"Shuddh Dharma"

THE QUESTION: WHAT IS DHARMA

धर्मं वो है, जो या तो इंसान को बेबस बनाता है, या फिर आतंकवादी।

(dharma is that, which either makes you either a helpless person or a terrorist.)

These words uttered by the lead protagonist from the movie “OMG:Oh My God” very precisely explain the predicament of dharma in the modern day world. Humans consider themselves weak and pray to God for all kinds of wish fulfillment. They recite their holy scriptures, but very few actually understand them.

Those who understand knww that dharma does not make you weak. It makes you free, independent and stronger. While reciting the Bhagvad Gita, Lord Krishna tells that one should be a sthitpragya, the one who maintains equanimity in the times of happiness as well as in the times of sorrow. Swami Vivekananda interprets Mahabharata as an internal war of the good and the evil within us, and asks us “to arise, awake and stop not till the goal is reached.”[1] Moreover, Lord Krishna goes on to say that one should work for the sake of work. Work, but do not get attached with the fruits. That seems impossible to follow. In fact, it is because of the seeming impracticality of these principles, that dharma and day-to-day life are kept segregated.

In some form or the other, most of the organized religions of the world have similar advice to offer. Yet we say, it is difficult to follow.

How can I maintain equanimity when there is sadness all around, when I am bankrupt, or when someone close to me has died. How can I work without expecting fruits? It is because that I will get a hefty raise and a decent salary that I work. I understand that money is not everything. Yet I work for money all the time. How can I not be angry when the other is hostile towards me? How can I forgive someone who has harmed me? How can I let go?

Isn't that strange that we talk about these principles, but rarely follow them. We probably think that there is no value in following those principles.

But then, why did all the great thinkers and philosophers give such importance to them? Is there a real value in practicing what is preached in dharma?

“Yes, there is...”, says Indian Billionaire, Subhas Chandra, the man who brought the Zee TV and the Essel Group into existence. But, he is not directly talking about any particular philosophy. He is referring to an ancient meditation technique, which emphasizes on the importance of morality that is described in most of the world religions. The technique is known as Vipassana, and he attributes his success in business to this meditation technique. [2]

WHY I WENT FOR VIPASSANA MEDITATION?

The examples of various successful businessmen is just one of the many reasons, why I went for a 10 day retreat. Instead of going back home and staying with my parents, I chose to stay in an Ashram where I was not allowed to speak for 9 days, out of 10.

Vipassana is a simple exercise for training the mind, simple to explain, not necessarily simple to follow. But, it has had far reaching consequences. When I learnt this meditation six years ago, my anger disappeared almost completely. And, it disappeared effortlessly. When I went to the meditation center or when I left the place, I never consciously thought that I will meditate so that I can control my anger. No, I never thought of that. I simply followed the instructions, as a result of which I became calmer. Moreover, it improved my concentration, lessened my stress and made me happier.

People say that in modern world, stress is a part of day-to-day life. When you go to a Vipassana retreat, you realize that even today, happiness is a choice. Stress is the creation of our own untrained minds (very much like untamed horses).

Apart from this, many people have got rid of their diseases related to mind, diseases like migraine or insomnia. In fact, the current teacher of Vipassana, S.N.Goenka was himself an industrialist of Burma in 1950s. He suffered from a migraine which medical science of those days could not cure. He was a rich man and went to various countries for his cure, but none could help him. He was administered morphine injections, so that, he could stay calm at the times of attack. It was in such a state that someone mentioned to him about Vipassana. He learnt the meditation technique and got cured. Later, he made it his mission to spread this wonderful technique to the country of its origin, India.

WHAT IS VIPASSANA?

Vipassana is to observe the truth, as it is, in its purest form. It is taught as a 10 day course and offered for free in many countries across the globe.

