Our world is a very noisy place, both externally and internally. Externally, we are bombarded with the sounds of various machines and gadgets, including traffic noise, construction noise, landscaping noise, farm noise, household appliances, smartphone notifications, TVs, radios, and you name it. Internally, our minds are in constant states of chaotic thinking and ruminating that prevent us from experiencing true peace and silence.
Noise does not need to be a negative thing, but it is when it is constant and there is no silence to balance it out. So how do we introduce more silence in our lives? What can we do? Where can we go? Moving away from the noise and into more silence, which normally births more mindful thinking, heart-centered living, and awareness can be highly transformational.
To remove external noise, you can plan a getaway to a secluded area, like a cabin in the woods or a secluded beach area. While this can reduce the external noise of everyday life drastically, there are still factors that will prevent the experience of silence. For example, if you take your smartphone or have access to a TV, you may still have a very noisy external experience even if you are in a secluded area. If you have the option and are diligent about not having or subjecting yourself to any of these, then you can begin to cleanse the mind and reset your nervous system. However, what takes place internally - in your mind, may still be a significant source of internal noise. Therefore, to truly experience the healing and restorative power of silence, it is often of most benefit to put ourselves in an environment that is conducive to cultivating, both, internal and external silence. This can be achieved by practicing deep meditation without any external input.
One type of meditation that has silence at the foundation of its practice is Vipassana Meditation. This is a type of meditation that originated from the Buddha. Since then, its practice has persevered through millennia, and in modern day centers all over the world teach students this powerful meditation technique.
What is Vipassana?
The word Vipassana means ‘insight’ – especially into the nature of reality, and it comes from the Pali language of the early Buddhist texts. It is known as a type of state to be in - a type of meditation state. Vipassana is one of the world’s most ancient techniques of meditation, which has its roots in the Theravada form of Buddhism. The practice itself originated in India and is attributed to Gautama Buddha. It is a way of self-transformation through self-observation and introspection.
Vipassana meditation is practiced all over the world by people of all ages and from all walks of life and spiritual traditions. There are Vipassana centers all over the world, and you can find one near you through the official Dhamma.org site, which was started by S. N. Goenka.
What makes Vipassana meditation the most different from other forms of meditation is that it is not the typical “relaxation” type of meditation that is most commonly known in the West and practiced alongside yoga, tranquil music, guided speech, etc. Vipassana is a more active form of meditation where the person has the opportunity to experience true silence and insight, while in a state of introspection and observation of the present moment. It is the most intense exercise in mindfulness.
Over the years it has branched off and differs a little between disciplines. However, it is still non-sectarian in nature, applies to all forms of Buddhism, and attracts people from all ethnic, religious, and spiritual groups.
How is Vipassana Practiced?
To begin one’s practice of Vipassana, one normally studies under a teacher of Vipassana meditation in a Vipassana meditation center. Satya Narayan Goenka is a leading lay teacher of Vipassana meditation. He has trained more than 800 assistant teachers in the tradition of Sayagyi U Ba Khin, under whom he studied. Each year more than 100,000 people attend Goenka sponsored Vipassana courses.
Vipassana is a serious meditation and is structured like a course with lots of time spent in complete silence, evening lectures, partial fasting, and abstinence from various physical and psychological activities. The minimum session for new students is 10 days of silence in the course, which has been deemed the minimum for the meditation to be effective and for internal change to be observed. Afterward, the student is encouraged to practice regularly on their own for continued growth in insight and one can also attend longer Vipassana meditation retreats, such as 20 or 30 days, and more.
Vipassana is based on the understanding of the Law of Nature that governs all life: the nature of all things as impermanent. It takes us to the root of all of our suffering and helps us liberate ourselves from it. For us to acknowledge and gain this perspective alone is priceless, and why I highly recommend this course for everyone, assuming you are up for the challenge.
This meditation technique, if done properly allows us to:
- attain more clarity of the mind, than perhaps ever before
- attain more focus of the mind, than perhaps ever before
- learn how to focus our mind effectively
- dissolve physical pain
- understand and feel the nature of all suffering/misery
- see reality as it really is, not as we think it is
- move beyond personalizing all things
- detach from “I”, “Me” and “Mine”
- stay equanimous about things and detached from outcomes
- be less reactive to all situations in our life and more objective about things
- experience the process of liberation and enlightenment
Preparing for My First Vipassana Meditation
I learned about Vipassana meditation from an online acquaintance and something immediately clicked, calling me to this experience. I knew it was something I needed to do. I have been craving to enter a deeper state of being for quite some time now, and the ability to experience this type of meditation resonated with me strongly.
