A few weeks back, when I had published 2 -3 blogs in a week, an esteemed colleague of mine, had told me that instead of Sunday Sambar, i should rename it as everyday sambar. J . Incidentally after that, I was hardpressed for time, i let Sambar drop in my list of priorities. (Not becoz of the Everyday sambar comment.. I swear!) . But i should admit, it was quite nice to receive a note from a good friend of mine, urging me not to convert this into a monthly sambar. He told me in his kind words, that he was really looking forward to my Sunday Sambar servings. So here i go again....
I was away for two weeks. Was doing my time (literally). Was attending my annual Vipassana course. The only difference from a real prison, here we were volunteering to be IN , to be free from Outside World. For almost 10 days.. No Blackberrys /Cell phones. No Emails… No TV. No FM. No Newspapers.. No Reading material… No Talking / Communicating in any other means. Just imagine you are cutting yourself from the outside world, when the latest breaking news was Raju’s (a)Satyam confession and South Africa’s last innings chase of Aussie total and ego on an even keel.
The program is rigorous to say the least. No participant is allowed to leave until the end of the course. All stimuli in the form of reading, writing and talking are forbidden. After a delicious vegetarian lunch at 11.30 a.m., there is nothing but tea and fruits at 5 p.m. And that's the easy part. It's the meditation that is grueling. Continuing virtually nonstop, save for a few breaks for food and rest, it calls for formidable levels of self-control and concentration.
What is Vipassana?
Vipassana in my opinion is the simplest meditation in the world.
“Vipassana is one of two main categories of Buddhist meditation, and means ''insight'' in the Pali language of the Buddhist texts. It is a kind of meditation, found in the Theravada tradition, that aims at an understanding of dukkha or ''suffering,'' anicca or ''impermanence,'' and anatta or ''not-self.'' The Theravada tradition is based on the teachings of Buddha as found in the earliest texts.
Buddhists in South and Southeast Asia practice this 2500-year-old tradition. Vipassana is also called ''Insight meditation'' because the purpose is to give the meditator an accurate understanding of the nature of reality. It helps us explore the deepest levels of the mind, and offers direct access into the spiritual realm without addressing deities or spirits.” (Source unknown.)
Teachers?
This meditation approach was probably discovered by Gautama Buddha, 500 years before the birth of Christ. Although the practice of Vipassana faded for the most part after the seventh century, a Burmese businessman, S. N. Goenka, visited a monastery in the 1950s where it was still practiced by a small group of monks. He was so impressed with this meditation technique that he introduced Vipassana to prison inmates and helped spread the practice around the world. It was quite pleasant to meet Goenkas. I had chosen the centre next Global Pagoda this time. And Goenkaji was there. Even though he was not really doing well, Health wise, was very gracious to meet us. He does not demand ( Manasa Vacha Karmana) Guru like reverence from his Students. I did feel the same kind of respect and love i had felt towards some of the teachers who taught me. (Devaki Teacher ( My 1st std teacher) who could manage bunch of 50 odd brats with that benign smile, without ever needing Shouting or Corporal punishment , Gopalakrishnan Master ( my Grandpa's cousin and who was my mentor and tution teacher, who was a Gandhian , National award winning teacher ) , my headmaster Manimaster who stood out for his knowledge and command of English language & , Dr. Richard Mchugh ( who taught me NLP))......
Why did I choose Vipassana?
Meditation always intrigued me and I have learnt a lot of techniques which I would practice on and off--with unsuccessful results. I don't know whether there was anything wrong with the methods; I probably didn't practice them correctly. Or in some cases I did not feel comfortable being part of a Cult / Guru Worshipping brigade. In any case, I was not happy with my meditation and was looking for something else.
My search for something that does not violate my values did end with Vipassana. The way of the Buddha is not a religion. It has no belief system. No Dogma. I should add that I did take my time on deciding to do this.Even after it was recommended by Dr. Richard McHugh.
Should you do it?
I truly believe that all of us have a “door of change within ourselves”, which can be opened only from inside.
Let me end with a quote from Buddha “Don’t accept something: because you have heard it many times; because it has been believed traditionally for generation; because it is believed by a large number of people; because it is in accordance with your scriptures; because it seems logical; because it is in line with your own belies; because it is proclaimed by your teacher, who has an attractiveypersonality and for whom you have great respect.
Accept it only after you have realized it yourself at the experiential level and have found it to be wholesome and beneficial to one and all. Then, not only accept it but also live up to it. “ I have experienced it. I have accepted it and i am going to live up to it.
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