', fruits, 'chana', 'poha' are provided at only 6:30 am. For lunch, bread, rice, 'daal', 'sabji', 'raita' and salad are available at 11 am. After lunch students are expected not to eat anything except ‘nimbu-pani’ at only 5 pm before retiring to the bed at 9 pm. 

A combination of photos shows evening meal (methi paratha, milk), left, and Lunch, clicked respectively on Sept. 29 and Oct. 2, 2023. (Photo by R. Suresh Bhardwaj)

         All Vipassana centres are nature bound. 'Dhamma Aranya’ where I recently attended a 3-day short meditation camp is also rich in flora and fauna. Its surrounding is full of desert trees. ‘Babul’ (acacia tree) is prominent. 

‘Babul’ (acacia tree) along the footway to meditation hall at Vipassana centre in Rajasthan’s Chaksu on Oct. 2, 2023. (Photo by R. Suresh Bhardwaj)

         ‘Bodhi’ tree is the most important part of Buddhism. After a 12-year long ‘tapasya’ under it Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment and gave this ‘Vipassana’ meditation technique to the world. 

‘Bodhi’ tree at Vipassana centre in Rajasthan’s Chaksu on Oct. 2, 2023. (Photo by R. Suresh Bhardwaj) 

What I observed— Follow the link- Vipassana: What I learnt and why everyone should do

        Living with nature, listening to birds chirping in the morning and evening, eating ‘Satvik food’ timely at 6:30 am, 11:30 am and snacks at 5:00 pm, timely waking up at 4:00 am and retiring to bed at 9:00 pm give a boost-up to everyone after the end of 10 days. It is a daily routine, doing meditation approx 8 hours a day. Most importantly, during this period, a meditator has to observe ‘nobel silence’ (Arya Maun) i.e. no talk to anyone for 10 days, and no use of mobile phones and other disturbing items.

Me doing meditation in the meditation hall on the last day of the 3-day short course at ‘Vipassana’ centre in Rajasthan’s Chaksu on Oct. 2, 2023. (Photo by a meditator through my phone)

Some other related pictures- 

Me at Vipassana centre on the very first day of 3-day course in Rajasthan’s Chaksu on Sept. 29 evening, 2023. (Photo by a meditator from my phone)

A peacock at Vipassana centre in Rajasthan’s Chaksu on Oct. 2, 2023. (Photo by R. Suresh Bhardwaj)

Footway going to the meditation hall at ‘Vipassana’ centre in Rajasthan’s Chaksu on Oct. 2, 2023. (Photo by R. Suresh Bhardwaj)

Students at the meditation hall, listening to the ‘pravachan’ on the last day of the camp at ‘Vipassana’ centre in Rajasthan’s Chaksu on Oct. 2, 2023. (Photo by R. Suresh Bhardwaj) 

Specially-designed waiting area near the meditation hall at Vipassana centre on Rajasthan’s Chaksu on Oct. 2, 2023. (Photo by R. Suresh Bhardwaj)

Me taking selfie on the last day of 3-day short course, in the shadow of forest at Vipassana centre in Rajasthan’s Chaksu on Oct. 2, 2023. 

Vipassana: What I learnt and why everyone should do

       If you do good, you will be awarded, and for wrong, you will be punished by nature. It is the rule and essence of ‘Vipassana’ that a meditator learns at its centre, SN Goenka, a Vipassana meditation teacher, said while elaborating on its tough technique during' recorded pravachan’.

‘Sadhak’ (meditators) listen to the recorded ‘pravachan’ by SN Goenka at meditation hall in Rajasthan’s Chaksu on Oct. 2, 2023. (Photo clicked by R. Suresh Bhardwaj) 

         He adds, “Due to its toughness, it has been disappearing in Bharat, but by the design of the ‘Vipassana’ centre, it has been reviving across Bharat and around the world.”

       Even after, each course is attended by a number of people. Many complete, and some leave amid the course. Although they come for several reasons, including to sort out their personnel problems, in fact, ‘Vipassana’ is not for that, though undoubtedly they benefit.

Then, what 'Vipassana' is? It is an ultimate way to learn how to live and how to die, an old ‘Sadhak’ (meditator) said at ‘Dhamma Aranya’ in Rajasthan’s Chaksu. 

       ‘Dhamma Aranya’, a meditation centre, situated in the forested area of Chaksu, about 45 km away from Jaipur, was my first 3-day short course, but second in this row after completion of a 10-day course in Haryana’s Rohtak in 2019. 

      Whatever its purposes are, I never thought about it. I ponder into how it benefitted me to come out of a sad situation. Undoubtedly, its technique worked for me when I attended the course in a depressed and sad state after continuous failure in the civil services exam in 2019. 

        Actually, ‘Vipassana’ is to maintain ‘affinity’ (Samata Bhav) to every moment of life— sorrow, pain, happiness and pleasure. 

        Living with nature, listening to the chirping of birds in the morning, eating ‘Satvik food’ timely at 6:30 am, 11:30 am and snacks at 5:00 pm, rising up at 4:00 am and going to bed at 9:00 pm give a boost-up to everyone after the end of 10 days. It is a daily routine, doing meditation approx 8 hours a day. Most importantly, during this period, a meditator has to observe ‘nobel silence’ (Arya Maun) i.e. no talk to anyone and no use of mobile phones and other items.

