Preparing for a Vipassana Meditation Retreat...

In a month’s time I am doing a Vipassana meditation in Thailand. This is a 10 day silent retreat and a significant undertaking for the mind and body. You don’t read, exercise, speak to any one, communicate in any way, or really do anything except meditate – either on your own, with the group, or while eating or listening to one of the daily lectures.

I thought it would be an idea to document my preparation and my experience for those who are curious about it and/or might be thinking of doing it themselves. Below is an introduction to Vipassana, a rough schedule of what I will be doing and some info about what I’m doing to prepare for it. I will put regular updates on my blog about my prep and then put an update once I have done the retreat.

What is vipassana?

Vipassana, which means to see things as they really are, is one of India's most ancient techniques of meditation.

Vipassana is a process of self-transformation through self-observation. It focuses on the interconnection between mind and body through paying disciplined attention to the physical sensations of the body, the condition of the mind and the interplay between the two. It is a form of a mental training – in the same way as preparing a marathon is physical training for the body. The process of the 10 day meditation is used to develop a healthy mind.

The next step is to develop some mastery over the mind by learning to fix one's attention on the natural reality of the ever changing flow of breath as it enters and leaves the nostrils. By the fourth day the mind is calmer and more focused, better able to undertake the practice of Vipassana itself: observing sensations throughout the body, understanding their nature, and developing equanimity by learning not to react to them. Finally, on the last full day participants learn the meditation of loving kindness or goodwill towards all, in which the purity developed during the course is shared with all beings.

For more detail on the practice of vipassana - see the notes below from a talk by the teacher, Mr S. N. Goenka taken from this website (where you can also look up where Vipassana courses are taking place worldwide): http://www.dhamma.org/en/art.shtml

There are no charges for the course – not even to cover the cost of food and accommodation. All expenses are met by donations from people who, having completed a course and experienced the benefits of Vipassana, wish to give others the opportunity to benefit from it also. Men and women are separated and the courses get booked up far in advance and people from all over the world sign up for any remaining places.

What does it involve?

Generally – this is the programme of vipassana meditation retreats:

4:00 a.m.           - Morning wake-up bell

4:30-6:30 a.m. - Meditate in Dharma Hall or in your room

6:30-8:00 a.m. - Breakfast break

8:00-9:00 a.m. - Group meditation in Dharma Hall

9:00-11:00 a.m. - Meditate in Dharma Hall or in your room according to teacher’s instruction

11:00 -12 noon - Lunch break

12 noon – 1:00 p.m. - Rest, private Q&A session with teacher

1:00-2:30 p.m. - Meditate in Dharma Hall or in your room

2:30-3:30 p.m. - Group meditation in Dharma Hall

3:30-5:00 p.m. - Meditate in Dharma Hall or in your room according to teacher’s instruction

5:00-6:00 p.m. - Tea break

6:00-7:00 p.m. - Group meditation in Dharma Hall

7:00-8:15 p.m. - Teacher’s Discourse in Dharma Hall

8:15-9:00 p.m. - Group meditation in Dharma Hall

9:00-9:30 p.m. - Open Q&A session in Dharma Hall

10pm                - Lights out

Why am I doing it?

I heard of this practice about 5-6 years ago and was curious about it but it wasn’t until I started to learn about mindfulness based approaches that I thought I might actually do the retreat. Now,  I am about to take a 3 month sabbatical and will be travelling to Thailand so this seems like a good time to do the retreat. I will also be starting a masters or diploma in teaching mindfulness based approaches in October (if they accept me) – so I plan to do some extended meditation before starting this.

More specifically though, I have a great curiosity about the connection between mind and body, how the mind works, how meditation can be used as a tool for understanding the mind, and with practices which help people to live in the now, get the most from their experience and be happy (content).

How am I preparing?

I currently have been meditating for about 40 minutes every morning but I met a friend the other day who said that I will need to do some more serious preparation and it is quite a serious undertaking. He was meditating 4 hours a day before he did it and still found it very hard. It is not just the meditating that is a challenge. You have to wake up early. You probably won’t be sleeping in a deluxe, double bed with extra thick cushions, food will be restricted (you eat what you are given) and you don’t communicate or have any type of stimulus (except for the talks twice a day). I.e. no phone, no facebook, no talking to friends or anyone, no exercises, no TV etc. Ouch. So – as of one month before I’m waking up at 6am and meditating for 1.5 hours every day.

As I get closer, I will gradually do more, eat a bit less, and cut down on stimulus like checking my phone/facebook regularly. Time for a change of routine!