On this page you may write a comment to others visiting this site.
Your message can contain quotes, links, thoughts, feelings, wishes, ideas or what ever you like. If you want to share your own Vipassana experiences, this is a good place.
May all beings be happy.
thanks for your sharing, it’s a great site. I a new to Vipassana and will attend my first 10-day retreat camp in my city. I join the retreat for the simple reason, discover more “my-self”, knowing more “love”, and experience the truth, virtue, and beauty of univers.
Dear Bruce,
Thanks for your message! Sounds great. I’m happy you are attending your first course. The 10 days of my first course were truly remarkable days of my life. So much good has come out of it and so much good is still comming out of it.
May you be happy and peaceful!
walkthepath
Hello walkthepath,
Congratulations and a massive thank you for putting up such a wonderful blog site. I was surfing YouTube last night for Vipassana videos and chanced upon one of your ones; that’s how I got here.
I believe you’ve been into Vipassana for only 8 months, right? I feel absolutely shameful because my first introduction to this amazing science was more than 8 years ago! I should have progressed very far by now had I been diligent with my practice. Unfortunately, I wasn’t (due to my own shortcomings) and as a result haven’t travelled as much as I’d have ideally liked to. Anyways, better late than never I guess and I’m glad I didn’t drift away completely from it (thanks to my paramis). I’ve slowly started to come back into it of late and am feeling absolutely rejuvenated. And when you come across stuff like your blog, it helps immensely in keeping you motivated and determined.
Thanks heaps again for doing this; I’m sure there are a lot of people out there who have benefited from your noble adventure, just like I did.
Be happy,
Jai
Thanks Jai. I am happy you are walking on the path. I hope you learn not to feel bad about the past. The past is gone and will never come again. What is happening right now is of outmost importance to you. Keep practicing and be happy! If you sit 1 hour in the morning and 1 hour in the evening and attend at least one 10-day course every year, you are doing what you need to progress on the path.
May you be happy.
walkthepath
It’s so nice to hear your experiences about Vipassana.
I have recently come back from my first 10 day course and have started to practice every day. I gained a lot from the course and I too have great belief that daily practice can change the quality of my life.
Your blog is a great inspiration and I hope you find the strength and energy to continue doing this.
Hi! Thank you very much for doing this blog. I’m starting my first vipassana course at coming sunday. i was a little afraid till i found your blog and heard about your experience. now i’m really looking forward to this
thank you very much
Dear conquering person,
Finding ways to become a better person, healthy of mind, has always been the most important thing in my life. Since I found meditation I feel at home, at home in myself, my place in the world, at home in my life long journey.
The ten days of my first course (juli 2007, Belgium) I experienced a lot of doubt, critical thought, aversion to the technique and teacher. I was sure this was a very negative technique. Where was the peace, the happiness, the love? ”Sure I need to find a nicer technique!”
Luckily I did want to meditate, so I started practising on my own and joining group-sittings in the Netherlands, where I lived. Six months later I went travelling to find a way of living a fulfilling spiritual life. One week after arriving in New Zealand I went to the centre and stayed there two months.
First it was not easy, there was still so much suffering and lack of understanding of the technique that made me feel like being thrown in deep water, not knowing how to swim but also no ground to stand on any more. Why I came there, why I stayed I didn’t always understand, but slowly course after course, sitting and serving, the realisation grew in me that all these doubt, irritation, critics, aversion… was in me, not in the technique. A burden I had been carrying for so long, and if this technique could help me get rid of that I would just stick with it and later find a nicer technique
After three months New Zealand I went back home for a short visit and when I continued my travels, it was now only for the sake of meditation. I went to stay at the centre in Malaysia. My strongest negativities decreased a lot in that time by all the meditation. I understood better what a strong tool the technique gave me to learn to accept the reality just as it is and to observe, just as it is. But peace and happiness, could I get that out of it?
I felt I needed more time for my practise. I found a monastery where they let me practise my own and extremely grateful that I had this life, these possibilities. This period I was confronted with one extremity (in compare to the middle path) in me, of trying and pushing myself to hard without the right energy, motivation, joy in the practise. It was out of not accepting myself and thinking I should do and be better.
After one month I was finished. ‘’I need to breath, where is the happiness, it’s such a struggle…‘’
So I stopped meditating and went travelling, and by taking time out came to the acceptance of this path takes time, I cannot do it all in one night, step by step you progress. After this I went back to the centre, and suddenly it went real quick. Without the need of push and change myself I could work constructive, with the right effort, gaining in insight of impermanence and finally…. gaining in calmness, peace, acceptance…
And with this the understanding it is not a positive or negative technique, it just shows you the reality, whether there is negativity or positivity inside you. And by just observing this automatically the suffering decreased, the happiness increased.