As I researched to learn more about doing Vipassana meditation, I learned that there was in fact a center just a few hours away from where I live. Everything was lining up perfectly for this experience to become a reality. It was also very authentic and admirable to learn that Vipassana meditations run solely on donations. This is not your typical multi-thousand dollar tropical meditation retreat. By doing this, the founder and its current facilitators made sure that it is accessible to everyone, regardless of their financial status.
Typically, people learn about this silent meditation program from someone who has already done it. Some people do their own research on various meditation techniques and come across it, especially upon studying various parts of Eastern traditions and philosophies. When we first learn about the Vipassana meditation, usually there is something within us that has desired or become ready for such an experience. If it is something that resonates with us on a deeper level, we then have the choice to take part in and experience the Vipassana meditation technique. Although courses last from 1 to 60 or more days, all new students start with a 10-day course. This is the minimum needed to grasp the foundations of the technique, and yet not too much to be overwhelming. Keep in mind that for a 10-day program, you need to book off 12 days, as arrival at the course is on day 0, and the departure takes place on day 12, with 10 uninterrupted days for practice in between.
As part of my commitment to my spiritual evolution and consciousness expansion, I began preparing for my very own 10 days of silence in a Vipassana Meditation center in the fall of 2010. The thought of spending 10 days in silence, even if it is structured silence, felt a little intimidating. I love tranquility and stillness, and limit my external input as much as I can, but I cannot imagine what such an experience of not talking for 10 days will be like. The meditation technique also demands a certain discipline from the student that includes waking up before dawn, usually at 4 am; light meals with some fasting; and on average 10 hours of meditation a day, most of it in isolation. No technological or communication devices are allowed, ensuring that you have no external distractions from work, family, or friends. There is also no reading or writing, both of which stimulate and distract the mind.
I don’t think any of us can imagine what an experience of this nature will be like unless we actually experience it for ourselves. Even then, given its inner-focused nature, it is a very deeply personal for each person, and cannot be compared. Many questions run through my mind. What will it feel like? What thoughts will occupy my mind? What thought patterns will emerge and be released? How will I feel each day or at the end of it all?
What I have found is that if I focus on the present moment, I am in complete surrender and open to this experience. When I start picking it apart and putting myself in its future experience, I can see why so many people would not even consider such an experience. Personally, I hope to experience a deeper cleansing of the mind, where old thought patterns and conditioning that no longer serves me can be released, along with some grounding and balancing of my inner state of being. All of those, however, are possible by-products, not necessarily outcomes of this experience. So in the end, I am holding no expectations, and only holding the intention to be open, surrender, and experience this meditation in its fullest form.
A Day in the Life of a Vipassana Course Student
Students begin their day at 4 am with a wake-up bell. The first meditation session is at 4:30 am and can be done in the group meditation hall or your own room until 6:30 am. At 6:30 am there is breakfast and a break which lasts until 8 am.
At 8 am there is a group meditation for all in the meditation hall. All group meditations start with an opening from the assistant teachers that provide guidelines for that session’s meditation technique. From 9 am to 11 am meditation continues in the hall or in one’s room, according to the teacher’s instructions. From 11 am to 1 pm there is lunch and a break/rest period. This is also a time when one can have an interview with their assistant teacher to address any questions.
At 1 pm a personal meditation session starts again, and at 2:30 pm there is another 1-hour group meditation session in the hall. From 3:30 pm to 5 pm, meditation continues in the hall or one’s own room, according to instructions. At 5 pm there is a tea and fruit break and rest until 6 pm.
At 6 pm there is a final group meditation for all in the hall, followed by a video discourse (lecture) featuring the main teacher S.N. Goenka. This lasts over an hour and is followed by a group meditation until 9 pm. Students are then allowed to ask their assistant teachers questions or retire for the night. Lights out are at 10 pm.
During the course, complete noble silence is in effect. This means that there is no talking between students whatsoever. Also, the men and women are separated. While the segragation areas vary between different Vipassana centers, typically each sex has their own residences, entry points, walking, and dining areas to help prevent obvious distractions and ensure a greater comfort for all to focus on the meditation. The only time that men and women come together is in the meditation hall, where men sit on one side and women on the other.
