|
|
VIPASSANA The Noble Silence It's an ancient form of meditation with modern applications. Sceptic Sangeeta Karia takes the course, sheds her inhibitions and discovers a new person hidden inside. Meditation always intrigued me and I have learnt a lot of techniques which I would practise on and off--with unsuccessful results. I don't think there was anything wrong with the methods; I probably didn't practise them correctly. In any case, I was not happy with my meditation and was looking for something else. When someone suggested Vipassana, I thought to myself: Why not? And I filled up a form. However, on seeing the code of discipline, I must confess I had second thoughts. Still, the journalist in me wanted to explore the Igatpuri meditation centre, so despite attempts at dissuasion I left on the appointed day. My mind was a web of confused and conflicting ideas. The most enchanting view welcomed me at the Vipassana Research Institute. Dhamma Giri in Igatpuri, Maharashtra, is spread over 65 acres. It was drizzling and night was approaching. I got myself registered and was allotted a neat room with basic amenities. After dinner, we were instructed about the programme. Then we were asked to take a vow of noble silence and surrender ourselves completely to the teacher.
One man, S.N. Goenka, an Indian industrialist residing in Myanmar, came across it accidentally. Being a victim of migraine and having found no relief in modern medicine, he tried Vipassana as a last resort. Not only did the headaches disappear but he felt like a new man. ``I think I was reborn on September 4, 1955, when I finished my first course of Vipassana.'' Later, when Goenka's mother, in India, became very sick, he came to visit her. By now he was adept at Vipassana and wanted to teach it to his mother and spread the technique to others. He began his mission along with a band of 11 disciples. The year was 1969 and the rest is history. Today, there are over 30 established centres and many more in the making around the world. Thousands of people have already benefited from the technique. Vipassana means `insight' or to see things as they are, in the ancient Pali language of India. It is a process of self observation. One starts by observing the natural breath to concentrate the mind and with this sharpened awareness one proceeds to observe the changing nature of body and mind. To learn Vipassana, it is necessary to take a 10-day residential course under the guidance of a qualified teacher. Apart from being secluded, one is not allowed to read or write, and to suspend all other religious activities. There is a strict code of discipline and everything works according to the schedule in all the centres. Be it Igatpuri or California, every one has to maintain a `noble silence' and not communicate with anyone. Basically, there are three steps in training. First, students practise abstaining from actions which cause harm. This consists of five moral precepts--practising abstention from killing, stealing, lying, sexual misconduct, and the use of intoxicants. Observing these precepts allows the mind to calm down sufficiently to proceed with the next stage. For the first three and a half days students practise anapana meditation, or observing breath, by focusing their attention solely on the breath. This helps to develop control over the unruly mind. While these first steps of living a wholesome life and developing mind control are necessary and beneficial, they are incomplete unless the third step is taken--cleansing the mind of underlying impurities. I thought the clause of `noble silence' was an unnecessary condition and was scaredÐnever in my life had I functioned without talking. But I was reassured by Dolly Thakore, media personality and a fellow student at the course: ``Silence is important for meditation to penetrate deep within you--only after this course did I release how much unnecessary chatter we indulge in.'' After that we were ushered into the meditation hall to begin our journey on the path of Vipassana. In my mind I vowed to surrender myself to the teacher and the technique. The first day proved to be very difficult. Students are woken at 4 a.m. in the morning to start their meditation. For a late riser like me, this was a rude shock. But no one can mess with the discipline, so willy-nilly one began meditating. The only thing I could think of was rushing back to bed. Breakfast and lunch were a simple vegetarian affair and dinner was tea, milk and fruits. Evening was the time for Goenka's discourses (which were videotaped) and after 10 hours of meditation one could return to bed at 9.30 p.m. The first day we were instructed in the practice of anapana. And as I closed my eyes, myriad thoughts of the past and worries about the future kept hounding me. Whenever I opened my eyes there was beauty around me but as I closed them, my mind was a mad monkey