Back to the monastery I learned to work more balanced and effective. I had learned to stop looking for peace and I had stopped looking for other techniques. I now just watched: sometimes there is calmness, sometimes struggle, and old habits, sometimes laziness or boredom, sometimes extreme joy, excitement, happiness. But all this, watching with balance, I found my acceptance. Now I understand Goenkaji saying: now no storm can really overpowering you anymore, you have strength enough.
Yes, I have strength enough. And yes, this is a Path truly from misery to happiness. I feel very blessed that I stayed on the Path, and I wish all people who wish happiness the same.
No matter how long it takes, how difficult it is, this is all part of the Path. You just keep going. (like finding Nemo, ‘’just keep swimming, just keep swimming’’)
This is such a blessing. Buddha says the highest blessing of all is to have a moment of clarity and see the reality of impermanence (if my memory is correct). I experienced this as overcoming my suffering because of this clarity and understanding of the reality. And overcoming some of my suffering makes me full of happiness. That this is really possible!
May everybody in the world conquer their inner enemies and become the best they can be. May they find all the benefits waiting for them on the other side of the battlefield.
May you be happy
Yuna
This is a great blog! I didn’t find any good blogs about Vipassana and accidentally came across this one.
I did my first course back in Nov 2002 when I was 17. My grandparents practice Vipassana since long. I did 3 more after after the first one but haven’t been practicing regularly. Want to change that now!
I really appreciate your effort and hopefully more and more people will know about Vipassana and start practicing it!
Greetings !!
my reason to mail you is to first thank you for this blog …hope you keep it active ?
the other reason is that my practice seems to be reducing in time- i could sitt without any problem for 45 mints to an hr in one sitting morning and evenning – i seem to be getting up early now 30mints to 40 mints
What could be going wrong
Feel like something is just not working
Kindly advice on how best I could do my practice
With Happiness Love and Compassion
Shane
Dear Shane,
You need to have strong determination – “I will sit 1 hour in the morning and 1 hour in the evening, every day. No matter what happens.”
As Goenkaji says, you don’t have to sit still for the whole hour, but you can change your posture if and when you want.
Keep trying. Even if you are not meditating, try to. If you don’t sit for the full 2 hours you will not get the benefit that you should get.
May you be happy.
walkthepath
Dear walkthepath,
you are doing such a wonderful job with this website!
I sat my first course when I was travelling around New Zealand last year. Back at work now I´m still struggling to integrate the 2 hours of practise in my daily routine.
Just a few days before I discovered your blog I realised how really important it is for me to sit and practise regularly.
So reading and watching your blogs about Vipassana was really inspirational and supportive for my determination.
So thanks a lot for your effort and I hope that many people will hear about Vipassana and find their way to themselves.
Much love, light and happiness!
J
Thankyou …..do u meditate doing Anna Panna for 2 HOURS A DAY !!!!!????????????
Thankyou
Dear Roxchy Shane,
If my mind is calm enough I do Vipassana meditation. When it is not I do anapana.
May you be happy,
walkthepath
This blog is great! I found it just as I got back into regular practice. I did my first retreat December last year but have only been practicing irregularly. Having sites/blogs like this seems like a wonderful idea; not only does it keep Vipassana meditator’s motivated but it allows them ask questions of more established practitioners. So thanks!
http://www.pariyatti.org/ResourcesProjects/Podcasts/tabid/58/Default.aspx
Hi Walkthepath,
I have being practicing everyday now for about 2 months with the exception of a couple of sessions that I missed.
Sometimes the sessions are excellent. I feel many sensations and it is easy to concentrate. Other times are more challenging and it becomes very difficult to concentrate because my mind starts to wander.
I was just wondering whether anyone else has found the same happening to them?
Dear Daniel,
The question is, has anyone not experienced this?
After almost 1 year of daily practice, there is the same pattern for me. No worries, it’s as it should be, be happy!
Also remember, there are no such thing as “excellent” or “bad” meditation sessions. You meditate for 1 hour, you do your best, and that’s all there is to it. Then as you notice the changes for better in your life, you know you are practicing correctly. I always do my best to remain equanimous with whatever I experience. This is very important.
So after some time of daily practice, you will begin to see a new pattern of change in your life. This pattern I see clearly from the time I started sitting daily and until now. So much change has come. Drop by drop, day by day. I have benefited so much. The people around me also benefit. It is wonderful.
Keep practicing! May you be happy!
Metta,
walkthepath
For me to Blogg, truly this must to be a good inspiring website, awesome skills walkthepath, thankyou.
