Hi Folks,
I haven't posted here for awhile as I"ve been busy moving house and changing
jobs yada yada.. However, during that time I managed to do a 10 day Vipassana
course. Wow! I would recommend everyone interested in meditation to try this
course if they can - the reward is well worth the 10 day investment! It's very
strict - no talking or communicating with other people whatsoever; no phones;
no reading or writing material; wake up at 4am and lights out at 9pm; last meal
is at 11.30am; meditation time in total is 10 hours per day and 3 of those
hours you must try not to move AT ALL.. not a finger! The aim of this is PAIN.
But by experiencing this pain and discomfort in your own body one can
experience true equanimity for yourself rather than vicariously thru reading
about it in a book etc.
I can see how some people might criticize such a tough regime but it works and
is the nearest a lay person will ever get to living like a monk. I used to
believe that the mark of an Enlightened person lies in the number and depth of
the spiritual experinces they had. Not so. I had countless 'spiritual' highs
myself on the course, but you come to realise that these are actually quite
natural biological/mental states (probably endorphins/serotonin) and nothing
mystical at all. Buddha felt so to - read the sutras). The trick is not to
become attached to these blissful states as they are impermanent. Likewise,
don't avoid the pain (sometimes I sat as long as an hour and a half and the
pain is INTENSE!!) because this too is impermanent. Nothing spiritual to it at
all. And the truth of this is that people of any faith can practice (a muslim
breath is the same as a christian breath). If anyone is interested I would be
willing to answer any questions about my
experiences.
Oh by the way, just for JMJM and Edgar - the Tao that can be named is not the
real Tao.
Regards
Mike.