As a meditator, you have to stay in the ashram for 10 days avoiding any contact with the external world. You have to observe noble silence, that is not just the silence of speech, but the silence of mind. You can talk to your teacher about any doubts related to meditation technique, or with the organizers about any facility or food, but you cannot talk to anyone else. You are not allowed any books, newspapers, phones or internet. You have to live an introverted life for 10 days. Additionally, you have to follow vows that include: no killing, no lying, no stealing, no sexual activity, no intoxicants.

During the course, you have to clean your room (if you wish to), and you have to wash your own food utensils. For many, all these rules might not sound that tough. But, there is an additional rule: you cannot pray to God, or perform ritual or rite of your particular organized religion. If you can do that and follow all the above mentioned vows, you are ready to learn Vipassana.

A typical schedule for the nine day is as follows:

4:00 am		Morning wake-up bell
4:30-6:30 am		Meditate in the hall or in your room
6:30-8:00 am		Breakfast break
8:00-9:00 am		Group meditation in the hall
9:00-11:00 am		Meditate in the hall or in your room according to the teacher's instructions
11:00-12:00 noon		Lunch break
12noon-1:00 pm		Rest and interviews with the teacher
1:00-2:30 pm		Meditate in the hall or in your room
2:30-3:30 pm		Group meditation in the hall
3:30-5:00 pm		Meditate in the hall or in your own room according to the teacher's instructions
5:00-6:00 pm		Tea break
6:00-7:00 pm		Group meditation in the hall
7:00-8:15 pm		Teacher's Discourse in the hall
8:15-9:00 pm		Group meditation in the hall
9:00-9:30 pm		Question time in the hall
9:30 pm		Retire to your own room--Lights out

THE TECHNIQUE

Vipassana retreat is not an entertainment, nor an escapist method of relaxation. It demands 10 days of hard work and patience. The hard work is not just mental, but also physical, because you have to sit in cross-legged position for almost 11 hours.
(This is not compulsory. People who cannot sit on floor or cross-legged because of some knee problem etc. are provided chairs to sit on. The compulsory thing is that when you sit your head and back should be straight.)

For the first 3 days, you learn aanapana, wherein you are required to focus your attention on your breath. Breath comes in, breath goes out. Just that. Plethora of thoughts will clutter your mind every now and then and your attention will get diverted. They tell you - Understand that it is your mind which has not been trained. It does not know how to focus. So, stay equanimous and accept that reality, “my mind has diverted away” and then again focus your attention on your breath.

The instructions gradually change. And, by the third day, your mind calms down and is sensitive enough to feel the subtle sensations near your nostrils. In the afternoon of the third day, Vipassana is taught. You are asked to move your attention throughout your body. Now you can feel many sensations throughout your body, which you were not able to feel with the untrained mind. When you start observing these sensations, you are introduced to a truth:

All the sensations are impermanent. They arise and they fade away.

And you are further told:

Do not develop any craving or aversion towards those sensations. Just observe them objectively, and strengthen your ability to stay equanimous.

As you continue observing the sensations, you start believing in the stated truth, not because someone told you, but because you can feel it by your own experience. For example, you feel itching sensation, do not take that hand of yours and use it to scratch that part of your body. Instead, just observe. Just observe. This is a sensation. It is temporary. It will fade away.

And, now that you have experienced that truth, you start observing that for the first time, you are doing a practical of dharma. You are being a 'stithapragya'. Whether the sensation is good or bad, you are neither generating any craving, nor generating any aversion. Yes, this is the practical of the dharma, which we have always read and believed in theory.

In the evening discourse, you are explained in detail. “Nature has its own rules. If you generate compassion, you feel happy. If you generate hate, you feel miserable. And, once you develop this faculty of observing your sensations, you understand this law of nature.” And, these laws are exactly what Buddha had recited in Pali language some 2500 years ago. You follow his word as it is.

On the tenth day, you learn Mangal Maitri, that helps generate compassion.

CONCLUSION

As already stated, Vipassana meditation was discovered by the Buddha. But, it is important to remember that Buddha was just a man. And, when you practice this meditation, you are not being converted from one organized religion to another. It is just that the teachings of Buddha are for everyone. 