I share a little of my story experience, I have felt the dove of peace in my mind and heart, was day five of my ten dayer, I remember the hour/experience distinctly, my mind was like a radio with static noise, screetching hissing, agitation… then a moment, a sensation of tuning over the most blissful peaceful station for the fraction of a second, ‘wait go back’ flick back, there it is again somewhere in the mist and haze of the static space in y being, I spent the next maybe 20mins trying/ then untrying to get the channel, focusing on the awareness of breath, and equamity of mind, easing off my old habits of forcing it , demanding it, letting it all go, and experiencing the here and now and ‘pop’ there it was the elusive peace of mind, blissful.
Big Love to all
Hi WalkthePath,
I will be going for my first retreat in North Fork,CA on July 1st.
Still three more weeks to go. I am trying to practice anapana, but its very tricky. Also its very tough for me to meditate for 10 hrs daily. The maximum I can manage is just short of 1 hr. Should I persist and gradually increase it to 8 hrs per day?
Any pre course suggestions?
Regards,
Dear kartik,
Mr Goenka has recommended not to do any meditation before the course – or any other preparations. “Better come with a clean slate” is what he said. Understand that there is a risk you do not practice in the right way. This is dangerous because you might create obstacles for yourself if you learn to do things in the wrong way. Don’t worry about sitting for long periods. The atmosphere at the center is totally different from the outside world. It is very much easier to work at the centers.
May you be happy!
walkthepath
I BELIEVE YOU HAVE INSPIRED ME TO DO MY SECOND RETREAT.
I HAVE DELINATED FROM THE PATH THIS PAST YEAR AND I NEED
CENTER MYSELF AGAIN.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR PROVIDING THIS SITE.
THANK YOU
NAMASTE
hello, just saw your youtube 1 and 2, thanks for addressing the key parts of how to develop the technique. it slips away easily when one is not established. the one year ’strong determination’ really is most important for all who are inclined to this technique. i’ve been practicing pretty much continuously for 6 or 7 years. maybe sat around 5 10-days and a few 3-days, all at Shelbern Falls center in Mass. US. have not served to much, maybe 3 3-days, but even those few times where extremely fruitful! i do have an interesting story for those who may face similar road blocks. before getting to a course, i was experiencing extreme anxiety and depression, to the point where i could not function at all socially. i left New York City, where i had been pretty immersed in the art and music scene, to be in the care of my parents. i struggled with having to take strong medication, and having the worst thoughts i feel one can imagine. my family was sharing the pain of seeing and feeling the drama of this despair. i found my self at a point of what can be described as total selfishness, because everything outside of ME was to blame for what i was claiming to not have in my life. ignorance. the first course i took, was questionable. i was surprised that within the first day, something extraordinary was happening. the practice of observing natural breath somehow came easily, and for the first time, as i was outside between sits, the rays of the sun where felt as truly penetrating my body. before this, everything was gross, like wearing layers and layers of clothing, for a lot of people that is what depression feels like. so, at this point, day 1, i knew that this was the Way! still, i struggled so much with the negative thoughts that had gained so much strength through out the years. on day 6, i could not take the physical and mental discomfort, and ran away. one very important thing that happened is that even though i was feeling completely failed to the point where i thought there will be no way i could ever come back, the assistant teacher, before letting me leave the course, brought me in for an exit interview. she told me that i was actually doing quite well, and that i should consider trying another course in 6 months time. even though i was giving up at that time, because there where still strong effects of mental concentrating from all those days of sitting, i could feel the vibrations from the teacher so strongly. she was giving forth so much compassion and love as i sat with her briefly. this was profound and gave me so much hope to come back and get all the way through a 10 day course. so, still there has been great struggle, but greater determination to be truly happy. it is with daily practice alone that those mental habit patterns are gradually getting eradicated. many things have changed that i thought could never happen before. i am married to someone with distinct a good moral qualities. i live everyday with continuous awareness on a physical level, which really helps one make right decisions and to feel for others. what ever brought me to Vipassana in this most pure form, i am profoundly grateful. i hope that this practice reaches as many people as possible. it is a fortunate time we are in now, because Vipassana is available to all who seek a clear view of universal happiness within themselves, and for real peace to prevail in human society. if anyone who may be so caught up in there own self importance as i have been, Vipassana will bring you out of this narrow view. and lastly, as a visual artist, the inspiration and vision to making art has been most positive and multi-fold in creativity as a result of Vipassana.
thanks again for your encouragement! it’s really inspiring. i live in the Hudson Valley area of New York, and still would like to find dhamma brothers and sister up here.
metta
david aron
Thanks a million for sharing! You’ve got a fantastic blog here
Your YouTube videos really touched something deep within me, and I find your message absolutely beautiful. What I love the most is the simplicity and the honesty you seem to radiate. I’m totally loving the light in your eyes, and I’m so happy for you 
I completely agree with you on how powerful this technique is, and when you talk about how it has changed your life it resonates very strongly with me.
