My Loves,

I’m writing this with minutes left on the clock connected to wifi, at a place where I can send this from my computer. I tried to add photos but it wasn’t loading properly and the time crunch is real. I keep trying to remember I have exactly enough time, always.

Vipassana is coming! Vipassana is here.

(It begins as soon as you desire it – – -)

It’s amazing to think how many moons ago I first heard of Vipassana and desired to be a part of it. I had applied multiple times to centers in Cambodia and Vietnam but timing never matched up or I was too late to apply. It’s beautiful to sit at the base of Today. To kneel on my shins, bowing, softening, surrendering to the journey lying ahead.

Several of you have said, “tell me all about it!” – well here is Day 0 and below I copy pasted several sections from the Vipassana website itself to give you a clearer and more detailed look at to what Vipassana is and what I’ll be up to. I invite you to join me through out the next several days to use STILLNESS as an action in times of transition, hardship or waves. To stop whatever it is you are doing – literally – cease movement and close your eyes, become strikingly still – meet me in this place of inner awareness and see what you’re able to expand into. The simple act of letting yourself slip into self-observation gives space for change and shift to occur.

I am excited, nervous, curious, calm and ready. I am grateful for the hundreds of people surrounding me as I journey into this space, souls past, present, future, near and far. I have craved this deep space for stillness for as long as I can truly remember and it is both frightening and exhilarating to actually be at the edge of this cliff.

With one sweeping Yes I extend my wings, surrender and hand myself over, tip over the edge, and fly – – –

Blessings!

All info below is from https://www.dhamma.org/en-US/index

“Vipassana is one of India’s most ancient meditation techniques. Long lost to humanity, it was rediscovered by Gotama the Buddha more than 2500 years ago. The word Vipassana means seeing things as they really are. It is the process of self- purification by self-observation. One begins by observing the natural breath to concentrate the mind. With a sharpened awareness one proceeds to observe the changing nature of body and mind and experiences the universal truths of impermanence, suffering and egolessness. This truth-realization by direct experience is the process of purification. The entire path (Dhamma) is a universal remedy for universal problems and has nothing to do with any organized religion or sectarianism. For this reason, it can be freely practiced by everyone, at any time, in any place, without conflict due to race, community or religion, and will prove equally beneficial to one and all.

Vipassana meditation aims at the highest spiritual goals of total liberation and full enlightenment. Its purpose is never simply to cure physical disease. However, as a by-product of mental purification, many psychosomatic diseases are eradicated. In fact, Vipassana eliminates the three causes of all unhappiness: craving, aversion and ignorance. With continued practice, the meditation releases the tensions developed in everyday life, opening the knots tied by the old habit of reacting in an unbalanced way to pleasant and unpleasant situations.

Vipassana is a way of self-transformation through self-observation. It focuses on the deep interconnection between mind and body, which can be experienced directly by disciplined attention to the physical sensations that form the life of the body, and that continuously interconnect and condition the life of the mind. It is this observation-based, self-exploratory journey to the common root of mind and body that dissolves mental impurity, resulting in a balanced mind full of love and compassion.

The scientific laws that operate one’s thoughts, feelings, judgements and sensations become clear. Through direct experience, the nature of how one grows or regresses, how one produces suffering or frees oneself from suffering is understood. Life becomes characterized by increased awareness, non-delusion, self-control and peace.

Ten days is certainly a very short time in which to penetrate the deepest levels of the unconscious mind and learn how to eradicate the complexes lying there. Continuity of the practice in seclusion is the secret of this technique’s success.

The course requires hard, serious work. There are three steps to the training. The first step is, for the period of the course, to abstain from killing, stealing, sexual activity, speaking falsely, and intoxicants. This simple code of moral conduct serves to calm the mind, which otherwise would be too agitated to perform the task of self-observation. The next step is to develop some mastery over the mind by learning to fix one’s attention on the natural reality of the ever changing flow of breath as it enters and leaves the nostrils. By the fourth day the mind is calmer and more focused, better able to undertake the practice of Vipassana itself: observing sensations throughout the body, understanding their nature, and developing equanimity by learning not to react to them. Finally, on the last full day participants learn the meditation of loving kindness or goodwill towards all, in which the purity developed during the course is shared with all beings.

The entire practice is actually a mental training. Just as we use physical exercises to improve our bodily health, Vipassana can be used to develop a healthy mind.

The foundation of the practice is sīla — moral conduct. Sīla provides a basis for the development of samādhi — concentration of mind; and purification of the mind is achieved through paññā — the wisdom of insight

Students must declare themselves willing to comply fully and for the duration of the course with the teacher’s guidance and instructions; that is, to observe the discipline and to meditate exactly as the teacher asks, without ignoring any part of the instructions, nor adding anything to them. This acceptance should be one of discrimination and understanding, not blind submission. Only with an attitude of trust can a student work diligently and thoroughly. Such confidence in the teacher and the technique is essential for success in meditation.

All other meditation techniques and healing or spiritual practices should also be suspended. This is not to condemn any other technique or practice, but to give a fair trial to the technique of Vipassana in its purity.

All students must observe Noble Silence from the beginning of the course until the morning of the last full day. Noble Silence means silence of body, speech, and mind. Any form of communication with fellow student, whether by gestures, sign language, written notes, etc., is prohibited.

Students should cultivate the feeling that they are working in isolation.

Complete segregation of men and women is to be maintained. It is important that throughout the course there be no physical contact whatsoever between persons of the same or opposite sex.

Cell phones, pagers, and other electronic devices must be deposited with the management until the course ends. In case of an emergency, a friend or relative may contact the management.

The playing of musical instruments, radios, etc. is not permitted. No reading or writing materials should be brought to the course. Students should not distract themselves by taking notes. The restriction on reading and writing is to emphasize the strictly practical nature of this meditation.

Take great care that your actions do not disturb anyone. Take no notice of distractions caused by others.

Finally, students should note that their progress in Vipassana depends solely on their own good qualities and personal development and on five factors: earnest efforts, confidence, sincerity, health and wisdom.

The following timetable for the course has been designed to maintain the continuity of practice. For best results students are advised to follow it as closely as possible.”

4:00 am Morning wake-up bell

4:30-6:30 am Meditate

6:30-8:00 am Breakfast

8:00-9:00 am Group meditation

9:00-11:00 am Meditate

11:00-12:00 noon Lunch break

12noon-1:00 pm Rest and interviews with the teacher

1:00-2:30 pm Meditate

2:30-3:30 pm Group meditation

3:30-5:00 pm Meditate

5:00-6:00 pm Tea break

6:00-7:00 pm Group meditation

7:00-8:15 pm Teacher’s Discourse

8:15-9:00 pm Group meditation

9:00-9:30 pm Question time

9:30 pm Retire to your own room–Lights out