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Thread: Vipassana 10 Day experience Journal - Hope this helps others

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    Default Vipassana 10 Day experience Journal - Hope this helps others

    This is a write up of my experiences of Vipassana meditation to share with others what my perceptions were, what the outcome was and the techniques I used to get there. I was so nervous, anxious, scared, etc to spend 10 days inside my own head. I actually wanted to leave days 1 - 5 but forced myself to stay. Day 10, I didn't want the course to end. It was truly life changing.

    I thought it might be beneficial to write up the things that I wish I was told or to think about during the course in advance to get even more out of the course and afterwards be able to practice daily with ease. The First day is really detailed just the paint the picture of how grueling this experience can be, however each subsequent day is focused more on the insights or breakthroughs that I experienced during the course.

    May you benefit from my experience and Be Happy ☺
    Attached Files
    Last edited by behappy123; 16th December 2016 at 12:16.

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    Default Re: Vipassana 10 Day experience Journal - Hope this helps others

    When I opened the file I got a box of strange markings -am a bit tech challenged and don't know how to translate pc speak...but am happy for you just the same!

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    Default Re: Vipassana 10 Day experience Journal - Hope this helps others

    Hi annacherie,

    This pdf conversion might work for you

    http://s3.pdfconvertonline.com/conve...wu2d-5zv9y.pdf

    edit - This link appears to have expired, sorry.

    cheers
    Last edited by ponda; 16th December 2016 at 07:42.
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    Default Re: Vipassana 10 Day experience Journal - Hope this helps others

    Quote Posted by behappy123 (here)
    This is a write up of my experiences of Vipassana meditation to share with others what my perceptions were, what the outcome was and the techniques I used to get there. I was so nervous, anxious, scared, etc to spend 10 days inside my own head. I actually wanted to leave days 1 - 5 but forced myself to stay. Day 10, I didn't want the course to end. It was truly life changing.

    I thought it might be beneficial to write up the things that I wish I was told or to think about during the course in advance to get even more out of the course and afterwards be able to practice daily with ease. The First day is really detailed just the paint the picture of how grueling this experience can be, however each subsequent day is focused more on the insights or breakthroughs that I experienced during the course.

    May you benefit from my experience and Be Happy ☺
    Glad to meet a fellow "survivor" of a ten day retreat.

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    Default Re: Vipassana 10 Day experience Journal - Hope this helps others

    Thank you for posting your experiences, behappy123.
    I attended a ten day Vipassana retreat early 90s, that i recall. It was wonderful.
    Have no idea how you got away writing so much... I also had to write for me, it was all positive.
    Some joint discomfort that went away the moment I ignored it. I look forward to reading about your experiences and keeping in touch with you.
    Metta!
    Vrinda

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    Default Re: Vipassana 10 Day experience Journal - Hope this helps others

    Hi BeHappy... great name

    I have some elementary questions:
    Why does it need to be 10 days ?
    Why not 5 days ?
    Is there something precious or significant about days 6-10 ?
    If so... what ?

    Okay.. i'm going to imagine your answer is... yes.. . there's something
    special or significant about days 6 to 10.
    So my next question is: Why not a 15 or 20 day vipassana retreat ?
    They'd be no insight pebble left unturned after 20 days.. no ?

    Is it really the insights ?
    Or... do you simply feel good after 10 days of constant meditation ?

    Be happy BeHappy :-)

    lucidity

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    Default Re: Vipassana 10 Day experience Journal - Hope this helps others

    I done a 10 day retreat as well.

    Last edited by Rich; 15th December 2016 at 21:54.

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    Default Re: Vipassana 10 Day experience Journal - Hope this helps others

    Quote Posted by lucidity (here)
    I have some elementary questions:
    Why does it need to be 10 days ?
    Why not 5 days ?
    Is there something precious or significant about days 6-10 ?
    If so... what ?

    Okay.. i'm going to imagine your answer is... yes.. . there's something
    special or significant about days 6 to 10.
    So my next question is: Why not a 15 or 20 day vipassana retreat ?
    They'd be no insight pebble left unturned after 20 days.. no ?
    They say you need at least 10 days to see what impact it has, after that you can do shorter retreats like 3 days.
    I met a man there who had lived at a vipassana center for 2 years as a staff member, he said it's his life.
    Quote Is it really the insights ?
    Or... do you simply feel good after 10 days of constant meditation ?
    Don't see how you can have one without the other, same thing.

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    Default Re: Vipassana 10 Day experience Journal - Hope this helps others

    Quote Posted by lucidity (here)
    So my next question is: Why not a 15 or 20 day vipassana retreat ?
    They do have longer retreats as well - here ((http://www.dhamma.org/en-US/schedules/schdhara)) where I learned, they offer 30 day and 45 day courses. But they don't let you walk into it blind. You need to apply and be approved - having followed certain guidelines beforehand such as 2 hours a day of meditation for a year, having had so many shorter courses under your belt, etc. A lot of people leave halfway through the 10 day course becuase it is so rigorous. At least at the center I learned, it was 12 hours of meditation a day in silence.

    I think the idea is you want to start off with 10 days, to get used to it.

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    Default Re: Vipassana 10 Day experience Journal - Hope this helps others

    Just posted a PDF for those having trouble with the docx format.

    In regards to why 10 days, if there is scientific proof, I have no idea what it is, however from my own experience, had the course only been 9 days or 8 days, or any less, I would have walked away feeling that it wasn't worth it. I really had my breakthrough aha moment in the afternoon of the 9th day. The 10th day everyone starts talking again and concentration gets lost really quick. Just from personal experience 10 days is absolutely perfect to get the technique down,to be able to take it home and know how to practice.

    I liken it to a fitness bootcamp where you spend the first 3 days just getting used to your own bodies reactions to the movements and then days 4-9 you practice the technique through each movement. By the end, you just free-flow through the meditation and when you return back home, you know exactly what to do, how to do it, how to react to it and keep it going. Just like physical fitness is a life long practice for the body, meditation is a lifelong practice for the mind.

    -Be Happy

    Also side note, I didn't write any of this at the actual course since writing isn't allowed. i wrote all of this right after i got back home. It took a few hours but I was determined to try and recall every moment of this amazing technique. Since finishing I meditate 2 hours a day. To be honest, I don't fully enjoy the experience however I have trust from experience that it's incredibly helpful. Again, no different than working out...except I actually like working out
    Last edited by behappy123; 16th December 2016 at 13:48.

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    Default Re: Vipassana 10 Day experience Journal - Hope this helps others


    Greetings folks,
    I just wanted to bump this thread because I feel very strongly about the beneficial aspects of this practice. I’ve been practicing regularly for 6+ years now and it has had a dramatically positive affect on my life. I’ve done a few 20-Day long courses.
    Yes, the 10-Day course can be difficult but so is spending countless lifetimes rolling in dissatisfaction.
    May all beings be happy, be peaceful, be liberated.

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