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’.
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| ‘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: 😉😉😉
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