In Nov 2017, exactly 8 years after the first one, I went for the second 10-day Vipassana course. While I hadn't been practicing the technique regularly, I would occasionally meditate and felt that I need to revisit the instructions. Hence I decided to do the complete course again.
This time, however, I did some research on the Dhamma centers in India as my first experience wasn't great in terms of hygiene. The course itself is quite tough and I wanted to eliminate all possible factors that might come in the way of completing it. Given the dates I wanted and the kind of center I was looking for, Dhamma Pattana in Mumbai (next to Esselworld) was chosen, online application was filled and tickets were booked (post course registrar's confirmation).
When I landed at the center, I was quite impressed with the formal processes for everything - room allocation to laundry tokens to notice boards. This center caters to executives and hence has air conditioned rooms (single occupancy) and air conditioned meditation hall. There are a/c meditation cells as well.
Having done the course once, I knew what to expect in terms of daily schedule, code of discipline and food restrictions (second timers don't get to eat anything after lunch which itself is served at 11:00 am). As a first timer, I was overwhelmed by the the whole thing (back in 2009) but this time around, I was calm and collected.
However, that calm didn't last long when women were informed that we can't enter the meditation hall without a stole or dupatta - because there will be men there! I was aghast - imagine a dimly lit huge hall - women occupying one half & men other and all facing the teacher of their respective gender. In this situation where we are not even looking at each other, when we all are in loose comfortable clothes (meditating 12 hours requires that), I was told that I might be a distraction to the men in the hall!!!! This came as a shock....honestly this didn't feel any different from blaming a woman for getting molested.
I hadn't carried a dupatta with me, so I was forced to take one from the pile there but I didn't wear it even once during the 10 days.
The routine began and I immersed myself into it, it was very easy this time - I had a whole room to myself - the room had enough space for me to even do my stretches during breaks. The bathroom was clean. For the 10 days, students were supposed to clean their rooms themselves which wasn't a big deal anyway.
This is the daily schedule for 10 day course:
The food at this center was like a vegetarian feast - both in terms of variety and quality...I think I ate more than I needed to...especially because I was starving after the 19.5 hours fast from 11 am to 6:30 am next day.
The laundry system too was great - we were given two tokens - dirty clothes were tied with the thread (carrying the token) and left on one counter at breakfast time, they would come back next day washed & ironed at cost of INR 10 per garment (again at breakfast time). You could use the second token to hand over next set and collect previous set. One doesn't need to carry more than 3 sets of clothes here. I had carried more as in 2009 the center I had gone to didn't have such arrangements. However, inner-wear, needed to be washed in the room at this center also - hardly an issue.
In terms of facilities and food and processes, the place really outdid itself for a meditation center. The teacher was also superior in her knowledge of the technique and guided the students very well. Overall in terms of relearning the technique in a comfortable environment, I had really won a lottery. And here comes the "but"...but there were some things that bothered me and apparently I had missed those the first time around.
One, starting with insistence on women wearing dupatta, to only male teacher making announcements in the hall, to only male servers handling audio-visual equipment - it was evident that even Vipassana doesn't consider the two genders as equals.
Two, while Vipassana condemns idol worship, there are two empty chairs placed in the meditation hall as a symbol of presence of Late. S.N. Goenka & his wife. And we are supposed to show the same respect to the empty chairs as we would have if the teacher was alive. To me it didn't feel dissimilar to clay idols in temples. Infact, if after hours of meditation on floor, one wants to stretch their legs, the feet shouldn't face the direction of these chairs!
Three, for some health reasons (was running fever) I wanted to leave on the evening of 10th day (as against the morning of 11th day). Having done the course once already and also having bought the daily discourse DVDs first time around...I was hoping that this small exception could be made. But just the way other religions are adamant about their rituals...I was made to sit and listen to two discourses back to back (3 hours in total) while I was running fever! Only after that was I allowed to leave the center. This was really ironic...given all discourses ask for giving up the meaningless rituals!
In totality, I am glad that I did the course again...my knowledge of technique definitely improved and am more regular in my practice of it now. The second time also helped me realise that no system is beyond reproach and there are definitely some flaws in the system that is working on spreading this great technique. After first time, I was so enamored by the technique that I had overlooked the other things and I had started believing that Vipassana was the only meditation that mattered.
While I still feel that it is a superior technique, I don't believe (any more) that it is the only one or that it is prefect. Having said that, this is the only one I have learnt, so guess I am going to have to stick to it :)
This time, however, I did some research on the Dhamma centers in India as my first experience wasn't great in terms of hygiene. The course itself is quite tough and I wanted to eliminate all possible factors that might come in the way of completing it. Given the dates I wanted and the kind of center I was looking for, Dhamma Pattana in Mumbai (next to Esselworld) was chosen, online application was filled and tickets were booked (post course registrar's confirmation).
