Comments on: Second Time at a Goenka Vipassana Meditation Retreat

By: Nav

Nav — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 01:09:33 +0000

Thanks for all this information. First and second.

By: Robert

Robert — Tue, 24 Jul 2018 22:33:46 +0000

Vipassana seems to find you, not the other way around, so in a sense, you are meant to experience it.
For those really into it, try doing 2 or 3 retreats in a year. And serving, i.e. being a server during other peoples course, really does assist you in having better meditation practice and experience.

I would like to clarify one thing: no matter what you experience or think you are experiencing, it is not the truth. At least, not the real truth. The insights into yourself are helpful, but real truth occurs when you stop thinking completely. This is an advanced state, but Goenka describes the journey to you in his discourses. The explanations he gives, and the way you understand those discourses, are not the truth. He makes it very clear to you, if you listen carefully, that you will have to “experience” it yourself. He describes the stations you will experience along the path. You will know when you reach one of those stations because you will realize “this” is what he meant

Many wonderful moments await those willing to be consistent and practice the technique as taught. Each person will have different experiences that relate to that particular person, so it really underlines the whole point that asking questions about it is unnecessary and meaningless. The answer will come to you when you experience it.
Metta, as they say

By: Gregory Smith

Gregory Smith — Sat, 23 Jun 2018 04:55:44 +0000

Always have been deeply into (the now called), ''lucid dreaming'' even back in the 60's when such was neither word nor ''thing'' and something I knew to keep to myself ! So much has changed. Vipassana (and NOT in some smoothed out ''New Age'' syncretism -fine and helpful as that may be), is on people's minds as something to be investigated (and as you prove, to be checked out yet again.). The profound and nuanced, multifaceted , metaphors of Lucid Dreaming (even when stripped of any ''occult'' conceits, as is my regular, thoroughly journalistic, dream logs) has only become more profound and undeniable, over the years.

By: Stanley

Stanley — Wed, 13 Jun 2018 16:14:04 +0000

Hi,
It’s really interesting to read your 2 Goenka meditation reports. My experience is the opposite, I have more sensational sensations during the first time and nothing new during the second. Haha, hopefully my worst sangkharas are gone. But together from the discourse, my 2nd and 3rd time gave me new understanding. I realised that the whole meditation process is actually an “experience” of all the discourse lessons. I have completed 3 times and now looking forward to go for the next course which is a deeper study of the discourse. I hope you can try it.

By: Surendra

Surendra — Tue, 06 Mar 2018 04:37:32 +0000

In reply to Gabriel Rocheleau. Thank you so much Gabriel! I noted you will be joining Culadasa so congratulations! I am currently reading The minds illuminated and practicing daily for an hour. Again thank you as I came to know about this book from your website. My question is will Vipasna be complementary to what I am practising after reading this book?

By: Gabriel Rocheleau

Gabriel Rocheleau — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 04:35:36 +0000

In reply to Surendra.

Hi Surenda,
At Vipassana retreats, you can meditate lying down when you’re in your room, but not in the mandatory meditation in the meditation hall. However, you can ask for a chair.
Wish you well,
Gabriel R.

By: Surendra

Surendra — Sat, 03 Mar 2018 16:44:10 +0000

Hello Gabriel

Thank you for sharing your experience. My back is weak and find difficult to sit for more than few minutes. Does Vipasna allow meditation with sleep posture?
Surendra

By: Suganthi

Suganthi — Fri, 19 Jan 2018 15:50:49 +0000

Thanks for sharing your experience.. Terrified with the weired crawling entity in your vipassana II . Awesome narration. It has given me the deep understanding and insight on Vipassana. I am going for the first retreat.. Sending you metta..

By: JJonearth

JJonearth — Fri, 05 Jan 2018 22:44:53 +0000

Just spend the last ten days of December 2017 for my first Vipassana meditation. Reading your first and second experience reinforced my understanding that the practice benefits SO many people that my inner journey was not at all alone.
I too, felt at one point that every-single-cell in my body was rebelling, and it was not even the physical pain that drove me so. The meaning of Dhamma also revealed itself in a more profound way, which i thought i knew already (conceptually).
Having pursued multiple graduate degrees in the US and worked, and am still working in place where intellectual power is highly valued, I also came to realize ever more clearly that it is a mere mind entertainment. Indulge in intellectual knowledge can certainly create obstacle in pursuing the “real deal”. 🙂
On this less travelled path, it is wonderful and heartwarming to read your writing. May all be happy!!!

By: Gabriel Rocheleau

Gabriel Rocheleau — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 18:23:30 +0000

In reply to pal.

Hello Pal,

Don’t worry about these kinds of things. This realization was quite personal and came at a time where I was at crossroads between a few different ways to live. In this particular retreat, I realized that I was using intellectual pursuits as a way to reach a state where I would be “finally understand” the world and be at peace. This seemed absurd to me, as I would never quite reach lasting peace through “learning”.

I’m sure you’ll come back from the retreat refreshed, clearheaded and ready to embark wholeheartedly in your projects!

Wish you well,
Gabriel