I guess before we really get to the “meat” of the content, I should explain Vipassana. It’s a meditation practice that, in Chinese 「內觀」, translates into looking within, which I think is pretty apt. You can look at the website here for more details.
It’s a 10-day residential course; upon entry, you hand over your phone, books, notebooks, and pens. You are also asked to sign an agreement in which you promise to abstain from
- Killing
- Stealing
- Sexual activity
- Intoxicants (alcohol, drugs, etc)
- Lying *
Noble silence (no verbal or nonverbal communication) is also mandatory from the moment you sign the agreement. *It also facilitates the ability to abstain from lying. For example, if somebody asks you, “How are you?” You absentmindedly answer fine, without being fine. Voila, you’ve just lied.
The day starts at 4 a.m. and ends at 9:30 p.m. A total of 5.5 hours are allotted for meals, showering, and washing clothes; all the other time is spent meditating. Even when you are not meditating, there’s no way to escape your mind. Needless to say, I took a lot of naps the first couple of days.
Suley 