I took my first Vipassana course in 2006, very soon after I realized I was having a job related burnout. Taking that course was the most fantastic thing I could ever have done at that point, I believe, and I’ll be forever grateful for the experience and how it changed everything. It’s simply beyond words. I’d like to take this opportunity to give a shout out to anybody reading this who might be burnt out and looking for a way to make a change, to help your body and mind heal themselves. Vipassana might be one very helpful and important step in that process. I would strongly encourage you to try it and find out for yourself.
However, I’m sorry to say I had some unfortunate experiences during that course as well. I found that the rules and the personal advice I got in reply to my questions were (unneccesarily?) very limiting, and it created a lot of confusion and obstacles for me in my practice. Making a long story very short – the main issue was that the assistant teacher gave me an ultimatum: I had to choose between yoga (which I was already living and practicing since many years back) and vipassana, and she told me that I couldn’t keep both in my life.
In respect of the teachers and the teaching, this means that I can’t and won’t claim that I’m a vipassana practitioner per se. All rules and advice aside – this doesn’t stop the essence of vipassana, its technique and its ever unfolding results from being a substantial and deeply important part of my life today.
Love & metta,
Magdalena
P.S In Swedish: Jag skulle varmt rekommendera alla som är utbrända eller har drabbats av utbrändhet, utmattningssyndrom, utmattningsdepression, de som “gått i väggen” och liknande att ge vipassana meditation en chans. För mig var det ett av de absolut bästa beslut jag någonsin tagit för min hälsa och mitt välbefinnandes skull. Vipassana är ett verktyg och en chans att hjälpa din kropp, din känsla och ditt sinne att hela sig själva och en otroligt viktig del av vägen tillbaka. Så var det för mig i alla fall, men lita inte blint på mitt ord utan prova och se efter själv.
Dear Magdalena,
Thank you for commenting!
It sounds like there might have been a misunderstanding. Vipassana meditation and yoga does not conflict! Goenkaji has referred many times to yoga as something very beneficial. You need Vipassana for your mental health. Yoga will help with you physical health, certainly!
Perhaps you practice a kind of yoga that includes meditation that differ from Vipassana? That would be the only conflict I can think of. But it is wrong to say that Vipassana and normal physical yoga cannot go together! They do perfectly!
May you be peaceful,
walkthepath
dear Kalyaan mitra,
I have a problem and I was so confused. Just then I found your blog and I think you can help me to take a decision.
I am almost 21 years old and i have been trying to cultivate dhamma in my life since I went to my first ever vipassana course on february 1st, 2008. Since then it has really impacted my life. Moreover, I have been close with the true buddhist monks(venerables) which has always encouraged me to stay away from unwholesome deeds. I am grateful to have this rare human life and I do not want to waste this being a house holder. I want to spend rest of my life flourishing in this noble path. So i have thought of leaving this worldly life of misery and vanish to some woods for intense meditation. Of course, after few years when I will be well established in meditation or else it might just be a wrong decision. But before that I want to do something and earn a descent money so that I can stabilize my family as im their only son. I believe this path is the only way to the enlightment and I want to spend rest of my life walking in this. Im grateful to to my past ‘karmas’ and ‘punya’ that i came to know about the dhamma in so young age. From the very young age i knew life was not just power and money, it was something beyond and i got my answer to my question and went straight to my brother to thank him for sending me to the course.
So do you think giving up my worldly life for being a ‘bikkhu’ is good even if it is against my parent’s will? I cant wast this precious life where i can spend all the time meditating.
Dear Ashim,
I cannot decide for you. If one is a house holder or if one is a monk, still we have to face the same obstacles on the path. To me the ideal place to practice Vipassana and grow in Dhamma is the Vipassana centers in the tradition of Goenkaji. However, there are no monks in the tradition of Goenkaji. It is a tradition of lay people. You do not need to become a monk, you can be a long term server like I am. In many important ways it is very similar to being a monk. The centers are really schools of Dhamma. You work in a very serious atmosphere. One earn so much merit and grow so steadily. Even monks come to the Vipassana centers! They are ideal!
Facing the difficulties of a lay life certainly puts the Dhamma within you to test. Goenkaji stresses how important it is to take care of one’s family first. Do not serve or sit courses if your family will suffer as a consequence. Sort out your problems and go to the centers in peace.
