If you are reading this, I am sure someone close to you recently took their first 10 days of the Vipassana meditation course and can’t stop talking about it!
On the 11th day, when I came out of the center, I felt bliss. My attention was so focused and clear that I didn’t need a GPS to get home. That’s when I realized that’s what being super conscious feels like.
The experience I had was so profound that I wrote this article to help you have your first successful ten days at the Vipassana meditation center.
Now, I wasn’t sure how I would relay my message to the world. So, I took a week off to gather my thoughts and talk to other old students to give you the best experience. It’s going to be a wild ride, so buckle up as we raft down the river of Nirvanic peace.
Contents of this post:
- What is Vipassana meditation?
- Who is the 10-day Vipassana meditation course for?
- Starting your practice before your first Vipassana meditation course
- What to pack and bring with you?
- Reality check
- During the Vipassana meditation course
- After the Vipassana meditation course
- What’s next?
What is Vipassana meditation?
Vipassana meditation is an ancient Indian technique of mindfulness or seeing things as they are. Gautama Buddha rediscovered the Vipassana technique some 25+ centuries ago. The International Vipassana Foundation widely teaches it in several countries under the guidance of the late Mr.S. N. Goenka.
Vipassana means to see things as they really are. It involves paying attention to your inner thought and feeling factory without slotting them as good or bad. That is to say being non-judgmental about them.
The technique looks simple from the surface, but it requires determination and strong willpower to seek the truth. One who surrenders and accepts the teachings as it is without objection or obsessive skepticism will purify their mind and become free of misery.
There are two steps to practicing Vipassana meditation:
1) Anapanna meditation: Observing the natural flow of one’s breath to gain control over one’s mind.
2) Vipassana meditation: Observing the bodily sensations by quieting the mind and making the breath subtle enough to experience vibrations throughout the body. The aim is to realize the law of Impermanence or Annica (Ann-ee-Cha) at an experiential level.
Further, as you progress through the course, the knowledge and wisdom of Annica will become inherent to you. Also, you understand that we constantly react to unimportant things, which lead to Dukkha or suffering through a vicious cycle of craving and aversion.
All this sounds great to read, but trust me, when it sinks deep within, you understand that the fast car or home you always dreamt of was craving and generating Saṅkhāra or formations of deep cuts into your unconscious mind.
There are three types of Saṅkhāras:
1) We draw a line on water and it erases as we draw. Example: Bantering between friends.
2) We draw a line on sand and it erases like the waves on the beach hitting the sand. This one usually fades after a while. Examples: fights between two siblings or close friends.
3) A line created deep on a rock: The most dangerous one!!! This is because we can never erase this line as it is deep and acts as a misery multiplier. It takes a lifetime or another life to get away from this deep cut. Examples: Divorce, Trauma, Accidents, Breakups, Job Loss, Defrauded, etc. We replay these events in our minds, and you can’t escape them.
As you observe the sensations arise and fade, you realize all our thoughts and this body will one day fade away with time. All you have to do is stop reacting to them, no matter how painful the process is. A relentless determination will make the Saṅkhāras powerless. So that, in a nutshell, is Vipassana. There are deeper aspects to learn from the teacher at the course, as have I only touched 5% here.
Who is the 10-day Vipassana meditation course for?
The 10 days Vipassana meditation course is for anyone who desires to change their lives and is spiritual enough to take their first steps towards the path of Dhamma (law of nature) or liberation. The center is open to people from all walks of life, religious beliefs, races or caste.
To get approved by the Vipassana center, you need to be 18 years of age or older. Also, ensure that you are not going there to treat severe mental illnesses. If you are dealing with trauma, please check with your doctor as there are no medical provisions provided on-site at the centers.
Further, to register please go to www.dhamma.org. If you don’t drive, you can always request a rideshare to the center. Please make sure this person will stay there for the entire duration of the course.
Starting your practice before your first 10-day Vipassana meditation course
It will be good to practice Anapana once they accept you for the course. A week should be good enough time to get your mind focused on your respiration starting 10 mins a day up to an hour.
You can download their iOS App or Android App to access all audio files for Anapana and the ten-days discourses in different language formats.
Do not listen to the discourses if it is your first time, as it won’t make sense unless you go there and experience the teachings. Also, practice sitting in the crossed-legged position on your bed or on the floor.
I recommend using a Zafu and Zabuton or a Foldable meditation cushion for your practice. You can take your cushion with you to the center instead of using the cushions provided by them.
What to pack and bring with you for the 10-day Vipassana meditation course?
I feel this is very important as there were a couple of items I forgot to bring with me for my course. The facilities are a scent-free zone, so please be considerate.
Here is a list of items to take with you:
- Personal hygiene items like toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, floss, nail clippers, shaving gel, razor, body lotion (unscented), antiperspirant deodorant (unscented), and body wash/shampoo/soap (unscented).
- An alarm clock digital/analog
- Pair of slippers
- Enough clothing for 10 days as there is no provision for laundry
- Clothing hangers
- Two pillows and cases, bed sheet (s), and a blanket
- Bug spray
- An umbrella or raincoat for walking outside
- Light snacks in case you have blood sugar issues
- Medications for nausea, diarrhea, other ailments, and/ Multi-Vitamins
- A foam roller for your back
- A case of mineral or purified water bottles
- A refillable water bottle
List of items that are not allowed during the 10-day Vipassana meditation course:
- Cellphones
- Wallets
- Car keys
- Weapons
- Books, notepads, pens, etc.
- Musical instruments
- All kinds of digital devices like computers, iPads, tablets, watches, etc. You will surrender your valuables mentioned above to the management for safekeeping, as your room doesn’t have a lock. Not to worry as women are in different residential areas than men.
