VIPASSANA II
Earlier I attended the Vipassana course from 4th -15th March 2009 and sent you a day by day account of it.It is also published in my Blog (http://dns-reflections.blogspot.com).I received only one comment from a person, probably from Russia. Some of my batch mates told me that they had read the note and liked it but did not give any comment.
I attended the second course from 3rd -14th March 2010, after 1 year.Day wise additional notes are given below on the second Vipassana course. It is also published in my blog. I have avoided repetition and written only those details which are not included in the 1st note and are noted by me during the 2nd course.
03.03.10,Wednesday : Reached Vipassana Center, Rahka village, Sohna at about 4 pm after a drive of about one and half hour from Vikaspuri. From near Rajiv Chowk on Gurgaon road, talked to Neha, my daughter in law, informing her that I won’t be able to drop in as I had to reach the center by 4 pm. Filled up the form for old students. An old student is one who has done at least one 10 day course earlier. At 6.15 pm they gave us dinner, comprising of khichdi and tea. A very detailed briefing was given, much more detailed than given on 04-03-09,when I attended the course last year. The highlight of the briefing was that when one student asked the person, who had finished briefing, to introduce himself, he simply said “I am a Dhamma sevak”. I was impressed by the answer which was simple and shorn of ego. At 8 pm the course started with a brief taped address by Sh.Goenkaji. He asked us to observe he respiration as it comes and goes touching the nostrils ,inners of the nose and at the time of exhalation on the triangular portion over the upper lip. It continued upto 9 pm. We retired to sleep at 9.15 pm in a cozy room with no mosquitoes, clean linen and toilet. We have to use our own towel, soap, slippers etc. Only basic things are provided. I bought the lock, an All-Out ,a mosquito repellant, and four mineral water bottles. Almost all the students are taking water supplied at the Center. I did not want to take the risk of a bad stomach.
04.03.10,Thursday : A Dhamma Sevak woke us up ringing bells outside the rooms. A big bang had however gone earlier at 4 am. All of us were in Dhamma hall at 4.25 am. Goenkaji in his taped voice insisted upon watching the breath and bringing the mind to it. The mind often wandered away from the breath. This exercise, coupled with recitations of Buddha’s teachings/words in Pali at the beginning of each group meditation session and ending with ‘BHABAT SABYA MANGALAM’, repeated thrice, continued, followed by recitation by us ‘Sadhu,Sadhu,Sadhu’. It was explained to us that recitation of Sadhu Sadhu Sadhu by us was in acceptance of the fact that good work had been/was done. We were given a break of 5 minutes at the end of each hour. Breakfast was served at 6.30 am. At 8 am we had group meditation when everyone had to join. In sessions beginning 9 to 10 am, old students were asked to meditate in Shunyagar (cells in Pagoda). The cells are small rooms of the size of 6 by 5 feet, especially devised and used by monks in the olden times in the Pagoda, a magnificent building of Buddist architecture. It is a circular building with rows of number of rooms. At 11 we had lunch, vegetarian , delicious. Again from 1 to 2.30 pm we meditated in the Dhamma hall or we could do it in cells of Pagoda. From 2.30 to 3.30 pm another group meditation took place in which all of us joined in together in Dhamma hall. From 3.30 to 5 pm old students had meditation in cells of Pagoda and new students in Dhamma hall. When Venita, my wife, attended 10 day course last year she did not go to cells of Pagoda.She said she was scared of sitting in cell type of rooms when new students were also given a chance to meditate there at a later stage of the course. Instead she continued meditating in the Dhamma hall. Again there was a group meditation from 6 to 7 pm followed by a discourse by Goenkaji from 7.10 pm to 8.20 pm. We sat for meditation from 8.30 to 9 pm. One could clarify doubts from the assistant teacher from 9 to 9.30 pm and earlier from 12 am to 12.30 pm. Retired to sleep at 9.15 pm.
05.03.10,Friday : The program was as on 04/03/10. Goenkaji told to specifically watch the breath in the rectangular portion over the upper lip. The touch of breath over the upper lip becomes thinner & thinner in due course. We should be able to watch it how-so-ever thin it becomes. It may become like a thread or may disappear for sometime. It is necessary to ensure that we do not lose sight of it. If you lose sight you may take a few hard breaths and again try to reclaim it. He further said that to keep track of the touch of breath over the upper lip, if necessary we may continue taking some hard breaths, for a minute or so. It’s awareness is the most important. We very often lose sight of it due to wandering mind. We have to bring it back to the breath. Mind can be brought back to behave as a wild elephant can be trained to behave. It is much more powerful than the elephant. Once brought under control it can lead us to the truth, the ultimate truth, the Dhamma, the law of nature. Continuous efforts are necessary to train it by watching over the breath. Retired to sleep at 9.15 pm.
06.03.10,Saturday : Today’s program was the same as given above. Goenkaji said that we should try to find out if there were any sensations on the triangular portion between the upper lip and nostrils. If we did not get sensations we should continue to watch the breath. Retired to sleep at 9.15 pm.