When I landed at the center, I was quite impressed with the formal processes for everything - room allocation to laundry tokens to notice boards. This center caters to executives and hence has air conditioned rooms (single occupancy) and air conditioned meditation hall. There are a/c meditation cells as well.
Having done the course once, I knew what to expect in terms of daily schedule, code of discipline and food restrictions (second timers don't get to eat anything after lunch which itself is served at 11:00 am). As a first timer, I was overwhelmed by the the whole thing (back in 2009) but this time around, I was calm and collected.
However, that calm didn't last long when women were informed that we can't enter the meditation hall without a stole or dupatta - because there will be men there! I was aghast - imagine a dimly lit huge hall - women occupying one half & men other and all facing the teacher of their respective gender. In this situation where we are not even looking at each other, when we all are in loose comfortable clothes (meditating 12 hours requires that), I was told that I might be a distraction to the men in the hall!!!! This came as a shock....honestly this didn't feel any different from blaming a woman for getting molested.
I hadn't carried a dupatta with me, so I was forced to take one from the pile there but I didn't wear it even once during the 10 days.
 |
| The fixed bed - besheets & pillow covers were provided |
 |
| Small yet clean toilet/ bathroom |
 |
| Lots of empty space, carry a mat & one can even do yoga |
This is the daily schedule for 10 day course:
| 4:00 am | Morning wake-up bell |
| 4:30-6:30 am | Meditate in the hall or in your cell |
| 6:30-8:00 am | Breakfast break |
| 8:00-9:00 am | Group meditation in the hall |
| 9:00-11:00 am | Meditate in the hall or in your cell according to the teacher's instructions |
| 11:00 am-12:00 | Lunch break |
| 12:00-1:00 pm | Rest and interviews with the teacher (if needed) |
| 1:00-2:30 pm | Meditate in the hall or in your cell |
| 2:30-3:30 pm | Group meditation in the hall |
| 3:30-5:00 pm | Meditate in the hall or in your own cell according to the teacher's instructions |
| 5:00-6:00 pm | Tea break |
| 6:00-7:00 pm | Group meditation in the hall |
| 7:00-8:15 pm | Discourse in the hall |
| 8:15-9:00 pm | Group meditation in the hall |
| 9:00-9:30 pm | Question time in the hall (if you have questions) |
| 9:30 pm | Retire to the room |
The laundry system too was great - we were given two tokens - dirty clothes were tied with the thread (carrying the token) and left on one counter at breakfast time, they would come back next day washed & ironed at cost of INR 10 per garment (again at breakfast time). You could use the second token to hand over next set and collect previous set. One doesn't need to carry more than 3 sets of clothes here. I had carried more as in 2009 the center I had gone to didn't have such arrangements. However, inner-wear, needed to be washed in the room at this center also - hardly an issue.
In terms of facilities and food and processes, the place really outdid itself for a meditation center. The teacher was also superior in her knowledge of the technique and guided the students very well. Overall in terms of relearning the technique in a comfortable environment, I had really won a lottery. And here comes the "but"...but there were some things that bothered me and apparently I had missed those the first time around.
One, starting with insistence on women wearing dupatta, to only male teacher making announcements in the hall, to only male servers handling audio-visual equipment - it was evident that even Vipassana doesn't consider the two genders as equals.
Two, while Vipassana condemns idol worship, there are two empty chairs placed in the meditation hall as a symbol of presence of Late. S.N. Goenka & his wife. And we are supposed to show the same respect to the empty chairs as we would have if the teacher was alive. To me it didn't feel dissimilar to clay idols in temples. Infact, if after hours of meditation on floor, one wants to stretch their legs, the feet shouldn't face the direction of these chairs!
Three, for some health reasons (was running fever) I wanted to leave on the evening of 10th day (as against the morning of 11th day). Having done the course once already and also having bought the daily discourse DVDs first time around...I was hoping that this small exception could be made. But just the way other religions are adamant about their rituals...I was made to sit and listen to two discourses back to back (3 hours in total) while I was running fever! Only after that was I allowed to leave the center. This was really ironic...given all discourses ask for giving up the meaningless rituals!
In totality, I am glad that I did the course again...my knowledge of technique definitely improved and am more regular in my practice of it now. The second time also helped me realise that no system is beyond reproach and there are definitely some flaws in the system that is working on spreading this great technique. After first time, I was so enamored by the technique that I had overlooked the other things and I had started believing that Vipassana was the only meditation that mattered.
While I still feel that it is a superior technique, I don't believe (any more) that it is the only one or that it is prefect. Having said that, this is the only one I have learnt, so guess I am going to have to stick to it :)
