Vipassana, or insight meditation, is one of the oldest meditation methods in India. This is the meditation Gotama, the Buddha, practiced and taught over 45 years ago. Vipassana, an ancient Buddhist language, means “to see the truth in things”. Vipassana meditation can be used to find peace and harmony through purifying your mind.
Also Read: Spiritual Meditation: What It Is, Advantages, and Its Strategy
A minimum of 10 days is required for those who wish to learn Vipassana Meditation. Students live on the course site for 10 days in a state of noble silence. They are not allowed to communicate with anyone outside the group. They will meditate for at least ten hours each day, beginning at 4:30 a.m. They can talk to the teacher about meditation questions and get help from the management with material issues. Vipassana can lead to happiness and freedom from suffering. However, it is difficult to survive the 10-day lessons.
“Most people are obsessed with avoiding anxiety and distress. We want pleasure and gratification. It will be difficult to survive a Vipassana lesson for 10 days. Your day will consist of a lot of time spent away from your daily routine, meditating, alone, and fighting with your mind. You may feel the urge to run, especially on the fourth and seventh days. Keep the faith and your pain will eventually go away. You will never be the same again,” Rajat Khare, who just completed his third Vipassana course over four years.
Rajat Khare, a vipassana practitioner, 36, is a Europe-based deep tech investor. He has been practicing mindfulness meditation for more than a decade. It helped him to navigate the pressures and challenges of starting a business that required total focus and dedication.
He said, “Graduating To Vipassana Was A Step Taken to Reach a Higher Level of Intuition.”
He said, “Henepola Gunaratna was an influential Buddhist monk who once described it as looking into something with clarity, precision, and seeing each component as distinct, and piercing through so that you can perceive the most fundamental reality. Vipassana meditation teaches the brain how to calm down and not respond to pleasure or pain impulsively.
“We all are prisoners of our circumstances and have very little control over what happens to our minds. Rajat added, “Vipassana set my free”.
The most difficult part of the 10-day journey
The number of Vipassana practitioners worldwide is increasing due to the growing interest in this Buddhist practice. However, very few people can complete the 10-day journey to near-continuous meditation or absolute silence.
When I tried Vipassana for the first time, those 10 days changed my life. Different things can be difficult for different people. For me, the mental calmness and physical strength required to sit in meditation were the most challenging aspects. However, I was willing and able to endure the pain because the rewards kept my spirits up. Rajat said that even though I don’t possess spiritual wings, my ability to manage my mind is much better.
“Most practitioners don’t have the mental strength to endure the demanding schedule of 10-12 hours practices each day, along with silence. He said it was brutal.
How do you survive for 10 days?
Rajat Khare Vipassana Practitioner, who completed three Vipassana classes, stated that “it’s difficult, but it is possible to go all the way.”
He stated, “Be kind to yourself, encourage yourself through motivating thoughts. I know that this is normal, but these are part of the experience. Surrender is essential. Let go, don’t fight.”
When things get tough and you feel bored, restless, and annoyed, allow yourself to be present for those feelings. These feelings are part of your experience. Follow SN Goenka’s advice. Once you accept and allow those emotions, they will gradually lose their strength.
“Remember the impermanence. He added, “This too shall pass.”
He warns that you shouldn’t expect to see major changes in your life. Although the changes may seem subtle at first they will become the foundation of your existence and way of living. You should also realize that you can’t stay there if you’re struggling or are traumatized. Rajat said that you don’t need to go through this to live a happy and fulfilled life.
The Coronavirus pandemic has mainly affected the mind. People continue to struggle with stress depression and emotional exhaustion. The mental toll of lockdown and quarantine has been devastating. Vipassana has helped many and has changed lives. This should inspire many more.
