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I completed my 4th course in December. Vipassana meditation is the single greatest human experience that I know of. The experience of "wisdom arising by objec
by initself 14y ago
I completed my 4th course in December. Vipassana meditation is the single greatest human experience that I know of. The experience of "wisdom arising by objectively observing sensations without reaction" is easily the most profound experience I have ever had and feels like a miracle every time it happens. The answers we are all looking for to fulfill ourselves and become truly happy certainly are inside of us. We just have to be willing to sit and do nothing and watch as the "law of nature" (Dhamma) takes over and we act perfectly in accordance with it from moment to moment, as it is, not as we want it to be.
In every retreat, I experience the most mind-numbing boredom, severe burning fiery pain, full body bliss the likes of which I cannot even recollect properly and a huge gamut of sensations in between all of these extremes. I've misinterpreted the extreme experiences at given times and each retreat learn a little bit more about their true nature. I can then apply what I learn to my life when I experience boredom, pain and extreme joy and learn to experience each "properly".
The trick is finding the ardent awareness that allows you to stay there, on the path, without distraction. And then to learn how to stay that ardently aware as you go through life.
Hopefully the retreat doesn't stay an isolated 10 day experience but its import, particular the technique itself, is something you can cultivate throughout your life, while sitting, walking, standing and lying down.
- sraj 14y agoWhere can I take this course? I live in the Bay Area.
- dschobel 14y agohttp://www.quora.com/Where-can-I-do-a-weekend-Vipassana-retreat-in-the-Bay-Area http://www.quora.com/Where-can-I-do-a-weekend-Vipassana-retr... 5th result on google for "vipassana retreat, bay area"...
- antoncohen 14y agoIn the Goenka tradition Dhamma Manda[1] in Lake County is the closest to the Bay Area, the center in North Fork[2] is the largest. Here is map of locations worldwide: http://courses.dhamma.org/en-US/maps/ca.us http://courses.dhamma.org/en-US/maps/ca.us [1] http://www.manda.dhamma.org/ http://www.manda.dhamma.org/ [2] http://www.mahavana.dhamma.org/ http://www.mahavana.dhamma.org/
- somlor 14y agohttp://www.spiritrock.org http://www.spiritrock.org
- fernly 14y agoThe Insight Meditation Center, a long-time buddhist group, recently acquired and opened a new retreat center in Scotts Valley. See http://www.insightretreatcenter.org/ http://www.insightretreatcenter.org/ The meditation methods used there would be the same as the above.
- initself 14y agoGo take the course in North Fork, CA.