       The first 3-day of the 10-day entirely focuses on the breathe. On day four, SN Goenka gives the technique of ‘Vipassana’ to feel the sensation of each part of the body. It is actually a flow of micro current in the body that has to be felt enjoying not only good sensation but to observe affinity to even painful sensation. Creating ‘samata bhav’ to every sensation is ‘Vipassana’. 

        The 3-day short course is also the same. The first one and a half day is scheduled for ‘Ana Pan’ (observing breathe) and rest of the time for doing ‘Vipassana’. This is what is said an ‘ultimate way’ for enlightenment, guided by Gautam Buddha to the world. 

         During ‘pravachan’, SN Goenka explains ‘vipassana’ how it is different from religion. He said that during the observance of ‘Vipassana’, there is no worship, it is only to improve concentration on breathe and feel the sensation. He adds it also not promote any religion; It motivates to be enlightened like Buddha because Buddha is not only one who has been enlightened by this way, there were many and many will be.

       And, I came to believe why Gautam Buddha took 12 years to be enlightened. It is not only a story, it is a reality because I have reason to believe after meditating and observing breathe and sensation.

      It is also beneficial to avoid addiction of some particular things. Before attending the short course, I was totally addicted of using mobile phone. Its proof lies in my activity in the morning on very first day of the course when I looked for the phone. I also gained the habit of awaking up in morning after following a fixed routine.

       I believe, and will be, for its panacean nature that it benefitted me even after I had not been following full guidelines of the course. I never did morning meditation from 4:30 to 6:30 because I had been sleeping. Actually, I only followed the group meditation properly for 3 hours a day in the meditation hall. Rest of the sessions, either I had been sleeping and walking in the campus. 

         During walk, I witnessed many creatures in their habitats including snakes crossing the footway going to meditation hall from my residence, chirping of birds and a row of ants on the street. Unknowingly, I had killed many ants while walking on the street after evening snacks. 

Finally, I have no hesitation to confess that it tracked me again to wake up in the morning, to be quite and peaceful, to take plain food after following its vows, and most importantly, it helped me to avoid addiction of the mobile phone. 

Note: The word ‘Vipassana’ means seeing things as they really are. According to its website, the foundation of the practice is ‘sīla’ — moral conduct. ‘Sīla’ provides a basis for the development of ‘samādhi’ — concentration of mind; and purification of the mind is achieved through ‘paññā’ — the wisdom of insight.

The precepts which abstain the meditators for the duration of the course: from killing any being; all sexual activity; telling lies; all intoxicants. There are three additional precepts which old students are expected to follow to abstain from eating after midday; sensual entertainment and bodily decorations; using high or luxurious beds.

Mood: 😉😉😉

Notebook: Remembering Gandhi’s Anniversary without forgetting him

        The man who needs no introduction. The man who is known as ‘Rashtrapita’ who fought for India’s freedom without arms & ammunition, was none, but Mahatma Gandhi.

Gandhi Museum in Patna. (Pic by R. Suresh Bhardwaj) 

       He took ‘Satyagrah’, a conjugation of truth and non-violence, as a mean of power. He not only succeeded in India but also in South Africa.

       It is his works that inspire everyone, even government to recognise his valour against the cruel tyranny of the Britishers. The Indian Government incepted publishing his smiling face on currencies, named many governmental polices after him, and gave his iconic eyeglasses a watermark to the ambitious ‘Swachcha Bharat Mission’.

         It is his personality that made him powerful even after 75 years of India’s Independence. His thought has been blowing like air in the humans’ ambience, that can’t be ignored. Although it is omnipresent, but tough to be lived. 

         In street talk, ‘Majboori Ka Nam Mahatma Gandhi’ is popular among people who are not mature and unaware of his works. It is done because his thought is, in my opinion, somewhat, a matter of age. With the growing age of men, he becomes relevant. 

         His birth anniversary is observed on October 2  every year. Indian Government declared his birthdate a national holiday like Republic and Independence Day, which proves his importance.

        This day describes his potency, thought, philosophy and approaches to live symbiotically. His birthdate is popular as ‘Gandhi Jayanti’, and ‘International Day of Non-Violence.’ Truth with non-violence were the ‘mul-mantra’ of his strategy when he was struggling for independent India. He explained the spiritual power of these that curate the core of all powers.

        But, it is shocking to listen that in recent years, people decorated the Durga Puja Pandal in Kolkata's Ruby Park allegedly designing the ‘Asura’ as Mahatma Gandhi. Many times, Hindu Mahasabha supporters have been defaming his recognition. But, there is no answers of ‘why’ even in the book ‘Why I Killed Gandhi?’ by Hindu Nationalist Nathuram Godse. (Also read - Gandhi Godse - Ek Yuddh : Conversation between assassinated and assassinator )

         No doubt, those who try to defame Gandhi are fringe elements of society. By their mischievous attempts, Gandhi becomes powerful, more powerful! They have no idea that he is beyond the politics. 

        His means start when politics ends. His view on Means-Ends duo is an example which states that means should be good, end will be automatically good! He actually defines the ethical power of politics that works in many cases. 

        Let’s remember him on his birth anniversary, keeping in minds his actions against all suppositions, that proved the spiritual power of Truth and Non-violence. He bid adieu for the heavenly abode, practising his philosophy until his death.