Vipassana Meditation - my experience for anyone interested

[Guest guest]

Hi - Vipassana Meditation has come up a few times on this forum.

I recently had the opportunity to attend a 10 day Vipassana retreat in Nepal.

Here is an overview of my experience:

- It was anything but quiet. It was like being " quietly " tortured. Several times

I went to the teacher and, in tears, begged to be allowed to meditate in a

" cell " (private / soundproof room). She insisted I " benefited from the strength

of the group " .

- I spent most every minute thinking hateful thoughts towards everyone around me

who coughed, snotted, and fidgeted, 17 hours a day while meditating and eating

in a large room together. My emotional outpouring to the teacher earned me a

stigma as a bit of problem student and I was assigned a " guard " (volunteer older

Nepalese student) of sorts who followed me everywhere...very troubling and

awkward as I have dedicated my life to not making trouble even when I feel

menaced by the world.

- I did enjoy the uniqueness of being in a huge (150) group of people without

talking.

- The healthy vegan food and abstinence from alcohol was REALLY good for my

body. Dinner is a banana and 1 cup of dry Rice Krispies for new students.

Again, the uniqueness of hunger and a wholesome diet was awesome.

- The practice itself was very useful. I enjoyed knowing the process and

continue to meditate in the Vipassana style today. Often it is quickly and when

I'm triggered and it definitely helps bring me down.

- Some women shared a room with 8 people total. I had only 1 roommate who left

on the second day. I would not have been able to stay being in that close of

quarters with that many people for that long so I am very grateful.

- They may not allow you to register if you have what is perceived as an active

neurological or psychological disorder and the staff are not trained clinicians.

My partner was on antidepressants and we had to go through a special process

facilitated by a Nepalese friend who was an old student for him to be allowed to

attend.

- Every evening, you watch a 1 hour video of Teacher Goenka debriefing on what

you learned today, coaching you on the technique and preparing you for the next

day. This was my favorite time of day (MOVIE HOUR WITH MEN IN THE

ROOM....WOOT!!!) Goenka is an absolutely precious gift of a man. He is also a

very large man whose bass voice has a lot of phlegm effecting its timbre. There

are a LOT of guttural sounds and bells and chirpy songs in the curriculum. It's

interesting how I trigger the most by the people who could have the most

positive impact on my life.

- I'm really glad I went and that I made it through the course. If you are

considering it, feel free to ping me and I can offer more detailed

thoughts...you do not want to go into Vipassana ill-prepared or with a lot of

high expectations but if you can afford to take 10 days off and you think you

can get through it, I would highly encourage you to try.

It is one of the most interesting, fulfilling, strange, fun, horrible,

meaningful things I've ever done.

Be well... Kitty