True Dhamma is universal. And, anyone who follows the path is bound to become happier. Siddharth Gautam did not have the monopoly of becoming a Buddha. Anyone and everyone willing to work hard can become a Buddha.

Yes, this appears mystical and otherworldly. But, to my rational and pragmatic mind, the practice of this meditation helps me improve my focus and live my life in a better manner. It is a highly developed science of mind, that cannot be explained through experiments and words. It has to be felt. You have to perform the experiment on your own mind and body and you have to yourself learn the truth about the mind matter phenomenon.

Everyone should try a 10 day course to feel the positive impact of this mediation. It will transform your views about happiness and dhamma forever. Yes, it might be difficult to find that kind of time. But, when you are determined, you can do anything. When people like Subhash Chandra, who have business empires to run, can cut themselves off from the world for 10 days to meditate, then for others like us, not being able to find that kind of time are merely excuses that show our disinterest or laziness.

May you get to experience the true Dhamma !

And, May You Stay Happy !

For more inspiration, you can watch:

(a) Vipassana in Business http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4Msp1XAJu8

(b) Vipassana Course for Business Executives: http://www.executive.dhamma.org/en/index.htm

(c) Vipassana in Tihar Jail: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8tZX3dGSM8

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[1] The “goal” refers to controlling our own mind (The Science of Breathing – Swami Vivekananda )

[2] Forbes Article where Subhash Chandra talks about the meditation:  http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2012/0326/billionaires-12-asia-pacific-subhash-chandra-zee-tv-vipassana-transcendental.html

MIRACLES V

THE LAW OF NATURE

While doing Vipassana another law of nature was presented. As we could feel the subtlest of sensations in our body, we were told -

Now when you get angry, or when emotions like hate or jealousy start to infest your mind, just start observing the sensations in your body and observe them with an objective mind and understanding of ‘anicca’ (or impermanence). You will realize that negative emotions generate a kind of burning sensation inside your body. However, it subsides when you start focussing on the sensation itself.

Why did you feel the sensation?

Because, the Law of the Nature says – If you try to harm someone else, you end up harming yourself first, and then only are you able to harm someone else.

The question was raised in one of the discourses – Do heaven and hell exist for real, where a person goes after death?

Goenkaji jokingly said, “See, I have not died. So I don’t know.”

Then on a serious note he continued, But, every human being is punished for his/her deeds on the earth itself. A person, who has told a lie, is punished at each instant. He is always tensed – what if, my lie gets revealed. That is his punishment. His conscience is punished at every moment. He does not have inner peace. He is not able to get a peaceful sleep at night.

SOME SNAPS OF DHAMMATHALI

Here you can find pics of the place which I had visited. Living in this place in the scorching heat, I realized that we possess enormous endurance levels, which can be harnessed once we train our brains.

Here's the link.

http://www.thali.dhamma.org/photos.shtml

Have a look !

LAST DAY

The seventh day was the one when the vow of Arya Maun was broken (at least formally), and we were allowed to interact with one another.  We came to know that our one of our guruji was a गृहस्थ and had also come here only for the seven day period. With a smile, he told us, “अगर तुम लोगों ने मौन का पालन अच्छे से किया होता, तो आज तुम्हारी आवाज़ में एक अलग तेज होता... खैर कोई बात नहीं ... लेकिन यह बात बहुत अच्छी है कि तुम्हे अभी विपश्यना के बारे में पता चल गया... आगे तुम अपनी ज़िन्दगी में कभी भी इस ज्ञान को बेहतर ढंग से सीखने आ सकते हो |”

That day, we were taught one last technique known as ‘mangal-maitri’(मंगल-मैत्री). In this technique, we were required to focus our attention on the people whom we want to be happy and think about their well-being. As they explained, the human mind has enormous potential and if we think good of someone, good will happen. The positive vibrations of a focussed mind are far more potent than the wishes sent with an unfocussed mind.