07.03.10,Sunday : Today’s program was the same as before.Goenkaji said that in order to advance in Vipassana meditation it was necessary to feel the sensations on the triangular portion between the upper lip and nostrils. Efforts should continue.The exercise of watching the breath and sensations was meant to increase our awareness of the body so that we experienced that every part of it was vibrating. It was to realize the truth that there was nothing solid in the body but only vibrations to reach the ultimate truth and finally the liberation.
In the afternoon Goenkaji gave us the 1st exercise of Vipassana. Vipassana means “Vishesh Roop se Dekhna” (To Watch in a Special Manner). In seeing so, the exercise begins with watching each part of the body. It starts with the head, Sahastrar or Bramhand, gradually goes to the different parts of the face, then to the shoulders, to the throat, to the chest, to the stomach, to the abdomen, to the thighs, legs and feet, to the waist, to the back, and neck. It has to be done in the above sequence or any other sequence but not haphazardly. The eyes have to remain closed, back and neck straight, hands and legs unmoved for the period of Adhisthan (determination) for at least one complete hour. In the process of watching the different parts we feel the sensations. Once we have seen/felt them, we should proceed ahead. The one such exercise from head to feet may be done in about 10 minutes. We do feel the gross sensations, such as pain etc., but not the subtle ones. Our object is to see/feel the subtle sensations. The theory is that every part of the body is vibrating. Our mind should be sharp enough to feel these vibrations. The vibrations are the result of continuous combustion and destruction of atoms which make our body. The cells (atoms) are always being created and destroyed at very high speed. The speed is so high that we don’t feel it as we don’t feel the speed of Earth moving in its axis. As we grow old the process of creation of cells is less and destruction is more leading to cessation of life. The purpose of experiencing the sensations is to see how the vibrations due to process of combustion and destruction/creation and destruction appear and disappear, their impermanence and that they are changing all the time. There is no place for Rag (Pleasures), Dwesh (Displeasures) and Moh (Attachment) in our life. They are the cause of our miseries/pain/suffering. We experience this after Vipassana. The knowledge is experienced and not textual or as told by someone else. It is retained by the mind which develops an attitude of non-reaction and action only as per law of nature and Dhamma. Unethical behavior is against law of nature. It is bound to cause suffering, pain and misery. Ethical behavior will cause happiness and welfare to all. The observance of Panchsheel is the bedrock of success in Vipassana meditation. Retired to sleep at 9.30 p.m.
08.03.10,Monday : Continued Vipassana meditation according to the time schedule.Goenkaji insisted on meditation in one position without movement for one full hour at least during group meditation hours: 8-9 am, then 2.30-3.30pm and 6-7pm. The pain in the legs in the sitting position should be looked upon as a sensation. As the sensation in other parts of the body come and go, the sensation of pain in ours legs will also go. These are ‘Anitya’ (Impermanent) and any Dwesh or Rag towards them will result in misery. The world is misery: The cause of misery is craving, clinging to it and attachment to our Rag, Dwesh and Moh take us to misery. Redemption from them is through eight fold path: Goal is attainment of Nirvan.
09.03.10,Tuesday : Continued Vipassana meditation as per time schedule. Today I could complete one hour Adhisthan of continuous meditation from 4.30-5.30 am. Earlier I could do upto half an hour or upto ¾ of an hour at a stretch. I find meditation is easier during early hours of the day. Goenkaji said that it could be that mind wandered more during later hours. Sometimes it becomes difficult to keep it to watch the sensations of the body and their appearance and disappearance. This proves that they are not permanent. They are changing. The phenomenon seen in our body is also seen in the outside world. Everything is changing to its ultimate destruction. The craving is the chief cause of misery. We are addicted to craving. It makes the path of Dhamma difficult by giving birth to 5 enemies : Drowsiness, Agitated mind, Rag, Dwesh and Doubt.
10.03.10,Wednesday : Continued Vipassana meditation as per schedule. I could do uninterrupted meditation in one position for one full hour from 8-9 am. Could not do it for one hour uninterrupted from 4.30-5.30 am as I did yesterday. Details of Goenkaji’s discourse about 5 friends and 5 enemies are given in my note on 11.03.09 .I am not repeating the same in this note. The entire Vipassana sadhana is based upon respiration or sensation. It is either to see/experience the breath or sensation. The knowledge of the cause of the misery of the world and of an individual lies in them. For example when a person is angry his heart beat increases and certain chemical changes take place in the blood resulting in a miserable feeling. Vipassana teaches tolerance and no reaction . In place of reaction a person should rather act after thinking over the matter and its pros and cons. It teaches equilibrium. The purpose of watching sensation or breath is to attain a state of equilibrium or Samata and get settled in it. Watching the breath for 1st three and half a days of the course is to sharpen the brain and make it focused and thereafter switch over to sensations of the body for the remaining six and a half days. If our mind is focused we experience the sensations all over the body and watch them as they appear and disappear. The process takes place due to combustion and destruction of atomic particles of which our body is made of. The whole body vibrates due to the process of combustion and destruction of cells. The same processes are seen in outside world. As this process goes on we watch it and find that vibrations are changing at every fraction of moment. There is no need to like or dislike them as they are changing to their ultimate destruction. Gross pains, easily discernible can be made tools of Vipassana. They will also change. There is nothing permanent. It is the law of impermanence. Only Dhamma remains and is permanent. Dhamma is love , compassion , good will , sympathy and all that. Retired to sleep at 9.30 pm.
