What is Vipassana Meditation?
Vipassana Meditation is a kind of meditation in which it is tried to bring a person's troubled life to normal by strengthening the mind through meditation and at the same time by giving various inspirational lessons that can help to lead a better life. It can be done by any person and is greatly helpful in removing mental anomalies such as alcohol addictions. The course is completely free in their centers and is run by donations of earlier students who have benefitted from it and want others to benefit from it.
It must be remembered that "What exercise is to body, meditation is to mind". As exercise helps to make body healthier and stronger, so is the meditation that makes mind healthier, sharper, stronger, more confident and peaceful.
Is Vipassana Meditation reliable?
Vipassana Meditation is a well recognized meditation throughout the world. It is highly encouraged by various State and Central governments. This is the meditation which was used by Gautam Buddha to attain enlightenment and has been tried and tested for thousands of years in various countries and on which research is still going on.
For an alcohol addict this is very useful as it provides a platform to correct mind as addiction is a mental problem. But again, it depends upon the thinking of the alcohol addict person.
What happens in a 10 Day Vipassana Meditation Course?
There are specific number of seats and for which the candidate has to apply either through their website or by calling them. On confirmation the candidate may undergo 10 days residential course.
The course takes place inside the centre and the candidate is not allowed to keep any kind of touch with the outside world. He cannot even keep a cell phone to talk as talking is prohibited inside the center. It is so, considering the fact that if we keep silent for 10 days, thoughts in our mind will calm down and this combined with meditation & good lessons, will help in considerable improvement.
This can be understood with an example- If we drop stone in water, it creates ripples and waves in water. Similarly, if a thought arises in our mind, it can create waves in mind. The person becomes restless on how to fulfill or not to fulfill the thought. Meditation helps to calm down these waves.
A Vipassana center mainly consists of 4 areas- Meditation Hall, Dormitory (Sleeping Hall), Dining Hall, and Refreshing area (Bathrooms).
Each person is alloted a seat (aasan) in meditation hall and a bed in Dormitory (Sleeping Hall). The person has to agree to following for the whole of 10 days-
1) Not to kill (even insects)
2) Not to steal.
3) Abstain from any kind of sexual activity. (Boys & Girls are kept separate)
4) Abstain from speaking lies (for whole 10 days no one is allowed to speak so this is automatically taken care of)
5) Abstain from intoxicants (Candidates are not allowed to take alcohol, cigarette, tobacco, gutkha etc)
4:00 a.m. —————— Morning wake-up bell
4:30-6:30 a.m. ———— Meditation in Hall
6:30-8:00 a.m. ———— Breakfast break
8:00-9:00 a.m. ———— Group meditation in Hall
9:00-11:00 a.m. ————Meditate in Hall or in room
11:00 -12 noon ———— Lunch break
12 noon – 1:00 p.m. —— Rest, private Q&A session with teacher
1:00-2:30 p.m. ———— Meditation in Hall
2:30-3:30 p.m. ———— Group meditation in Hall
3:30-5:00 p.m. ———— Meditate in Hall or in room
5:00-6:00 p.m. ———— Tea break
6:00-7:00 p.m. ———— Group meditation in Hall
7:00-8:30 p.m. ————Teacher’s Discourse (Lecture) in Hall
8:30-9:00 p.m. ———— Group meditation in Hall
9:00 p.m. —————— May go to sleep or if have any questions then it may be asked in hall
The main aim is to separate person for 10 days from the society, improve him and send him back as a better person. The principles and routine is similar to that of a "Sanyasi" but the only thing is that it is for 10 days.
This is a very good course and mostly have positive effect and this option must be thought upon seriously.