CONCLUDING THOUGHTS

Today, when I watch the documentary The Secret, I find that above statements are being reaffirmed by the modern scientists and/or philosophers. In fact, there is a branch of science known as Noetic Science. Its objective is to understand the various concepts of philosophy and religion from a scientific perspective. You can google it to know more about it. I read about it in Dan Brown’s novel The Lost Symbol.

There are critics of these studies as well, who are willing to put forward their logics to disregard the findings. But, even if these experiments are not very good proofs, your own experience is a proof that no one else can disregard.

I believe in what I am saying, and if someone wants to choose to not agree with me, it’s okay. Some day truth will be dawned on them, because, however hard you try to discard or disregard, the truth remains truth.

If the modern science cannot prove the above science, it is because the modern science is not capable enough to understand this ancient and powerful science. If you recall from history, there have been times when many concepts were supposed to be superstitions, false beliefs or miracles. However with time things got changed. Who could have thought that the earth is round; that it is not the centre of the solar system; that humans could fly on planes.  

Ancient India has a wisdom for all of us. The need of the hour is to embrace and propagate this wisdom. Interestingly, other nations recognize our wisdom and learn from us; unfortunately most of us do not. We are progressing as a nation where materialistic things are in abundance (which may be essential). But, we are lagging behind on gathering a spiritual quotient. We have less or no INNER PEACE.

It is time that we start embracing our ancient heritage and learn from it and propagate it. That will not only help our nation progress in the right direction, but also reduce our inferiority complex as a nation. We will stop the blind imitation of other nations and take pride in being Indians.

To conclude, I would like to put down Rudyard Kipling’s poem If which, according to Khushwant Singh, is a poem which carries the essence of Bhagwad Gita. I have not read Bhagwad Gita much. But, I can say this  that If carries the essence of some of the concepts of Vipassana Meditation. When the poem was taught to us in high school, I never really understood its importance. It is now that I see the depth in it.

“If you can keep your head when all about you 

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you; 

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, 

But make allowance for their doubting too; 

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, 

Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies, 

Or, being hated, don't give way to hating, 

And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you; 

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, 

But make allowance for their doubting too; 

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, 

Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies, 

Or, being hated, don't give way to hating, 

And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master; 

If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim; 

If you can meet with triumph and disaster 

And treat those two imposters just the same; 

If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken 

Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, 

Or watch the things you gave your life to broken, 

And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings 

And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, 

And lose, and start again at your beginnings 

And never breath a word about your loss; 

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew 

To serve your turn long after they are gone, 

And so hold on when there is nothing in you 

Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, 

Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch; 

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you; 

If all men count with you, but none too much; 

If you can fill the unforgiving minute 

With sixty seconds' worth of distance run - 

Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it, 

And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!

- Rudyard  Kipling

मंगल-मैत्री कामना 

अज्ञान का अन्धकार दूर होए, 

सब पर ज्ञान का प्रकाश फैले, 

सबका मंगल होये, 

सबका भला होये ||   :)

(This was my attempt to narrate a valuable experience. What I have narrated is just a drop in this huge ocean. My intent was to arouse a curiosity about this ocean of knowledge. If you want to know more about Vipassana, explore http://www.dhamma.org/ And, if there is something you want to ask me, shoot the question at http://www.facebook.com/curious.tramp)

MIRACLES IV

The mind is everything. 

What you think you become.

- Buddha

INTERACTION WITH A PERSON FROM REHAB

Although the noble silence had to be followed strictly and the dhammasevaks used to keep a strict watch on us, we were at times successful in talking with the other meditators. All of us were anyways kids, who had by accident landed in this place. Anyone who is willing to go to such a camp should go with a prepared mind, because following rules will yield better effects.

One day while in Ashram, I talked to one of the fellow meditators.

He asked me, “Why are you here?”

I told him my story. He looked quite surprised. So, I asked him, “Why are you here?”

He said, “I was first in a jail and then in a rehabilitation center. Now I have come here.”

I was confused. I asked him, “Why were you in jail?”