Reality check, the tangible and intangible aspects of the 10-day Vipassana meditation course
The Facility:
I went to the Alberta Vipassana Foundation in Youngstown, AB in Canada. The facility was clean and well maintained. They have all necessities that you need and always let the managers know if you have any special requests. Every center will be different, but they maintain the standards of basic human needs. There is plenty of outdoor space to walk in nature during the rest periods.
Your Room:
In your room, they will provide you with a bed, a table lamp, a table with drawers to keep your things, towel holder behind the door, a small cabinet with hangers to hand your clothes and jackets. Note: Rooms could vary from center to center.
Food:
The center provides you with a delicious vegetarian breakfast and lunch buffet. There’s no dinner, but just a tea break in the evening with fruits served. If you have any allergies, please inform your course manager. Fees: The course is free of cost and paid in kind by the previous student who lived in your room. This means that you need to donate to the next student as well. So please bring your credit or debit cards with you. This is a noble act of Dana or Donation, which is the prerequisites for the path of Dhamma. Also, consider donating appropriately and not be cheap, as unpaid volunteers clean and cook for the course.
Enlightenment:
Seeking enlightenment is not uncommon, as you will meet many students who think they will get liberated in 10 days. Please be real and keep your mind open to learn the teachings of Dhamma. Enlightenment is the by-product of hard work and getting rid of your mind’s old habit pattern of generating Saṅkhāras. Craving for it during the course will make you disappointed and generate more Saṅkhāras. Therefore, focus on controlling your mind with Anapana and making it sharper so you can reap the benefits of Vipassana and become liberated from your mind’s misery.
Kundalini Shakti:
You will find some daredevils online who activated their Kundalini Shakti during the course, knowing and unknowingly. Doing this will put your life in danger, as activating your chakras without proper understanding of them can lead to severe mental issues or even death. Do not mix Vipassana with any other practices as it could cause irreversible damage.
Wisdom:
It will be beneficial if you have some knowledge of Buddha’s teachings. This will enhance your meditation practice and you will experience his teachings at a deeper level.
Summary of the 10-day Vipassana meditation course
Day 0: This is a light day where you go to the center, register, surrender your valuables and talk to fellow students. They will serve a light dinner before orientation, after which you will start observing noble silence. Managers will post the code of conduct and schedule on the notice board.
Days 1 – 3: You learn Anapana and follow the instructions of your teacher.
Days 4 – 10: You practise Vipassana and observing your body’s sensations. I advise students to ask questions during this time to the assistant teacher to remove any doubts about the technique. They open the donations pavilion on the 10th and the 11th day. We break noble silence on the morning of the 10th day and you can talk to your fellow students and learn about their experiences.
Day 11: This is the last day where you do the last session and end it with Mettā Bhāvanā (meditation of loving-kindness). After which you eat breakfast and perform chores of cleaning your room and spaces assigned.
Common experiences among students during the 10-day Vipassana meditation course:
Go for intellectual walks during your break time and understand what you learned from the previous day’s discourse. These 10 days are a time to understand yourself from the inside, so use the time well.
Body Pain:
Do not push your body to the extremes while meditating. If you feel pain or discomfort sitting cross-legged, ask for a chair in the meditation hall or change your posture. Also, use a foam roller or do light stretching to release your back’s tension if possible. Don’t apply any ornament or balm as the smell might imitate other meditators.
Mental Agitation and Headaches:
If you have recently been through a sad event or carry a lot of grudges or sorrow, it might agitate and overwhelm you. This is very common among students and nothing to worry about. Just smile or laugh whenever unpleasant thoughts or sensations arise.
Insomnia or Sleeplessness:
This is the most common thing among students that they cannot sleep properly from day 5 onwards. Your mind is hyperactive, and this is nothing to worry about. However, if you are experiencing hallucinations, please talk to the manager and the assistant teacher to help you understand what is happening. Remember, if you have a history of serious mental illness and if things get out of control, then you get kicked out of the course halfway. Please be as truthful as you can when filling out the course registration form to avoid unforeseen incidents.
Stomach Upset:
The food provided at the center is sattvic vegetarian food. Sometimes students experience mild diarrhea because of the sudden change in diet. Again, very common for students, so please only drink filtered water during your course.
After the 10 day Vipassana meditation course
While driving back home, try to stay calm as your mind will burst with energy to share what you’ve learned with your friends and family. Be very careful as some people might not like what you tell them and that could affect your mind. In those 10 days, you went deep into your unconscious mind, and it takes at least a week to get back to your normal routine. Try to avoid all kinds of negative encounters and stay home for the first 2 days if possible.
Think of yourself as a newborn infant with a sensitive state of mind. If you wish, watch some light movies or nature documentaries to relax yourself. Go for walks as you did at the center to get some fresh air. Don’t jump into things or start working out until a week has passed. If you choose not to eat non-vegetarian for a while, then follow it. Listen to what your body and mind are saying.
What’s next?
I am glad that I could give you enough information so you can reap the maximum benefits from this course. The entire purpose of writing this post is that I genuinely want you to have a wonderful time at the 10-day Vipassana meditation course. And further, share your experience with others so they can also liberate themselves from the misery of the mind. I also want you to read some books to strengthen your intellect to understand the path. These are optional but will generate awareness within you:
• The Art of Living by William Hart
• The Quiet Mind by John E. Coleman
• The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
Wishing you the best in your journey to complete liberation and spreading the love and kindness with all beings. I hope you have a good time at the center and make new spiritual friends and connections.
Thank you and Be Happy. – Akash Salian
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