Why Meditate?

In the Summer of 2010, Goenkaji, the principle teacher of Vipassana Meditation, spoke at the "Millennium World Peace Summit" at the United Nations World Headquarters in New York.

"I do not wish to convert people from one organized religion to another; I have no interest in any of these organized religions. My interests is in the truth, the teachings of all Englightened Ones. But conversion is involved: from misery to happiness, from defilement to purity from bondage to liberation, from ignorance to enlightenment."

-S.N.Goenka

My Personal Connection with Vipassana

After freshmen year of college, I went to India as a member of Calcutta Club. It is an independent study abroad program that sends students to volunteer in a charity in India for at least two months. Abandoning my mission after one day of working in Mother Teresa’s missionary, I found myself wandering around India. After two months of restless travelling, I settled down in an ashram in Rishikesh, and it is where I learn about Vipassana Meditation Center from an American friend.

A Holy Town: Rishikesh

Meditating near the Ganga

My first course was in Deradum, a city half an hour away from Rishikesh. It is known to have wonderful vibration and surroundings because it is close to Himalaya. The 10 days was very hard. I could not concentrate on my breath and was irritated by it even thought it was kept being reminded to be upset when the mind was roaming away. Every five second, my mind went somewhere. Gradually, I can concentrate to 30 seconds, 1 minute and more. Then on the fourth day, we started to practice observing sensations; it was not hard to understand but still very hard to practice because my condition of mind was not in a good state.
However, I practiced seriously according to the instruction, and I felt that my mind became clearer and clearer. My impurity was gradually washed away by observing sensation with equanimity, understanding the changing phenomenon of my body sensation. I started to realize what an egoistic person I was. I used to have conflicts with my mother and aversion towards people around me. I used blamed my family for being broken up and not giving me enough care and attention by sending me to boarding school. After the course, I forgave my mother and could understand her from her conditions. Our relationship totally changed. I felt lighter and happier. It was just a life changing experience.  I really found a way out of my misery.

New friends from Lebanon, India and Austria I met from Dehradun Center

Foggy Morning at Dhamma Kunja (Washington State Center)

Dhamma Kunja

Dhamma Kunja

Dhamma Kunja

Dhamma Kunja

Dhamma Neru, Barcelona, Spain

Dhamma Neru, Barcelona, Spain

After came back to the states, I found that there is a Vipassana Meditation Center in Washington State too. I have been there a couple of times for part time courses and I also served sometimes on the weekend. Every time I go to the center, it seems there is always a change in me in some way. I especially found serving valuable and beneficial. In the U.S. Vipassana Centers, the kitchen is run by volunteers and do not hire people like they do in India. Thus, every course the center needs servers to work in the kitchen and cook for the students. 


The weekend before last weekend, I served 2 days for a 10-day course. It was a wonderful experience. It was only two days but I felt it was there for a long time that I was very comfortable being there. Working with other servers as a group, I felt being part of a community. I received much care and love. It is also very inspiring listen to the conversation about their Vipassana experience. 


A server Mary talked about an experience serving at one time. It was the hardest experience serving for her because there were not enough servers and everybody felt abandoned, frustrated and exhausted. She talked about she was feeling fierce washing dishes. And this young boy, a kitchen manager came to her and gently asked, “Mary, are you ok? You seem a bit upset.” And her frustration and anger just suddenly went away. It is just so important that we offer kindness to people who have difficult time. By working with these people, I learn so much from them. 

Old Students' Weekeed at Washington State Center

From talking to other practitioners are always very inspiring. Everyone has a different Vipassana story. The common thing among everyone is the significant change in them. Some commit to the practice more than other, but the change of the worldview, the perspectives on lives definitely has planted in the mind. By change of the worldview, it means the how we see the world. Before practicing Vipassana, one always blame others for making one unhappy. One does not know about oneself. The mind always pays attention to outside objects. It never realises what is happening inside one's mind. By practicing Vipassana, I realize it is the mind that react to outside objects. No one can make you unhappy unless yourself.

Dhamma Servers Working on Project in Barcelona Center, Spain

When Professor Leehey talked about direct transmission in class, I made me think of an experience I had working with an assistant teacher, Peter. It was a Old Students Weekend at Dhamma Kunja two years ago. On Old Students Weekend, the schedule is different from normal course. We work on project like gardening, cleaning, construction and etc and have three group sittings a day. 


I was working on gardening with Peter and some other students. He started to tell me about the history of the close forest. It was destroyed and replanted 20 years ago. At that moment, I did not really care about the history. It was only after that I thought about the way he treated me. Nobody has ever treated me like that. I suddenly realized that it was like father’s love. It was so much respect and care. Just by looking at him, I feel so very secure and loved. He must be generating metta all the time. It was a very powerful experienced to meet somebody who is in a high state of meditation. I guess that is how people feel when they met Buddha how that experienced that transformed them in a profound way that they started to follow his teaching and meditate.

            
It has been three years I have been involved with Vipassana meditation. I still find it hard to keep daily practice. I still break precepts and sometimes feel strong craving and aversions and forget about observing breath and sensation. But I know I have found a way. I am on the right path. Slowly I can change. It is hard to be a good meditator. I think it is probably the hardest thing in the world. It takes strong determination and long time practice. Being a nun would be easier to practice it but I love singing and dancing that are forbidden in monastery life. My mom will also be in deep grief if I do that. I think I will be a good householder first. It is a long path but steps by steps I will progress.

           
May all be happy! May all get wonderful Dhamma!

For more information about Dhamma Kunja, please visit

http://www.kunja.dhamma.org/

Vipassana Meditation Introduction

Introduction

Vipassana Meditation Center is a global organization that offers courses in Vipassana Meditation as taught by S.N. Goenka in the tradition of Sayagyi U Ba Khin. Vipassana means see things as they are. (dhamma.org) It is an ancient technique discovered by Buddha, Prince Siddahagottama 2500 years ago to reach enlightenment. 10 days’ residential courses are offered for students to learn the basic techniques. (Lecture by Goenkaji) The first three days, students will practice anapatha, observing the natural breath to practice concentration of the mind. Then next 7 days, students will learn to practice Vipassana, observation on the body sensations. There is no cost. Students will feel free to donate how much they want after the course.

The Vipassana courses are taught in centers or non-centers through out the world. In Washington State, there is one center in Onalaska, half hour away from Centralia and 3 hours away from Seattle. The course is also taught in prisons. “Dhamma Brothers” is a documentary film released in 2007, screening courses conducted in at Donaldson Correctional Facility in Alabama. (Wikipedia.org)

According to the website: dhamma.org, during the course, students need to follow five precepts: "1. To abstain from killing any being; 2 to abstrain from stealing; 3 to abstain from all sexual activitiy; 4. to abstain from telling lies; 5. to abstain from intoxicants.

Also, "students should commit to the technique and teaching, which means all forms of worship; religious ceremony like fasting, counting beads, and singing, reciting mantras should not be performed. Furthermore, noble silence should be observed. Any form of communication like sign language, eye contacts and etc. is prohibited."Vegetarian food will be provided on the course for breakfast and lunch.

After midday, new students can have fruits or snacks but old students are now allowed to eat after midday. Music, reading and writing are also prohibited. Students should focus on practicing the technique. There is strict timetable from 4:30 to 9:30 everyday. Approximately 10 hours’ meditation will be practiced everyday. There are breaks during meditation. Every evening at 7pm, there is videotaped lecture by teacher S.N.Goenka explaining the experience and technique. (dhamma.org)

For more information, please visit the website: www.dhamma.org