He replied, “I had struck a person with a beer bottle.”

I did not know what to say. For the first time in my life, I had encountered a so-called “criminal”.

He does not look like a criminal. He appears to be a normal person like the many others we encounter in life. In fact, he appears to belong to well-off family and seems to be educated.

I was still not sure what to say. But, the silence was making me feel uncomfortable. So, I asked him, “Why did you hit your friend?”

He replied, “He had said something which enraged me. And, I was drunk and could not control my anger.”

He is calmly accepting his mistake. This rarely happens. It is always the case that people tend to justify their misdeeds. However, he was accepting what he had done.

“Where is your friend now?”

“He is in a hospital.”

“What do you plan to do after this meditation camp?”

Without much thought, he said, “I don’t know. Whatever my dad tells me to do.”

I don’t know from where these words emanated. But, I found myself saying, “You should go visit your friend and tell him that you are sorry.”

He smiled and told me, “You sound like my father!”

Once again, I did not know what to say.

The lesson of the story is simple. Every human being has a potential sage and a potential demon inside him. It is our attitude that determines what we become. With the help of meditation that attitude can be developed, which is what this person was doing.

VIPASSANA IN PRISON


Kiran Bedi, the first woman IPS Officer, was in 1990s taking care of the Tihar Jail. It was her belief that the people in prison needed to be rehabilitated instead of being punished. She was on a look out for a way to do that, when a constable told her about Vipassana.

First, she learned the meditation herself, then she made many policemen learn it and later it was taught to the prisoners of the Tihar. Tihar was transformed into an Ashram.

For better explanation, watch the Documentary: Doing Time, Doing Vipassana. or read http://www.prison.dhamma.org/tihar.htm

MEDITATION INSIDE THE PAGODA

the pagoda

You can see a picture of a pagoda here. A pagoda had many small circular cubicle-kind of rooms. After 4/5 days, a meditator is sent inside a pagoda where he/she is supposed to sit and practice the meditation technique. However, we were kids aged 14 – 19. When we were asked to go inside the pagoda to meditate, some of the kids started running, shouting and laughing. The dhammasevaks tried in vain to control them. After some time they asked us to go back to the meditation hall and continue our practice there.

THE EVENINGS

The evening time was allotted to us for walks. We were told that the Buddha also walked in the evenings. However, simply walking was not something we wanted to do. So, we passed by each other and smiled. We also talked whenever possible. At times, I drew images on the sand. Drawing a simple hut with a river flowing near-by gave me intense happiness. I did all the things which I liked in my childhood and had somehow forgotten. In fact, I even made a bow and an arrow using the wood. Without the dhammasevaka noticing, we played some sword-fights as well.

The saying - ‘happiness lies in small things of life’ - was materializing in front of us.

THE AFTER EFFECTS

The after-effects of this practice were clearly visible to my family. 

Earlier, my anger was uncontrollable. If someone did something to me, I was ready to beat back or take revenge. That feeling was too intense. And, if I could not take revenge, I used to feel very bad about it. After the camp, my anger subsided down. I became more compassionate. My anger was reduced to such a level that my brother - who used to enjoy teasing me and making me angry - was puzzled.

The practice strengthened my sub-conscious to such an extent that even in my dreams, if I had some conflict with someone, I asked the person to remain calm while resolving the conflict.

Then, there were some interesting incidents. This particular incident offers a lot of reasons why I should have been angry or irritated.

One day, my brother went by my scooter to some place at the time when I was supposed to go to my music classes. Instead of feeling bad, I lifted up my bicycle and started going towards my music classes, somewhere 6 kms from my house. On the way (around 2kms ahead), my cycle got punctured. I could not find any cycle-shop to get it repaired. I retraced my steps and went back home dragging my cycle till home. When I came back home, I quietly went in to my room and started reading newspaper. I did not feel that anything bad had happened. It was my mom who said, ‘आज तो तुझ पर विपश्यना का असर दिखा गया |’. My usual response at the end of such a situation would have been very bad. I would have lost my temper. I would have blamed my brother, who took the scooter with him. But, here I was sitting calmly in the room reading newspaper. There have been many similar incidents.