There is no reading or writing material, no cell phones, or any other kind of devices allowed in the program. Students are asked to check-in these items before proceeding, along with their car keys, if applicable. Accommodation is simple and modest, but comfortable. This will also vary amongst centers around the world, with some being more comfortable than others. Meals are provided during student’s stay, and include a full breakfast and lunch done in a buffet style. There are no snacks whatsoever. In the late afternoon/early evening there is tea and fruit, as part of the necessary partial fasting. Returning students are to fast completely from lunch onward. All food is vegetarian (with vegan options) to coincide with the principle and precept of “no killing” and “compassion for all beings”, which one abides by while in the course. Such a diet is a Sattvic Diet, which also helps to keep the body light and the mind sharp.
Reflections After My First Vipassana Meditation Course
It has been a few days now since I came back from my first Vipassana meditation course. There is so much to share about this experience, and more insights seem to come out each day.
To begin with, it is essential to know that a Vipassana Meditation Course is in no way a retreat, vacation, or holiday of any kind. This is a 10-day period of hard mental work, where a strong mind, motivation, and determination is needed to get through each day. While it may be nice to be away from all technology, obligations, chores, and such, we have to be clear that this is a period of intense internal work. Additionally, not having anything with you, aside from your clothes and toiletries, or anyone to talk with, leaves one with little to do other than work on the meditation technique or attend to the musings of one’s mind.
As a type of mindfulness meditation, it is not meant to be the kind of meditation where you engage in active contemplation, visualization, or relaxation. Likewise, it is not a meditation for having any out-of-body experiences, connecting with Spirit guides, or any other metaphysical or spiritual stuff. It is, in fact, the most grounding and present experience one may ever have, as it forces you to look deeply into the mind and body in each moment, and connect with reality as it really is via the sensations of the body. The best way to describe the experience is to relate it to what happens when we have an intense physical workout, where we need to focus and push through various personal boundaries and limitations. Vipassana is like that, except for your mind; it gives us a very intensive mental workout. It is all about purifying the mind, taking control over the mind, and learning how to master one’s mind.
One of the most powerful realizations that it provides is that it shows us that we are slaves to our mind. We are not our mind, yet our mind controls us, and most often in very undesirable ways. With Vipassana, we start to take back control of our mind. We learn to stop being so reactive and take on a calmer, more balanced, conscious, and objective approach to all things.
The 10 days of the course are spent in silence. While one will hear the voices of others, namely the teachers, it is very possible to not hear one’s own voice for the entire period. Initially, I thought that the 10 days of silence may be intimidating, but it turned out that the silence was extremely welcome. It allows each person, whether they are walking on their own or sitting in a group setting, to just be. No one is talking to prove something, to argue something, to exaggerate something, to share something, to create any kind of drama, or out of boredom. We just are — experiencing the pureness of our existence. It was so beautiful, calming, and mentally delicious!
The Daily Routine During the Vipassana Course
In terms of the daily routine, if you are not used to waking up early, the 4 am wake-up is challenging, to say the least. It quickly shows us how the mind craves certain habits, patterns, and comforts. Given that my Vipassana experience was in the fall, when the days got much shorter and colder, I personally dreaded getting out of the warmth of the bed to face the cold, dark early mornings. Thankfully, I was able to adapt and maintain good energy levels, as I never use or rely on any coffee or other stimulants, which are not available for students who do. On the bright side, there were opportunities to nap during the breaks, which was a nice way of getting more rest, if needed.
As for the meditation routine, I found it very challenging. On the first day, one is just getting used to it all, which makes the day easier than what comes after. On the second and third day, it really starts to sink in with regards to what one signed up for. Where most people find day 2 and day 6 very challenging, I found days 4 through 6 very challenging. There came repeated moments where the last thing I wanted to do was meditate yet again for another chunk of the day. By day 6, I definitely had enough. But there was no way I was ending this experience or going anywhere. This was for two reasons. For starters, I made a commitment to myself to stay to the end no matter what. Yes, some people drop out of the course on various days, despite instructions and commitments against doing so upon starting the program. Before being allowed to leave, one must have an interview with one of the facilitator teachers who try to help the person overcome their challenges and honor their commitment. Secondly, I went with my husband together in one car from a distance of a few hours away; hence, I did not want to ruin his experience by needing to leave. In the end, I pushed through to have the full experience, and it all worked out, but only by experiencing it moment by moment. If you let your mind think of what comes too far ahead, such as the next day or next few days of the experience - meaning more hours of intense meditation cut off from everything that is usually part of one’s daily life - it can get very daunting.
