Vipassana
Vipassana is an art of living, its a way of communicating with yourself. Vipassana is a form of meditation in which you learn to see things as they are it changes your prospective of handling the issues related to your body , mind and soul. Vipassana is an ancient technique that was taught by Gautam Buddha around 25 centuries ago. A technique that was long lost in the history but saved by some enlightened monks of Myanmar.
History of Vipassana
History of Vipassana is quite ancient, Vipassana was preached and taught by Gautam Buddha in India where it was originated some 2500 years ago. Gautam Buddha helped those who seek enlightenment and wanted to come over their pain and sorrows. Vipassana is a technique that was not related to any particular religion or sector so it was easier to adopt Vipassana to meditate. Vipassana was practised by people in neighbouring countries like nepal , Bhutan , Myanmar and Sri Lanka but sadly this technique of meditation lost itself in to time and was totally vanished from India the land of its origin but fortunately it was still widely practiced by monks in Myanmar from where H. S. Goenka who was born and lived in Myanmar learnt this technique from burmees monks. He learnt this art from Sayagi U Khin a monk in Myanmar who wished that Vipassana should reach India again the land of its origin. Upon the demise of Sayagi U Khin , H. S.Goenka came back to India and started to teach the Vipassana technique of meditation.
Objective of Vipassana
The main objective of Vipassana is to enlighten ones inner self. Vipassana helps you to see things as they are you start appreciating your surroundings in their natural and present form. Vipassana helps you to live with pain and sadness of life. It’s not an art of healing and providing happiness more than that it is an art which makes you realise that it’s not that hard to let things go. You don’t have to be a perfectionist to live a happy life. Vipassana assist you to Libeate yourself from the sufferings and losses. It’s a process where you learn to eliminate negative elements from your mind in a step by step manner.
The Practice
Vipassana is practised in a ten day course where the the candidates learn the Vipassana at a place under the supervision of experienced teacher. Vipassana courses are free of cost to candidates even the food is free all these courses run on the donation given by ex students who have taken this course before and had benefits from it.
The course is practised in a ten day process where you learn on how to control your emotions and feelings. You are taught how you can Examine your inner self.
Students practice the basic principles of the
course they live in closed establishment where they can not communicate with the outer world, they have to remain silent but they can talk to their teachers and they are asked to forbid behaviour such as lying , stealing , killing , sexual misconduct and the use of intoxication. They are taught the breathing practice where you learn to control your mind once you gain control over your mind you can eliminate the impurities present in your mind. Because without this you cannot purify your mind. You learn to be in the position of samadhi.
In the second step you are taught how to control your physical endurance via the meditation. You are asked to not to give attention towards the physical pain and fatigue. You are given several sessions of meditation by the trained staff at different times of day. A routine day at Vipassana Center starts at 4:30 in the morning and lasts till 9:00 pm.