THE MIRACLE

What was my biggest miracle?

‘My anger gone’ was the biggest miracle. It was something that I had thought was not possible. For 17 years, my mom had tried in vain to make me understand that I needed to control my anger – at times by a small talk and at times by being stern. I did not and could not change. And in 7 days, there was a sudden change. What could I call it if not A MIRACLE.

PRACTICAL BENEFITS

It gives you a balanced-mind. A balanced mind has an enormous potential. It is said and widely believed today - 'In a healthy mind resides a healthy body'. Till some time back, we only believed that the converse of this was true. But, scientific evidence has now reaffirmed what had been told long ago by the propagators of the wisdom. 

Can Vipassana cure physical or mental diseases?

Many diseases are caused by our inner agitation. If the agitation is removed, the disease may be alleviated or disappear. But learning Vipassana with the aim of curing a disease is a mistake that never works. People who try to do this waste their time because they are focusing on the wrong goal. They may even harm themselves. They will neither understand the meditation properly nor succeed in getting rid of the disease. [Source: http://www.dhamma.org/en/qanda.shtml]

Even if one does not have any disease, a mind which is balanced and has INNER PEACE is capable of facing any situation; like Po the Panda who after attaining Inner Peace is able to catch and deflect the cannon-balls with his bare hands. (in the movie Kung Fu Panda 2)

The mistake which I did was that I did not continue the practice. And, if one does not continue the practice, the mind tends to return back to old habits. 

For me, the path lies in starting the practice again.

For my reader, the path lies in believing in this ancient wisdom. 

(The final episode will connect all the dots and present my objective of narrating this experience. I will also post some of the photographs of this Ashram. I will related my experience to Dan Brown's novel The Lost Symbol and another bestseller book The Secret. I will also relate it to Rudyard Kipling's poem If. The ancient wisdom that was dawned on me made me believe in many seemingly maverick theories. The wisdom is a true one. That we don't understand it fully is our limitation, not the limitation of the wisdom itself. Our ancient scientists were far more advanced than they seem to be today. Stay tuned for the last episode will further challenge your perception about the world.)

MIRACLES III

THE SUPER-SCIENTIST

Vipassana is an ancient meditation technique which was introduced to the world by a super-scientist. His name was Gautam the Buddha - the same person, who was born in Lumbini and in his initial days, was known as Prince Siddharth. Any layman will tell you that he was a God. That is far from the truth. No religious scriptures ever described him as God.

And, that is why Shri Goenka refers to him as a super-scientist. He explains further, “2000 years ago, the word ‘भगवान’ was not used to refer to a God, but to refer to ‘the one who shows you path’ or a ‘मार्गदर्शक’ ”. So in those days, when the Buddha was called a 'Lord' or 'भगवान', it meant that people regarded him as a teacher or guide."

Through his various experiments, he discovered the practice of Vipassana, and propagated it wherever he went. The tradition passed on through the guru-shishya-parampara through centuries, and continues in its pristine form even today.

And, this is what I was practicing.

For someone who may be sceptical and may think that this is a place where religious conversion takes place, I would like to say – I am following the same religion now which I used to follow before joining the camp. The only inconvenience one may have is that for 7-days, they don’t allow you to do any form of prayer. For those 7 days, you have to follow only what is being told. You are not even allowed to do Yoga or physical exercise.

The only thing you have to do in the camp is to train your mind.

Vipassana is simply a path shown by the Buddha, and is referred to as ‘dharma’(धर्म) by Goenkaji. As you know the word धर्म also means duty. If you abide by the धर्म or your duties, you are bound to live happily.

Buddha was always a normal human being. His curiosity and dedication led him to discover the great science of mind. He disentangled the mysteries and achieved ‘nirvana’. 

Okay, so Buddha has suggested something. And, that he got ‘nirvana’ using that is known. How does it help me? Do I also seek nirvana now? Is it not for some older people interested in spirituality?