The Vipassana course routine also made me learn a lot more about myself. Even though I like living based on a general, organized routine, the strict structure of the Vipassana program felt extremely too confining for me. Since I left the formal workforce and moved into the depths of nature, I feel too much like a free spirit nowadays, where I have the freedom to move about and do as I please. Thus, having a strict daily routine forced upon me, even though I chose this experience, of course, was very challenging. However, this type of environment was essential if I was going to do this, as I definitely would not have meditated for 10 hours a day or woke up at 4 am outside of this environment, in the comfort of my own home. So even though I felt constricted like never before in my life, such mandatory enforcement was needed for the experience to be effective.
In terms of the practical aspects, the accommodations at the center I did my Vipassana meditation course were very comfortable and clean. The bed and bedding was adequate, as were the bathrooms. The food was fabulous! In fact, I cannot say enough good things about it. This is coming from someone who follows a 100% whole-food, plant-based healthytarian lifestyle. I am not a fan of eating out, as it never comes close to the quality with which I eat at home, so to find high-quality, plant-based cuisine outside of our home is a real gem. For the duration of the program, we were not just served vegetarian food that was easily made vegan, but specifically served real, wholesome plant food that was both optimally healthy and delicious. It was truly better than any restaurant that I could have gone to. The organization around the entire dining experience was pristine and my utmost gratitude goes out to all who made the food, served it, and helped us have a wonderful experience.
Concluding Thoughts
Ultimately, each person’s experience will be unique and very different given that each person comes to Vipassana with their own uniquely conditioned mind, wounds, traumas, and needs. I did not walk away from this experience a new or different person. There were no fireworks or magical fairies coming to greet me, and no white lights or out-of-body experiences. If one desires that, they need to look elsewhere. To the outside observer, even to me at this moment, everything seems almost disappointingly the same. However, deep down I know that it isn’t. I walked away from it a more expanded and liberated person, with a sharper and more aware mind, and even less reactivity to whatever may happen in the physical world than I already had.
I experienced many highly introspective moments, valuable reflections, and insights during the course. I think it will take weeks to process them all. Many people in my group walked in very tense and stressed and walked out lighter and happier. That was not my experience. I walked in already seemingly light and happy and walked out “happy-that-it-was-over”. I feel this was thanks to the work I have been doing over the past 5 years after having a deep spiritual awakening. Prior to my Vipassana experience, I dealt with, healed, and came to understand and transcend a lot of my human suffering and trauma. I have been fortunate to access and live today with a deep sense of inner peace and joy. Of course, there is still lots of work to be done and much more to uncover and heal. Life is continually evolving, as are we, and I am grateful for this experience showing me so precisely how the mind is the source of all pleasure and pain. There are layers upon layers lurking in our subconscious minds that are not conducive to our overall wellbeing or sense of peace and joy. This is where Vipassana, or mindfulness meditation, provides one of the best ways to continue our journeys of healing, expansion, and evolution.
I am also very grateful that this experience provided me with a platform to learn more about myself and the contents of my mind. And of course, for giving me an extremely valuable opportunity to experience an extended period of silence and meditation, which would not have happened otherwise. The insight I gained will be applied in my life and generously shared with all, as I continue with my current life experience.
What might this experience hold in store for you? I can tell you that it is impossible to know or predict what the outcome or feeling of this experience may be for anyone else. What I can tell you with certainty, is that it will push your boundaries in unexpected ways and will bring out many hidden parts from within your psyche. I can tell you that whatever expectations you may have of what it will or won’t do for you, or how it will or will not be, it will challenge all these ideas. You may have a wonderful time or you may have a very difficult time during a Vipassana 10-day program. Whatever it will be, you can be sure that it will benefit you on many levels, whether obvious or not, and help you understand your mind and yourself more to realize more of your human potential.
To find a course in your area, check out Dhamma.org
To learn more about Vipassana, check out Vipassana Research Institute