11.03.10,Thursday : Goenkaji said that two things should never be forgotten by a Vipassana sadhak : 1) Awareness ,2) Equanimity. Awareness is of sensations in the body and equanimity is to remain free from craving, clinging to it and other attachments. There should be no rag, dwesh and moh. These lead to misery.Retired to sleep at 9.30 pm.
12.03.10,Friday : Goenkaji told about ‘Bhang gyan’, a state of body in which there are only vibrations and energy . You can pierce through the body by your mind and experience sensations inside it keeping equanimity. It is the last stage of Vipassana when mind becomes so sharp that if you touch a part of the body by a finger, sensations (vibrations) appear. Body is vibrations. Once this realization comes there is no scope for cravings. You see atoms in the body creating , destroying , combustion and explosion, production and spending. In this state, old sensations appear in the form of cravings, try to create Rag and Dwesh. By keeping perfect equanimity ,these too can also be destroyed and when no new sensations are created (by virtue of equanimity) and old sensations are destroyed, one is liberated. There is no rebirth. It is the deepest sanskar which drags you to a new form of being. The energy moves to another being after the death guided by the deepest sanskar. But once there are no sanskars, there is no birth. One may achieve this state of mind in this birth or may have to take a few more births to reach the liberation from birth, from misery which is this world. One has to work very hard to achieve this. Retired to sleep at 9.30 pm .
13.03.10,Saturday : During an earlier discourse Goenkaji told to remain aware while doing various jobs. It is to watch the sensations at that time too. For example we should watch the sensation of walking to remain aware. Today he told us in detail about ‘mitta sadhana’ in which you wish all well, you wish them happiness, love, compassion and good will. After ‘mitta sadhana’ we broke ‘maun’. I met the two Colombian girl sadhaks, one Canadian film student sadhak, one Russian animation artist sadhak and another Russian lady sadhak, one Australian business man sadhak, one Chinese from Singapore and an Israeli sadhak, all from overseas and some others from different parts of India. Goenkaji said that when mind is wandering much and we are unable to bring it back to sensations of the body , we may start ‘anapan’ in which breath is watched as it comes and goes as also the sensations caused by it in the triangular portion over the upper lip and between the nostrils. While watching the sensations in the body we may crisscross it . However we should continue them from head to feet and feet to head as is the usual practice in Vipassana Sadhana. Goenkaji further advised that we should do adhistan of one hour of watching the sensations in the morning and evening everyday. Group meditation also helps at least once a week.10 day course at least once every year is necessary for success in Vipassana meditation. We should also do Vipassana before going to sleep and after waking in the morning. At these timings we should watch any one prominent sensation in the body and need not do the exercise of watching sensations from head to feet and feet to head as we normally do in course of Vipassana. Retired to sleep at 9.30 pm.
14.03.10,Sunday : Goeankaji conducted ‘mitta sadhana’ in which we pray for welfare, love, compassion, friendship, good will for all. We also pray for apologies from all and pardon all. This prayer appealed to most of us. Philips Cox (60), the Australian business man, who did meditation sitting on a chair during the course said that prayer for apologies from and to all was very effective and touching. He further said that he prayed to all those to whom he had been unjust to pardon him. After the breakfast of ‘puries,khir and halwa’ we left the Ashram.
It is our 43rd wedding Anniversary day. Yesterday my daughter in law, Neha , invited some relations and friends at Gurgaon. Venita, my wife, joined in. I could not joined as I was at Vipassana Center. In the evening two of us had dinner at Hilton hotel, Janakpuri, which became operational since last month. Retired to sleep late in the night.
Earlier I attended the Vipassana course from 4th -15th March 2009 and sent you a day by day account of it.It is also published in my Blog (http://dns-reflections.blogspot.com).I received only one comment from a person, probably from Russia. Some of my batch mates told me that they had read the note and liked it but did not give any comment.
I attended the second course from 3rd -14th March 2010, after 1 year.Day wise additional notes are given below on the second Vipassana course. It is also published in my blog. I have avoided repetition and written only those details which are not included in the 1st note and are noted by me during the 2nd course.