never at rest. My body was aching all over from sitting down on an asana and for so many hours! Lack of sleep, and mental torture compounded the problem further till I wanted to run home.The volunteers urged me to stay on and try the technique. The volunteers are past students who come to help others undertaking the course and make their stay comfortable. Surprisingly, I did not miss speaking to anyone but thoughts of home, work and schedules were slowly driving me nuts. Sitting in the huge meditation hall, I looked around, curious about my fellow students. People of all castes, religions, status and professions were all sitting together and working towards one goal--meditation. In the evening, during the discourse, Goenka talked about all the pains that I had experienced, and I was surprised to know that everyone felt that way. The second and third day passed in the same way, or slightly better than the first, for by now we were quite adept at anapana. The wandering of the mind also lessened very considerably under regular instruction. On the fourth day we were initiated into Vipassana. Says Nirmal Parikh, publisher of Gujarati Midday: ``It's an experience I will never forget all my life.'' Vipasanna is observing the sensations on various parts of the body.... I was bathed in a pool of vibrations all over my body. One feels as if one is electrified. Sensations could be of any sort: tingling sensations, you could feel hot or cold, have allergic sort of pain and burning... but above all, you are just supposed to observe without reacting. The goal of Vipassana is to purify the mind, free it from misery by gradually eradicating the negativities within. It is an operation involving the unconscious mind, performed in order to uncover and remove the complexes hidden within. ``After I did Vipassana, my mind was razor sharp. I could concentrate more and became more focused in life,'' says Sharad Patil, who has recently retired as head of banking, Standard Chartered Bank. Patil has also been head of the human resources department and as the post demands, had to work in very stressful conditions. Vipassana has helped him tremendously. ``Before going in for any meeting, I meditate for a few minutes and I can promise my mind will never get agitated. Anger is alien now but earlier I would arrive home and take it out on my wife. She says I am a changed man now,'' he laughs. ``Vipassana brings infinite compassion into your life. After seeing and feeling pain during the course, you are a changed person. You feel very balanced and do away with craving and aversion,'' says Darshana Doshi, an exporter of carpets. Adds Parikh: ``What I like most about Vipassana is the fact that it is non-sectarian and does not believe in any religious dogma.'' It is based on Dhamma, the universal law of nature. Anger cannot be Hindu or Muslim. Nor has one heard of Catholic pain or Jewish laughter. The art of developing mastery over one's mind is called samadhi. But to remove the impurities accumulated in the mind, you progress to the next stage--panne, or the development of wisdom of insight. It is important to maintain equanimity towards all sensations. A sensation emerges only to pass off, so why react? Our body, too, is made up of minute particles or atoms that are constantly changing. Nothing remains the same. So why react to emotion? By the end of the course, when you have worked on your emotions and let them go, you feel reborn. People from all walks of life have benefited from Vipassana. Young children between the age of eight and 15 have learnt anapana. Jamnabai school at Juhu, Mumbai, runs these courses and the teachers swear that the concentration powers of students have improved palpably. The founder-trustee of the school, Chatrabhuj Narsee Thacker, says: ``It has had tremendous results on the children. I have realised that everyone should start the practice at an early age. Personally, I was unfortunate. I took the course and did not practice it diligently.'' Children are taught anapana as the actual practice of Vipassana is difficult for them says Nruta Vasudeo who, along with her 10-year-old son, is a follower. ``After doing the course I thought it would work wonders for my son and I was right. His study habits have changed.'' Kiran Bedi, while inspector-general of prisons, introduced Vipassana in Tihar Jail. After several short-term courses and tremendous benefits to prison inmates and officers, people were amazed by the transformation. Says Bedi: ``Vipassana was just the method I was looking for. When it showed results I got much more greedy and thought, `Why restrict it to 40-45 students? Why can't we organise larger camps'?'' So, in April 1994, Goenka along with the assistance of several teachers took a 10-day course for 1,000 students in the Tihar premises. At the conclusion of this, the largest Vipassana course held in modern times, a