Well, I’ve signed up to attend a 10 day (yes, I repeat 10 day!!) Vipassana Meditation and Self-discipline course with my eldest son Matt, from 14-25 January 2012. In case you haven’t heard of it (I had not until recently), here is some information for us all to digest. I will need your help to digest it, as it is a terrifying thought not being able to talk, blog or write anything for 10 whole days. No trusty little pc, no mobile phone, no twitter or Facebook, no contact with the outside world… OMG, what have I done? Yes, I do have to take responsibility at this point as it was my idea!!!!

“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. Each day commences with the wake up bell at 4am, and ends with bedtime at 9,30m pm.

What Vipassana is not:

•     It is not a rite or ritual based on blind faith.
•     It is neither an intellectual nor a philosophical entertainment.
•     It is not a rest cure, a holiday, or an opportunity for socializing.
•     It is not an escape from the trials and tribulations of everyday life.

What Vipassana is:

•     It is a technique that will eradicate suffering.
•     It is a method of mental purification which allows one to face life’s tensions and problems in a calm, balanced way.
•     It is an art of living that one can use to make positive contributions to society.

The Code of Discipline

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.

The Precepts

All who attend a Vipassana course must conscientiously undertake  the following five precepts for the duration of the course:

1.     to abstain from killing any being;
2.     to abstain from stealing;
3.     to abstain from all sexual activity;
4.     to abstain from telling lies;
5.     to abstain from all intoxicants.

There are three additional precepts which old students (that is,  those who have completed a course with S.N. Goenka or one of his  assistant teachers) are expected to follow during the course:

6.     to abstain from eating after midday;
7.     to abstain from sensual entertainment and bodily decorations
8.     to abstain from using high or luxurious beds.

Old students will observe the sixth precept by having tea without  milk or fruit juice at the 5 p.m. break, whereas new students may have tea with milk and some fruit.  The teacher may excuse an old  student from observing this precept for health reasons.  The  seventh and eighth precept will be observed by all. Rather easy really, don’t you think!?

Noble Silence (this is the really tricky bit!)

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 may, however, speak with the teacher whenever necessary  and they may approach the management with any problems related to  food, accommodation, health, etc.  But even these contacts should  be kept to a minimum.  Students should cultivate the feeling that  they are working in isolation.” http://www.dhamma.org/en/code.shtml

You may ask, why have I/we decided to do this course? Well, Matt is looking for ways to enhance and improve his inner being, to better manage anxiety and other negative aspects of his experience of life; I am wanting to support him (even though we won’t see or speak to each other), and to increase my chances of finding more pathways to health and inner peace. I will seriously miss music, writing and blogging, and contact with my friends and loved ones. But will I die from this? Absolutely not! It is an adventure we can do together, and alone, perhaps just like dementia, where my world is expanding and disappearing at the same time. I am excited by the opportunity of new learning, possible changes to my thinking, and the chance to look in the mirror with such honesty, only good can come from it. scary, exciting, terrifying… yes, all of those things at the same time.