03.03.10,Wednesday : Reached Vipassana Center, Rahka village, Sohna at about 4 pm after a drive of about one and half hour from Vikaspuri. From near Rajiv Chowk on Gurgaon road, talked to Neha, my daughter in law, informing her that I won’t be able to drop in as I had to reach the center by 4 pm. Filled up the form for old students. An old student is one who has done at least one 10 day course earlier. At 6.15 pm they gave us dinner, comprising of khichdi and tea. A very detailed briefing was given, much more detailed than given on 04-03-09,when I attended the course last year. The highlight of the briefing was that when one student asked the person, who had finished briefing, to introduce himself, he simply said “I am a Dhamma sevak”. I was impressed by the answer which was simple and shorn of ego. At 8 pm the course started with a brief taped address by Sh.Goenkaji. He asked us to observe he respiration as it comes and goes touching the nostrils ,inners of the nose and at the time of exhalation on the triangular portion over the upper lip. It continued upto 9 pm. We retired to sleep at 9.15 pm in a cozy room with no mosquitoes, clean linen and toilet. We have to use our own towel, soap, slippers etc. Only basic things are provided. I bought the lock, an All-Out ,a mosquito repellant, and four mineral water bottles. Almost all the students are taking water supplied at the Center. I did not want to take the risk of a bad stomach.
04.03.10,Thursday : A Dhamma Sevak woke us up ringing bells outside the rooms. A big bang had however gone earlier at 4 am. All of us were in Dhamma hall at 4.25 am. Goenkaji in his taped voice insisted upon watching the breath and bringing the mind to it. The mind often wandered away from the breath. This exercise, coupled with recitations of Buddha’s teachings/words in Pali at the beginning of each group meditation session and ending with ‘BHABAT SABYA MANGALAM’, repeated thrice, continued, followed by recitation by us ‘Sadhu,Sadhu,Sadhu’. It was explained to us that recitation of Sadhu Sadhu Sadhu by us was in acceptance of the fact that good work had been/was done. We were given a break of 5 minutes at the end of each hour. Breakfast was served at 6.30 am. At 8 am we had group meditation when everyone had to join. In sessions beginning 9 to 10 am, old students were asked to meditate in Shunyagar (cells in Pagoda). The cells are small rooms of the size of 6 by 5 feet, especially devised and used by monks in the olden times in the Pagoda, a magnificent building of Buddist architecture. It is a circular building with rows of number of rooms. At 11 we had lunch, vegetarian , delicious. Again from 1 to 2.30 pm we meditated in the Dhamma hall or we could do it in cells of Pagoda. From 2.30 to 3.30 pm another group meditation took place in which all of us joined in together in Dhamma hall. From 3.30 to 5 pm old students had meditation in cells of Pagoda and new students in Dhamma hall. When Venita, my wife, attended 10 day course last year she did not go to cells of Pagoda.She said she was scared of sitting in cell type of rooms when new students were also given a chance to meditate there at a later stage of the course. Instead she continued meditating in the Dhamma hall. Again there was a group meditation from 6 to 7 pm followed by a discourse by Goenkaji from 7.10 pm to 8.20 pm. We sat for meditation from 8.30 to 9 pm. One could clarify doubts from the assistant teacher from 9 to 9.30 pm and earlier from 12 am to 12.30 pm. Retired to sleep at 9.15 pm.
05.03.10,Friday : The program was as on 04/03/10. Goenkaji told to specifically watch the breath in the rectangular portion over the upper lip. The touch of breath over the upper lip becomes thinner & thinner in due course. We should be able to watch it how-so-ever thin it becomes. It may become like a thread or may disappear for sometime. It is necessary to ensure that we do not lose sight of it. If you lose sight you may take a few hard breaths and again try to reclaim it. He further said that to keep track of the touch of breath over the upper lip, if necessary we may continue taking some hard breaths, for a minute or so. It’s awareness is the most important. We very often lose sight of it due to wandering mind. We have to bring it back to the breath. Mind can be brought back to behave as a wild elephant can be trained to behave. It is much more powerful than the elephant. Once brought under control it can lead us to the truth, the ultimate truth, the Dhamma, the law of nature. Continuous efforts are necessary to train it by watching over the breath. Retired to sleep at 9.15 pm.
06.03.10,Saturday : Today’s program was the same as given above. Goenkaji said that we should try to find out if there were any sensations on the triangular portion between the upper lip and nostrils. If we did not get sensations we should continue to watch the breath. Retired to sleep at 9.15 pm.
07.03.10,Sunday : Today’s program was the same as before.Goenkaji said that in order to advance in Vipassana meditation it was necessary to feel the sensations on the triangular portion between the upper lip and nostrils. Efforts should continue.The exercise of watching the breath and sensations was meant to increase our awareness of the body so that we experienced that every part of it was vibrating. It was to realize the truth that there was nothing solid in the body but only vibrations to reach the ultimate truth and finally the liberation.