permanent meditation centre was inaugurated within the walls of Tihar Jail. Says Bedi: ``When prisoners go back to society they are shocked and cannot adjust. The criminal atmosphere in jail and the stressful life behind bars bogs them down even further. They tend to become even more hard-core which is bad for society. After practice of Vipassana, I have seen remorse on the face of the strongest criminals.'' Similar courses have been organised at Jaipur and Vadodara jails. Says Patil: ``The corporate world is a jungle. Business management involves dealing with the good and the bad. Sometimes people behave in an undesired fashion. Vipassana teaches you not to react adversely when provoked. It is an art of living with equanimity. It enables us to live a happy, harmonious and peaceful life. It helps us to concentrate and gain control over the mind. It also keeps our ego in control. I'd recommend to every one in the corporate world that they give this technique a try.'' One of the big success stories of the last two decades is Subhash Chandra Goel, owner of Zee TV and Essel World Enterprise. Goel is also chairman of the Vipassana Global Foundation which plans to make the largest, tallest pagoda at Madh Island, near Essel World, in Mumbai. This 325-ft-tall pagoda would be the largest structure in the world and could accommodate 10,000 meditators at one time. The land, estimated to be worth around Rs 35 crore, is being donated by him. ``I am totally enchanted and impressed by Vipassana,'' he says. ``It has helped me tremendously and I want to help others.'' Many prominent industrialists like the Shroffs of Excel Industries and Dirbandhu Gupta of Lupin Laboratories along with their families are also sadhaks (meditators). Says Dolly Thakore: ``Many of my friends like Protima Bedi and Titu Ahluwalia have been taking this course for years. I could not do the course earlier for various reasons. The opportunity has to come to you. Only when you truly need it, will it come to you.'' Sounds like James Redfield in his famous book, The Celestine Prophecy. But regularity is the key. ``It is not difficult. If you practise for a year the technique will never leave you. An hour in the morning or evening is good enough. If you do not have time on a particular day, omit having dinner but at least meditate for a few hours,'' says Goenka. I realised that I had stopped Vipassana for a few days, and as a result felt very uncomfortable, lazy, as if my being were rotting. Within a fortnight, I went back to it. In the materialistic, post-liberalisation era of today, something that rids one of anger, greed, aversion and envy must be taken up as a rule and not an exception. The course ends on the 11th day with melta bhavna (feeling of friendship, goodwill and compassion) and noble silence is broken. I was so overwhelmed by the entire gamut of emotions that had run through me that I burst into tears. And cried shamelessly. The course is provided free for everyone and only at the end can you make a donation. There are no compulsions as is the tradition of Vipassana down the centuries. Yet, the fact that I had lived on charity contributed by someone else made me feel very humble. In this manner the wheels of Dhamma roll on. Some poor village folks who attended the course could not contribute anything, while a rich industrialist's wife paid for a stretch of road that needed to be completed. Anne, a fellow sadhak, put a big bundle of dollars in the donation box! Picture this: an industrialist standing in a queue behind a rickshaw driver for his cup of tea. You may not be able to imagine it, but I have seen many such sights at the Vipassana Research Institute, Igatpuri, where I sat on the same table with a woman much poorer than my housemaid. I also enjoy seeing the shocked expression of people when they see a new me, never worked up over anything, always in control, working doubly efficiently with the concentration of a hawk. And anger--well, what is it? I think people approve of the new me for I, certainly, am a better person to live with. And hey, did I tell you, on the eleventh day when we were to return to the centre, I did not feel like leaving that pure, pristine place with all its wonderful vibrations. I confess, I still do not rise as early as 4 a.m., but I'm ready to take my next trip to Igatpuri. |
|
Issue Contents Write To Us Subscriptions INDIA TODAY | BUSINESS TODAY | COMPUTERS TODAY | TEENS TODAY © Living Media India Limited |
Vipassana meditation is a
technique which was taught by Gautam Buddha about 2,500 years ago. It was Vipassana that
led him on the path of nirvana or salvation, the ultimate aim of humankind. After Buddha,
the technique was kept alive for some time but eventually disappeared in India under the
weight of meaningless rituals. However, a few neighbouring countries like Sri Lanka and
Myanmar did manage to keep it alive. 
