Exploring Vipassana Meditation
One of my mentors had told me about the Vipassana course. He said after joining this course he got benefitted so I should also go for this course. Since then only I started researching about Vipassana to get atleast the rough idea.
I could find Dhamma Sota, a Vipassana meditation centre which is situated at Village Rahaka, Sohna (Haryana) almost 70 Kms from New Delhi Railway Station. It was established in 2000. This centre is in 16 acres of land surrounded by the deep green valley of Aravali Hills.
 |
| Picture 1. Outside view of the centre. |
I applied online for 10 days course in Dhamma Sota since it was nearer to Delhi. Generally this registration processes are being done before two months of commencement of the course. My course held from 02/10/2019 to 13/10/2019.
It was on Gandhi Jayanti I left to join the course. I de boarded metro at Badkal Mor station. Bus by the name of "Eicher Public School" comes to Badkal Mor metro station to take the meditation students directly to Dhamma Sota.
 |
| Picture 2. Name plate outside the gate of the centre. |
After doing all the formalities I was allotted room and was asked to submit my mobile phone & other valuables for the next ten days. I opened the door of my room and kept my bags. It was 6 P.M. now so there was an alarm for the evening snacks. After having snacks I returned to my room.
 |
| Picture 3. Inner view of room number 43. |
At 7 P.M. we were briefed about the rules and guidelines to be followed for the next 9 days during the course and allotted seat in Dhamma hall, where all sadhaks (mediators) meditate together. There were students ranging from age group of 20-50 years. I was allotted seat number G6. Meditation teaching was started and it went till 9 P.M.. The 10 day-long course initiated with AnaPana, is awareness of the natural breath coming in and going out. Instructions were given to meditators by recorded audio of Guru Ji S.N Goenka. First instruction from Guru Ji was " to observe noble silence" during the course. There were two female assistant teachers and one male teacher to teach meditation. There were around 70 male mediators and 45 female meditators. After 9 P.M. we were told to go to respective room to take rest.
 |
| Picture 4. Inside view Dhamma Sota's Dhamma hall. |
To awake meditators at 4 A.M. in the morning they use alarms followed by ringing bell and knocking doors at every meditators' room by Dhamma sevaks (servers). These servers serve there selflessly and voluntarily for smooth conduct of the course. They do help novice mediators like me who opt the course for the first time. Here, we had to do AnaPana for the next three days. Gradually we learnt just to focus at the triangular portion of our nose and see how the breath is coming in and going out. At 6:30 A.M. bell rang, for breakfast. Breakfast contains 1 glass of milk, banana, apple, pomegranate, idli sambhar, and tea. They make sure that meditators get healthy food full of nutrients.
 |
| Picture 5. Path to dinning hall. |
We used to clean our rooms and take bath between 7-8 A.M. and go for meditation in Dhamma hall till 11 A.M.. After that we go to dinning hall to have lunch. Again meditation till 5 P.M. From 5-6 P.M. we would take snacks and walk in the lush green campus full of different types of birds. I was thinking to leave the course since I had severe pain in my back on the first day itself. Later I came to know every meditators were going through the same. But Guru Ji there keep telling us how we are slave of our own mistakes and wrong habits that we were not sitting properly till then. Again 1 hour meditation sitting, 1 hour 15 minutes of audio- visual discourse by Guru Ji and 45 minutes sitting of meditation. After 9 P.M. onwards we were instructed to go for our residents and take rest. And, this schedule followed till the completion of the course.
 |
| Picture 6. Seat allocation details. |
After 3 days of Anapan, we practiced Vipassana meditation for the next 7 days. After 5 days of Vipassana meditation every new student is alloted individual cell in Pagoda.
 |
| Picture 7. The outside view of Pagoda. |
On tenth day at 10:15 A.M. only after Mangal Maitreya, we meditators were allowed to talk among others. In Mangal Maitreya we basically share peace with others. It seems very strange that we have been living together for 10 days and we don't know even the name of others till tenth day. Schedule followed strictly on tenth and eleventh day the only unique thing happened was that we given our mobile phones from the management. On eleventh that was the last day we were free to go our homes after 2 hours of morning discourse followed by breakfast.
 |
| Picture 8. View of Block-D in Dhamma Sota. |
Vipassana is one of India's most ancient techniques of meditation which means to see things as they really are, not what they appears to be. It is a way of self-transformation through self-observation. It focuses on the deep interconnection between mind and body, which can be experienced directly by disciplined attention to the physical sensations that form the life of the body, and that continuously interconnect and condition the life of the mind. It is this observation-based, self-exploratory journey to the common root of mind and body that dissolves mental impurity, resulting in a balanced mind full of love and compassion.
There are no charges for the courses - 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 also benefit.
My takeaway
What?
- The technique does not believe in preconceived notions, but properly guides to see the reality of things, as they really are.
- It is based on purely Law of Nature.
- It helps a human being to "know thyself".
Why?
- It reduces hostility and helplessness.
- It enhances hope and a sense of well being.
- The beauty is that it can be availed of by all, irrespective of their caste, creed or religion.
I would highly recommend to join this course.