In the afternoon Goenkaji gave us the 1st exercise of Vipassana. Vipassana means “Vishesh Roop se Dekhna” (To Watch in a Special Manner). In seeing so, the exercise begins with watching each part of the body. It starts with the head, Sahastrar or Bramhand, gradually goes to the different parts of the face, then to the shoulders, to the throat, to the chest, to the stomach, to the abdomen, to the thighs, legs and feet, to the waist, to the back, and neck. It has to be done in the above sequence or any other sequence but not haphazardly. The eyes have to remain closed, back and neck straight, hands and legs unmoved for the period of Adhisthan (determination) for at least one complete hour. In the process of watching the different parts we feel the sensations. Once we have seen/felt them, we should proceed ahead. The one such exercise from head to feet may be done in about 10 minutes. We do feel the gross sensations, such as pain etc., but not the subtle ones. Our object is to see/feel the subtle sensations. The theory is that every part of the body is vibrating. Our mind should be sharp enough to feel these vibrations. The vibrations are the result of continuous combustion and destruction of atoms which make our body. The cells (atoms) are always being created and destroyed at very high speed. The speed is so high that we don’t feel it as we don’t feel the speed of Earth moving in its axis. As we grow old the process of creation of cells is less and destruction is more leading to cessation of life. The purpose of experiencing the sensations is to see how the vibrations due to process of combustion and destruction/creation and destruction appear and disappear, their impermanence and that they are changing all the time. There is no place for Rag (Pleasures), Dwesh (Displeasures) and Moh (Attachment) in our life. They are the cause of our miseries/pain/suffering. We experience this after Vipassana. The knowledge is experienced and not textual or as told by someone else. It is retained by the mind which develops an attitude of non-reaction and action only as per law of nature and Dhamma. Unethical behavior is against law of nature. It is bound to cause suffering, pain and misery. Ethical behavior will cause happiness and welfare to all. The observance of Panchsheel is the bedrock of success in Vipassana meditation. Retired to sleep at 9.30 p.m.
08.03.10,Monday : Continued Vipassana meditation according to the time schedule.Goenkaji insisted on meditation in one position without movement for one full hour at least during group meditation hours: 8-9 am, then 2.30-3.30pm and 6-7pm. The pain in the legs in the sitting position should be looked upon as a sensation. As the sensation in other parts of the body come and go, the sensation of pain in ours legs will also go. These are ‘Anitya’ (Impermanent) and any Dwesh or Rag towards them will result in misery. The world is misery: The cause of misery is craving, clinging to it and attachment to our Rag, Dwesh and Moh take us to misery. Redemption from them is through eight fold path: Goal is attainment of Nirvan.
09.03.10,Tuesday : Continued Vipassana meditation as per time schedule. Today I could complete one hour Adhisthan of continuous meditation from 4.30-5.30 am. Earlier I could do upto half an hour or upto ¾ of an hour at a stretch. I find meditation is easier during early hours of the day. Goenkaji said that it could be that mind wandered more during later hours. Sometimes it becomes difficult to keep it to watch the sensations of the body and their appearance and disappearance. This proves that they are not permanent. They are changing. The phenomenon seen in our body is also seen in the outside world. Everything is changing to its ultimate destruction. The craving is the chief cause of misery. We are addicted to craving. It makes the path of Dhamma difficult by giving birth to 5 enemies : Drowsiness, Agitated mind, Rag, Dwesh and Doubt.
10.03.10,Wednesday : Continued Vipassana meditation as per schedule. I could do uninterrupted meditation in one position for one full hour from 8-9 am. Could not do it for one hour uninterrupted from 4.30-5.30 am as I did yesterday. Details of Goenkaji’s discourse about 5 friends and 5 enemies are given in my note on 11.03.09 .I am not repeating the same in this note. The entire Vipassana sadhana is based upon respiration or sensation. It is either to see/experience the breath or sensation. The knowledge of the cause of the misery of the world and of an individual lies in them. For example when a person is angry his heart beat increases and certain chemical changes take place in the blood resulting in a miserable feeling. Vipassana teaches tolerance and no reaction . In place of reaction a person should rather act after thinking over the matter and its pros and cons. It teaches equilibrium. The purpose of watching sensation or breath is to attain a state of equilibrium or Samata and get settled in it. Watching the breath for 1st three and half a days of the course is to sharpen the brain and make it focused and thereafter switch over to sensations of the body for the remaining six and a half days. If our mind is focused we experience the sensations all over the body and watch them as they appear and disappear. The process takes place due to combustion and destruction of atomic particles of which our body is made of. The whole body vibrates due to the process of combustion and destruction of cells. The same processes are seen in outside world. As this process goes on we watch it and find that vibrations are changing at every fraction of moment. There is no need to like or dislike them as they are changing to their ultimate destruction. Gross pains, easily discernible can be made tools of Vipassana. They will also change. There is nothing permanent. It is the law of impermanence. Only Dhamma remains and is permanent. Dhamma is love , compassion , good will , sympathy and all that. Retired to sleep at 9.30 pm.
11.03.10,Thursday : Goenkaji said that two things should never be forgotten by a Vipassana sadhak : 1) Awareness ,2) Equanimity. Awareness is of sensations in the body and equanimity is to remain free from craving, clinging to it and other attachments. There should be no rag, dwesh and moh. These lead to misery.Retired to sleep at 9.30 pm.