Anyone can practice Dhamma. No matter if you are a monk or lay person. You have to figure out what fits you. These roles are not so important, practicing Dhamma is what really matters.
Be happy!
Metta,
walkthepath
This is so true. My master whom is a monk says to practice the Dhamma we do not need to be a monk to practice. Further more there were many enlighten beings who were not monks during the time of the Buddha. It is not what you wear on the outside, what is more important spiritually is on the inside. The motto at our Monastery is: If the heart is good then everything else is good.
May we all be happy and peaceful.
Metta
Dodo
Great blog. Thanks for sharing your experiences with us. You’re very inspiring.
I am going on my first retreat this week, in 2 days time! I am excited though a bit anxious. I have wanted to do this for some time, actually this will be my third third applying. The other times I pulled out as I felt I wasn’t ready. So, this will be 3rd time lucky-I hope!!!
I plan to finish and take things as they come. My only concerns are around getting a good posture that doesn’t damage my knees or back, the food- or lack of it, the 4am wake up and the quality of the teachers/volunteers.
Kind regards
G
hi,
i have had a recent insight into dhamma after listning to a dhamma talk, which is extreemly practical in our day to day life and towards application of panna in all circumstances,
i have realised that sufering is not caused by impermanance( for example due to the impermanant nature of diease eg.cancer it goes away that does not bring about suffering instead it brings about joy, there fore impermanance is not universally associated with sufering)
suffering is brought about only by putting effort to maintain some thing(factor,circumstance,any situation)the way you want to, by tring to control things the way you want to.. will result in suffering..
therefore the only logical thing to do is to realise this fact( nothing can be maintained the way we want to) and let go of this great effort we put into invainly trying to maintain things the way we want to. just realise the worthlessness of this effort and give up the effort.
cos if there ever was a situation where we could maintain the way we want to, we wont be travelling in this never ending journey of samsara travelling from birth to birth from brahma realms to deva realms to human realm to hell realms..etc, we would have kept on maintaing that circumstance the way we wanted to.
there fore it is anicca cos we cannot maintain anything the way we want to. and due to that dukka arises. there fore we have to let go of this effort and desire to maintain things the way we want to because there is no point in that effort(annata).
if one is fortunate enough to truly see these truths in ones own experience… one will see the buddha clearly for the firsr time. aka the right view(saccaya dhiti) will arise.
see the truth in all circumstances…
may all being be happy and work towards the end of samsaric misery..
asitha
Well, I’m back a few days now. I’m very happy that I completed the course. It was very hard work at times. But was certainly well worth it. It’s a wonderful technique.
I’m an practicing at home now, 2hrs everyday. At times I don’t sense anything and its hard not to get frustrated. Also have areas where I’ve never felt any sensations, and have difficulties in scanning torso. Sometimes it feels like I’m just sitting there, nothing happening. I know I’m supposed to accept whatever is, but how do I know that I’m doing the technique properly and indeed continuing to benefit?
Can you advice on this?
Much thanks
Metta
GerrywithaG
GerrywithaG,
I find that increasing the effort and determination towards the first stage which is Anapana. Keep honing that technique. As your concentration develops and becomes keener you will have more sensation arise to the surface of the body. If the mind is wild and it can not stay in one place very well or it feels like your mind is moving through mud (very dense) and you cannot go deep into being present with the body, then that means you must double up the Anapana. So increase your Anapana and be very strong, vigilante and determined. It will get stronger.
And write this question, send it you your Dhamma center asking for it to be forwarded to your teacher, they are the experts more than I. I only share what has helped me
If you can go back for another 3 day course, that will help you, I recently did and it was very helpful indeed.
Metta ~
Rita
Thanks Rita. That makes sense to me. Over the last week I’ve become more aware of the sensations in the torso. This probably has something to do with being more stable and accepting of what is. I think I was forcing it a bit before, only looking for subtle sensations. Especially in areas that felt blank. My eyes get strained when I do this. Which was a problem on the last few days of the course. I’m relaxing them now and trying to be ok with whatever is there. It’s a slow progress. But a wonderful one.
Hi There,
I just finished a 10 day course and am back home. In my practice I scan my body, but in the process feelings of frustration, anger, panic, worry come up. Are we meant to observe these feelings? are these sensations?
thank you,
yours, confused
Dear Miska,
I strongly recommend you ask an Assistant Teacher (AT) these questions. I am by no means a teacher of Dhamma, but simply someone who has tasted the sweet nectar of Dhamma and wants to spread the word.
Contact your local center and they will help you contact an AT.
May you be happy!
Metta,
walkthepath