I'm going on my first 10-day Vipassana retreat tomorrow and from all reports it's a life-changing experience. 10 days of silent meditation in the country.
Would love to hear your thoughts when you get back
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I'm going on my first 10-day Vipassana retreat tomorrow and from all reports it's a life-changing experience. 10 days of silent meditation in the country.
how'd it go?Headspace is another good, accessible app. I'm not big into guided meditations but they're great for beginners or if you want something a bit more immediate.
I'm going on my first 10-day Vipassana retreat tomorrow and from all reports it's a life-changing experience. 10 days of silent meditation in the country.
I love meditating. Even though I'm very much on the low level of experience one thing I would recommend only through good advice is to avoid any stimulants like coffee and black tea before hand. And obviously avoid drugs for help of relaxation, it will only make it harder when doing it organically.
I'm glad to hear it was a positive experience for you La Dispute.
I remember reading an account on another forum from a fairly experienced meditator (as in, he was up to an hour at a time) who went on a retreat where he was expected to sit for 3 hours at a time. He said he was fine for the first couple of hours, but after that his mind just wouldn't sit still and he ended up leaving the retreat frustrated and agitated, feeling like he'd undone all the good work he'd achieved in his practice up to that point.
I'm going on my first 10-day Vipassana retreat tomorrow and from all reports it's a life-changing experience. 10 days of silent meditation in the country.
I did my first 10 day silent meditation at the beginning of this year and have since done a couple of 3 dayers. La Dispute I found your account really interesting.
My take on Vipassana is that it has some "cultish" aspects but the technique is absolute gold. It has been life changing for me. I've let go of pain, negativity, trauma, tension at the physical level from this meditation, as in, I can feel it being released from my body.
I did the course because I wanted to learn a good meditation technique, so really listened carefully to the instructions and followed them closely, it was hard work, as La Dispute mentioned, the mind is a wild beast, but the work has delivered results that continue to grow as i continue to meditate.
Doing 10 mins a day through the headspace app. It does start to add a sense of calmness to things through difficult times.
I'm getting random and unexpected bursts of joy.
I'm so glad to hear you had a good experience.
Meditation really is a magical thing for me. I love being in 'the zone' all day. I like to feel like Scott Pendlebury evading a tackler, blind turning and then delivering a handball inboard while his team-mate is at full tilt.
You're sure you're not bipolar?
When I was doing yoga we had meditation at the end of each session. The problem was that I always ended up falling asleep and snoring loudly.
Whether it be books about spirituality, well being, health orientated or friends advice, meditation seems to be the number one thing that people recommend to live a good life. I highly recommend implementing a daily practise, start really small, like 5 minutes in the morning, 5 before you go to bed. Get the habit going then expand on it as you feel the want to.
Of all the meditations i've tried (which have been many, from TM to mindfulness etc), the one I've found to be the most effective is Buddhist insight meditation. I learnt it at a Vipassana centre but you can learn Buddhist meditation from a number of places. That meditation may not be for everyone which doesn't matter as there are so many meditation varieties to choose from.
Even sitting in silence for a few minutes each day is a great start.
I've always had fluctuating moods but I suppose meditation helps me to savour the good ones for longer. The more I've meditated the less big highs I've had; but I've also had less big lows - it's about equilibrium and not riding your emotions but using them constructively.
Falling asleep is definitely a good sign of relaxation
There's only benefits that can come from meditation, in my experience and taking any amount of time out helps you to grow your awareness, short circuit stress and build your mental resources including your resilience, intuition and concentration.
How did you find your Vipassana experience Nicky?
Meditating on weed is pretty cool, particularly when combined with the binaural MP3 recordings of rainforests and beaches I acquired for the times when my house was too noisy to meditate in silence. I wouldn't want to do it too regularly though because it can make normal meditation seem a little mundane.
I've always wondering was the Blue Mountains retreat was like. It sounds like something I'll have to give a go at some point.
Would you say you depth of insight has shifted over the 2? I find these days whenever I get angry (internally) at someone or something it's usually pretty fleeting. You realise people are built exactly like you and have developed over time their own perspectives, likes and dislikes and psychological defilements. That's been one of the biggest ones for me.
Otherwise I try to get at least 20 minutes in a day. I've had a pretty down month in terms of my mental health, but meditation has helped me to stay grounded and not as prone to those emotional hijackings.
I love meditating while blazed but as you mentioned, it compromises how you feel while sober.
What I feel to be pretty powerful is to just be as present as you can for a few minutes - listen to sounds, look around, feel your body etc. Not a state of deep meditation but more an Eckhart Tolle focus on just being in the moment and out of the constant loop of internal noise and distraction.
Id love to meditate but my mind just doesnt stop. At all. Even at end of day when head hits pillow and im at my most relaxed (having say nearly fallen asleep watching tv or reading) straight away it starts up again.
Were any of you guys (who meditate now) like this to start with?
Almost every one is like this when they first start. Just keep at it.Id love to meditate but my mind just doesnt stop. At all. Even at end of day when head hits pillow and im at my most relaxed (having say nearly fallen asleep watching tv or reading) straight away it starts up again.
Were any of you guys (who meditate now) like this to start with?
true dat!Almost every one is like this when they first start. Just keep at it.