12.03.10,Friday : Goenkaji told about ‘Bhang gyan’, a state of body in which there are only vibrations and energy . You can pierce through the body by your mind and experience sensations inside it keeping equanimity. It is the last stage of Vipassana when mind becomes so sharp that if you touch a part of the body by a finger, sensations (vibrations) appear. Body is vibrations. Once this realization comes there is no scope for cravings. You see atoms in the body creating , destroying , combustion and explosion, production and spending. In this state, old sensations appear in the form of cravings, try to create Rag and Dwesh. By keeping perfect equanimity ,these too can also be destroyed and when no new sensations are created (by virtue of equanimity) and old sensations are destroyed, one is liberated. There is no rebirth. It is the deepest sanskar which drags you to a new form of being. The energy moves to another being after the death guided by the deepest sanskar. But once there are no sanskars, there is no birth. One may achieve this state of mind in this birth or may have to take a few more births to reach the liberation from birth, from misery which is this world. One has to work very hard to achieve this. Retired to sleep at 9.30 pm .
13.03.10,Saturday : During an earlier discourse Goenkaji told to remain aware while doing various jobs. It is to watch the sensations at that time too. For example we should watch the sensation of walking to remain aware. Today he told us in detail about ‘mitta sadhana’ in which you wish all well, you wish them happiness, love, compassion and good will. After ‘mitta sadhana’ we broke ‘maun’. I met the two Colombian girl sadhaks, one Canadian film student sadhak, one Russian animation artist sadhak and another Russian lady sadhak, one Australian business man sadhak, one Chinese from Singapore and an Israeli sadhak, all from overseas and some others from different parts of India. Goenkaji said that when mind is wandering much and we are unable to bring it back to sensations of the body , we may start ‘anapan’ in which breath is watched as it comes and goes as also the sensations caused by it in the triangular portion over the upper lip and between the nostrils. While watching the sensations in the body we may crisscross it . However we should continue them from head to feet and feet to head as is the usual practice in Vipassana Sadhana. Goenkaji further advised that we should do adhistan of one hour of watching the sensations in the morning and evening everyday. Group meditation also helps at least once a week.10 day course at least once every year is necessary for success in Vipassana meditation. We should also do Vipassana before going to sleep and after waking in the morning. At these timings we should watch any one prominent sensation in the body and need not do the exercise of watching sensations from head to feet and feet to head as we normally do in course of Vipassana. Retired to sleep at 9.30 pm.
14.03.10,Sunday : Goeankaji conducted ‘mitta sadhana’ in which we pray for welfare, love, compassion, friendship, good will for all. We also pray for apologies from all and pardon all. This prayer appealed to most of us. Philips Cox (60), the Australian business man, who did meditation sitting on a chair during the course said that prayer for apologies from and to all was very effective and touching. He further said that he prayed to all those to whom he had been unjust to pardon him. After the breakfast of ‘puries,khir and halwa’ we left the Ashram.
It is our 43rd wedding Anniversary day. Yesterday my daughter in law, Neha , invited some relations and friends at Gurgaon. Venita, my wife, joined in. I could not joined as I was at Vipassana Center. In the evening two of us had dinner at Hilton hotel, Janakpuri, which became operational since last month. Retired to sleep late in the night.
VIPASSANA III
16.03.11, Wednesday:
Arrived Sohona Dhamma Center at Rakha gaon on Ballabgarh Sohna road, district Gurgaon at 4.45pm. Completed registration formalities. I have been given room no. M-11 in block A. There is improvement in the facilities: such as tile fitted toilets, general cleanliness, cleaner linen etc. As service of tea to the visitors had finished I gave driver Thapa Rs.50/- to have it on the way. In the morning Venita attempted to persuade me to abandon the idea of going to the Center. But I told her that I was committed to Goenkaji to join at least one 10 day course every year as advised by him in his discourses. In fact I asked her to come over and join the course along with me. She said she had other commitments in connection with the management of a small temple within the premises of the society. She has done one course in 2010.
After a mini meal of Khichdi , a glass of milk and a banana at 6pm, the briefing for the course was done by a Dhamma Sevak with the help of an audio tape. I did not take khichdi as I was on ekadashi fast. Venita had given some cutlets made of sabudana, ground nuts with sendha salt. I took only a glass of milk and banana. The briefing centered round rules of the Ashram. Observance of complete silence was emphasized and other details of rules regarding our living in Ashram, were explained. After the briefing we were given seat numbers in Dhamma hall. We occupied them by 8pm. Goenkaji’s briefing started thereafter through an audiotape. He explained the process of ‘Ana Pan’, that is, incoming and outgoing breath, awareness of the same. The mind, which goes here and there has to be brought back by constant effort to the observation of the breath. The process sharpens the mind. Goenkaji advocated surrender to Buddha (Bodhi in us), Dhamma (The law of nature) and Sangha (The company of liberated individuals/saints), which were termed as 3 gems of the existence. The discourse ended at 9 pm. We retired to sleep at 9.30pm.