The whole purpose of my telling this story is to tell you the practical benefits of this practice. Most of my readers are young, and I feel it is my duty to tell them about this great science. In my recent experience in the corporate world also, I realized that even these corporate people recognize the importance of such meditative practices.

THE JUNGLE

Many scary incidents happened as we were in the jungle and it was the middle of summer.

Apart from birds and squirrels, I saw a ‘nevla’ crossing the walkway.

Then, one day a ‘gohera’ was sitting just outside my room. I was inside. I opened the door of my room to go out, and suddenly felt a jerk as the door had hit something. When I moved forward to see what had hit the door, I saw a crocodile-like creature run fast into the shrubs near-by.

There were scorpions also. A big scorpion was found in my friend’s room and when he called the dhammasevaka, the scorpion was taken out using a broom and a bucket and was released near a shrub just outside the door. My friend protested saying that the scorpion should have been released at a distance, and that it might crawl back in. But, the dhammasevaka said, “Don’t worry. It won’t come.”

The vow of ‘not to kill any living being’ forbade us to do any harm to the creatures, even if they were poisonous.

Fortunately, the meditation halls were cleaned thoroughly and did not have these creatures.

However, anywhere else including our rooms, the fear of finding some dangerous creature was there. It was tough for me to sleep. I slept very ‘attentive sleep’ or what you know as श्वान-निद्रा. At night, even if I felt the touch of my own blanket, I would quickly get up, wear spectacles and turn on the light to make sure that it was not a scorpion or a snake.

For anyone interested in learning this meditation, the best thing to do is to go in the winters, because then most of the animals are undergoing hibernation. However, the summer experience is an altogether different challenge that has its own thrills.

The interesting thing is that I was less afraid at the camp. At nights, I would walk to the water-cooler which was around 200 metres from my room. I didn’t feel any fear at that time. Of course, this was the effect of meditation which I realized later.

THE MEDITATION - II

What is noble silence, and why is that so important?

Noble silence means silence not just in terms of speech; but also in terms of actions. When you look someone in the eye and smile, it conveys a message that I am happy you are here or I like you. Noble silence stresses that you avoid even the non-verbal communication. It means that you have to cut-off yourselves completely from the world. During the 7-day stay, you can only talk to your teacher wherein you can ask questions about the meditation. Nothing else.

The reason for noble silence was explained as follows: (my attempt to reconstruct words of Shri Goenkaji from memory)

“Here in this meditation camp, you have come to train your mind. At the moment, it is like an untamed horse. When you try to tame it, it will resist. Thus, initially you are required to work hard. When you are kept in touch with the outside world, the taming of mind becomes difficult, because the mind is occupied by the thoughts of the world. Thus, the training of mind requires complete isolation. After this 7-day training, you will go to your home and live in the normal world. But, the practice learned here should be continued at home also, at least for 1 hour daily. That way you will be able to get benefit of this knowledge. And, in any case as all of you are students, you will definitely improve your concentration and excel in studies.”

The ‘aanapana’ practised on the first three days sharpens your mind to feel even the subtlest of sensations around and inside your nose. You can feel the heat that emanates from the outgoing air that you breathe out.

On the third day afternoon, you receive the true wisdom, i.e. , Vipassana.

There are two important concepts of this science –

Anicca – impermanence

Samta - equanimity

During the practice of Vipassana, these two concepts play a central role. ‘anicca’ means that everything in the world is impermanent. Whatever sensations you feel are impermanent, whatever circumstances you encounter are impermanent. Good times follow bad times and bad times again follow good times. The cycle continues - like the Ashok Chakra on our national flag, which symbolizes motion or cycle. Interestingly, when you read history, you will come across Ashoka the Great who had after the blood-laden War of Kalinga got refuge in the path of the Buddha. The only constant law of the universe is CHANGE.

