Vipassana Meditation Course. - Sept 17-25

Vipassana meditation provided me with some very interesting insights into myself. After spending three days trying to feel the slightest possible sensations around my nose and upper lip, I was told to focus my attention toward other parts of my body. With my newly developed sensitivity to bodily sensations I was able to feel thousands of different types of sensations in just about every part of my body. Sensations such as itching, throbbing, tingling, pulsing, heaviness, others don't seem to have words to describe them . The sensations all have one thing in common - they come and go all by themselves. No matter which sensation I tuned into, it came and went in a matter of seconds or in some cases minutes. Interestingly during the course I was able to focus my attention on areas which I had no sensation -eg. my stomach. Over time I was able to start to feel painful knots in my stomach and remembered feeling these during past emotional upsets in my life. This was the pain that had caused me so much suffering and in some ways was ruling my life. There were times that I would do things in my life to avoid feeling this pain.

According to Vipassana teachings every action one takes relates to to aversion or a craving of a bodily sensation. We often cling to good sensations and run away from negative ones. However, what I realised through the experience of Vipassana meditation is that ALL sensations are very impermanent and that if I allow myself to experience a sensation that it will dissipate quickly. However, getting attached or averting a particular sensation and expanding the problem by using my mind to analyse things multiplies the suffering. Getting too attached to sensations in the first place doesn't make much sense given that all sensations are transient anyway. I learned that my life will be much more harmonious by letting myself feel the sensations, letting nature take its course- letting sensations come and go naturally.

It seems to all boil down to the acceptance of change as the nature of all things.

Overall the experience was positive albeit very challenging. The meditation technique has provided me with a refuge from suffering that I previously did not know was possible. I feel more empowered and content. As a being I now feel more like a magical flame than something solid or fixed.

More info on the course here:
http://www.rasmi.dhamma.org/