17.03.11, Thursday:
We started meditation at 4.30 am. Goenkaji’s discourse started at 5.50 am continued till 6.30 am. He explained as to why it was necessary to observe the breath. Breath is a bridge between body and mind. The observation of it leads to the realization of truth as also the ultimate truth. After breakfast, we had group meditation from 8am to 9am. Goenkaji further explained the process of Ana Pan. From 9 am to 10.15 am, he advised the old students (me too) to shorten the area of observation of breath over the upper lip and below nostrils. The thinner the breath (and of course awareness of it) the sharper will be the mind. But at no time we should loose sight of it. He invoked us to fulfill the 10 Parmiks regularly ( I have given details of these Parmiks in my note dated 13.03.09 on Vipassana I ). They will ultimately lead us to complete liberation from the miseries of life. In the evening discourse he again reiterated the importance of observing the breath. Retired to sleep at 9.30pm after a meditation of about 12 hours: 4.30-6.30am, 8-11am, 1-5pm, 6-9pm(including video taped discourse of Goenkaji).
18.03.11, Friday:
The same routine. Watching the breath. Today I had some pain in the waist when I got up at 4 am, but it disappeared after 4.30 am, when I started meditation. Such is the nature of these evanescent sensations. Goenkaji tells us not to react to such sensations. Observe them and slowly they will disappear. In the evening discourse Goenkaji emphasized the need to observe the breath inside the nostrils and in the area below the nostrils and above the upper lip to know about any sensations there. If there are no sensations we are advised to continue observing the breath inside the nostrils. Retired to sleep at 9.30 pm.
19.03.11, Saturday:
The routine was as before. When I was walking to the Dhamma hall at about 8 am, I saw a peacock dancing with its multi-colored feathers in a semi circular way around itself in fullness on the roof of pagoda. The audience to the dance of the peacock consisted of two she peacocks and one peacock. The dancing peacock was at the lowest roof of the pagoda, the she peacocks were on one layer above it and another peacock on the layer just below the top of pagoda. It was misty at 8 o’clock in the morning with the light spread of about 9 watt bulb. One of the two she peacocks was watching the show with rapt attention and total infatuation and the other was trying to open her feathers to copy the peacock. She peacocks do not have large feathers. The peacock near the top of the pagoda was watching with its tilted neck, not just quite happy with the attention the dancing peacock was getting from the two she peacocks. I had to rush to Dhamma hall to join in the group meditation at 8 am. I don’t know what happened to the dancing peacock later. I got engrossed in meditation. It is said that during the dancing of the peacock a foam like substance comes out from its mouth. After it has fallen on the ground it is pecked by the she peacocks. They lay eggs for new life after sometime. I could not concentrate well in the meditation till about 11am including for about 2 hours in the allotted cell of the pagoda. In the afternoon Goenkaji advised to stop breath for half a minute and then see if there were any sensations in the area between nostrils and the upper lip. I tried this. I felt a kind of coolness which was usually not felt. In the evening discourse Goenkaji said that during Vipassana meditation, i.e., meditation for wisdom, 3 truths came to our knowledge, i) Truth of change, ii) Truth of impermanence, iii) Truth of no solidity : only waves of vibrations. Retired to sleep at 9.30 pm.
20.03.11, Sunday :
Today is Holi. People play it with colors. Nothing here. Since yesterday I am hearing drum beats with occasional shouts of people: “Holi Hai”. Today also it continued. For good reasons we are not allowed to go outside. There is complete maun. Today as before we practiced Ana Pan, watching the breath inside the nostrils and in the are above the upper lip and below nostrils. I was unstable throughout today during the practice of Ana Pan. Later in the afternoon Goenkaji introduced us to the technique of Vipassana. He took away our mind from the area between upper lips and nostrils to watch sensations in different parts of the body. In this technique we start observation of the sensations from the top of the head (Bramhand) to entire skull, to different parts of the face, to the right shoulder to upper arm to elbow to lower arm to wrist to palm and fingertips. Thereafter we watch the sensations in the same sequence starting from the left shoulder, then from throat to the chest, to abdomen to right thigh to knee to leg to ankle to heel to fingers and with the same sequence in the left leg also. Thereafter from neck to upper back to lower back to waist and other lower parts of the body. While observing the various parts of the body we have to observe various kinds of sensations and know them. Where no sensations are seen we should stop for a minute and then go to other parts of the body as per sequence. There are sensations in every part of the body all the time. The cells of the body are creating and destroying and in the process vibrating and generating a sensation. Change is taking place every moment. There is no permanence. According to Goenkaji , this knowledge will lead us to non attachment. Change is the Dhamma and law of nature. Retired to sleep at 9.15 pm.21.03.11, Monday :
Even today the songs continued in the air keeping tempo of Holi high in the vicinity. No celebration or even talk of Holi in the Ashram. All of us are observing total silence which is called Arya maun. The routine was as usual. Vipassana meditation is practiced by all. I am now quite comfortable in its practice. The time would pass so quickly. Due to some strain in the left knee area in course of Bajra Asan at Delhi sometime back, I had to go for rehabilitation about 3 months back, take exercises and wax bath of the knees for over 2 months. There was no pain after this. But I cannot complete Adhisthan of one hour here sitting without movement due to lingering pain after half an hour in the left knee. The pain has appeared again due to sitting for about 13/14 hours in meditation. I had no problem in meditation for one hour without movement at home. But here hours are much more. I requested the teacher to allow me to sit in the chair for Adhisthan period of meditation during 3 group sittings, but he did not allow. He said I should have taken the chair at the beginning of the course as some others had done. I said I did not require it on a regular basis. Now I find it difficult to sit in one position without movement and that I wanted chair only for 3 periods during the 3 group sittings and not for other hours, but he did not allow. I had no alternative but to carry on without observing Adhisthan as ordained by Goenkaji and do it as much as I could without difficulty. He said that if he allowed me to sit on the chair for the fulfillment of Goenkaji’s command for Adhisthan, it will be tantamount to mixing water with milk. I did not understand the meaning of the proverb. In the evening discourse Goenkaji explained the four noble truths, i.e., there is misery, there is cause of misery, there is method to do away the misery and the Ashtang marg. Vipassana is technique by which anyone can get rid of misery by developing equanimity.