This is a law of nature. No one can deny it. And, if you believe it completely, you understand that good times follow bad times and bad times follow good times. This is a cycle. No one can stop that. What one can do is to learn how to react in these times. And, that is what the second principle teaches you.

‘samta’ means staying equanimous in all situations – whether it is pleasant or unpleasant.  Be objective. Be aware of the situation, but don’t develop any like or dislike for the situation. This way you can enjoy the good times and deal with the bad times in a proper manner.

To understand it better, imagine a person who is stuck in a building where fire alarm has gone off. The simple observation with which you will agree is that the one who panics will take wrong decisions and may add to the gravity of the situation further. However, one who thinks objectively and then takes an action will do much better.

Both the principles are applied while practicing Vippasana Mediation. With the newly acquired ability to focus our attention on our breath now the Guru asks us to move this focus gradually from head to toe and again from toe to head. As we move our focus through various body-parts, we feel many sensations – some pleasant and some unpleasant. The idea is simple. When you focus your attention on your body-parts where an unpleasant sensation is occurring, and observe it with an objective mind, you will realize that the sensation disappears after sometime.

Fantastic! You have just seen the proof of the principle of ‘anicca’ or impermanence in your own body.

This is a very simplified explanation of the concepts of Vipassana. A thorough understanding requires deep reading or a participation in a camp. 

AFTER-EFFECTS

(will be posted in the next post)

S.N. GOENKA

Mr. S.N.Goenka, who is today the leading teacher of Vipassana, was one of the most successful businessmen of his days in Burma. He was rich and respected. But one day, a tragedy affected his life. He was diagnosed with migraine pain. He went to the best of doctors, but with no success. His headaches were increasing in frequency and intensity, when one day his gardener (or some worker) told him about a spiritual teacher, who taught a meditation. That was when Shri Goenkaji met Sayagyi U Ba Khin, who later became his guru and who assigned to him the duty of spreading the technique to India - ‘the country of its origin’ - and the world.

Mr. Goenka has been invited to lecture by institutions as diverse as the United Nations General Assembly, members of the Indian Parliament, Harvard Business Club, Dharma Drum Mountain Monastery (of Ven. Sheng Yen) in Taiwan, the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the Smithsonian Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Silicon Valley Indian Professionals Association.

Today, the Vipassana meditation centres are spread all over the world. The meditation is practiced even in some of the prisons. 

DISCOURSES: MY FAVOURITE STORY

Everyday there were discourses by Shri Goenkaji. Here I present the story which I found most interesting.

The sages have always been great scientists. They used to study human mind. They knew the intricacies and complexities of mind, and understood how to control its behaviour.

Laymen used to go to the sages for advice on various issues.

Once, there was a man who told a sage that he gets angry quite quickly and that he needs a solution.

He was asked to recite numbers 1 to 100, when he feels the anger in him rising. He did that and was satisfied that he could control his anger to quite a good extent.

Then, another person came who had a similar problem. To this person, the sage suggested the same solution. However, he returned back after some time saying that the solution did not work for him.

So, the sage told him, ‘See, xyz is the name of a God and if you recite his name 108 times, He will give you power to control your anger.” He did that and was satisfied.

Then, another person came who was suggested this “108-times-recitation” method. He came dissatisfied saying that it was not working for him. So, the sage gave him a stone and told him, “This is a statue of the god. Recite his name 108 times and also put a ‘tulsi’ leaf near his feet after each recitation.” This man was also satisfied.

Similar incidents kept on happening and Gods and religious practices evolved. The aim was always one and the same – divert your mind away into something else, and your suffering shall disappear.

The basic problem with all these practices was that once the cause of the suffering returned back, the suffering of the human being also returned back. Moreover, with time the reasons for many of the practices were lost. Thus, the scientific practices got converted into orthodox religious practices, and the true essence of these practices was lost.

Thus, we should not believe in everything which others tell us to believe in. We should experiment and learn the truth by experience. 

(The next episode will cover more stories like - my interaction with a person from rehab, the after-effects of this meditation camp on myself and Vipassana inside prison.)