The teacher told on my query that there were 3 compilations of Buddha Vani. One is meant for bhikshu, the second contains sutras which are recited by Goenkaji during his briefing and discourses and the 3rd contains discourses in various matters such as kinds of minds etc. The 3rd compilation is known as Abhidhan Pitek. It gives description of details of 121 kinds of mind and 51 kinds chitta vritiyan. Goenkaji said these could broadly be grouped into four: Cognizance, Recognition, Evaluation and Reaction. We were also told to practice Vipassana from right foot and then from the left, to abdomen to chest to right hand and then left hand, and then from throat to face to head in this sequence, then from waist to back to neck, and thereafter from head to toes and toes to head. Retired to sleep at 9.30pm.
22.03.11, Tuesday :
The routine was as before. Unless I can observe sensations, pulsating the entire body I have not achieved what the practice should lead me to. I get the subtle sensations but not the flow of them throughout the body or part of it. However on 20th I felt a flow of warmth all over the body. In course of the discourse, Goenkaji said that there should however be no craving for a sensation. If the sensation is there in any part of the body, we should go to other parts of the body and so on so forth. Retired to sleep at 9.30pm.
23.03.11, Wednesday:
The routine was as before. In the discourse Goenkaji talked about five friends. Yesterday he had talked about five enemies. I have given details of these in my previous Vipassana notes of 2009 and 2010. Retired to sleep at 9.30pm.24.03.11, Thursday:
The routine was as before. In his discourse, Goenkaji said that if your mind was equanimous, you were bound to feel the subtle sensations. Retired to sleep at 9.30pm.
25.03.11, Friday:
The routine was as usual. Today a new technique of meditation was enunciated. It is known as ‘Bhang Gyan’. In this you mentally pierce through the different parts of the body and feel the sensations inside, so much so that you feel that there are only vibrations and no solidity in the body. Mind and matter dissolve. But when some old sensations come up , then again we loose sight of the experience. They put a curtain on them. If we keep ourselves equanimous then the ‘sanskars’ dissolve. We have to continue the meditation to get to know the sensations in each part, the flow of sensations in parts or full body and finally Bhang Gyan. But in each state we have to keep ourselves equanimous. The purpose is to know the ultimate nature of mind and matter, which is changing and in the process to keep our equanimity to rid ourselves of the main causes of the miseries of life : craving, aversion and attachment. These are there in us in the form of ‘sanskars’. These have to be eradicated by knowing the true nature of mind and matter. The world around us is a replica of our body and mind. It is also changing every moment. When you are in the process of meditation you get to realize the ultimate truth: which is Dhamma or law of Nature. It is universal, it is pure love, good will for all. There is no negativity in it. Retired to sleep at 9.15pm.
26.03.11, Saturday:
Morning program was the same upto 9 am. From 9.15 am, Goenkaji conducted a session of Mitta sadhana in which we pray for the welfare of all. Saw a documentary on the opening ceremony of World Pagoda Hall by the President of India in 2009 in Mumbai. It was anchored by Sh.Subhash Chandra, owner of Zee Tv. In the afternoon again we did Mitta sadhana. Goenkaji said that if our mind was equanimous we were bound to feel subtle sensations. In the evening discourse he summarized the content of the course. He said that one had to take refuge in triple gems : Buddha, Dhamma and Sangh. One has to take refuge in Dhamma in oneself. Dhamma is law of nature and universal. Sheel , Samadhi and pragya are the practical aspects of Dhamma. Interacted with other sadhaks . One is from Switzerland, one from Sweden and quite a few from other overseas countries. One is MBA from Ahmadabad, one a professor Emeritus of the Institute of Informatics, one an author, one a physician, one a retired sale tax commissioner and quite a few are businessmen. Kiran Bedi visited the Vipassana Center today.
Could not meet her.I did not advance much in meditation this time, perhaps due to inability to fulfill Adhistan of one hour each during group sittings. Some of the Dhamma sevaks were discourteous. I brought it to the notice of teacher. Retired to sleep at 9.30 pm. 27.03.11, Sunday :
After Mitta sadhana, we took breakfast and left the center. Visited MP Bej Baruah and Neha/Bablu at Gurgaon on way back from Sohana. Retired to sleep at 10pm.
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