The year 2023 culminated with a 10 day Vipassana meditation camp – which was a wonderful experience. Intensely hard but a must-do for just about anyone. I thought being off the grid completely, away from electronics would be the most difficult part of it but as it turned out, not so. The hours of silent meditation – 7-8 hrs a day (2-3 hrs at a stretch 3 times a day) – sitting still without any verbalization and imagery, the discipline it requires, the strange things it does to your mind and body, the breathing techniques, getting in touch with your sensations, the probing deep inside, the noble silence, listening to evening discourses, understanding the relationship between mind and matter from scientific and philosophical standpoints, are all such profound experiences. Though based on ancient Indian wisdom, the practice is non-sectarian and follows the sequence of – preparation through right conduct, disciplining through meditation, and awareness through observation, and acceptance, avoiding the ill-effects of craving, aversion, and ignorance. In practical terms, this brings calm and balance to one’s mind. Simple concepts discussed at dinner parties at an intellectual level, but it is different at an experiential level. With all those experiences, one does feel a step closer to salvation 😀.. (as if being off the grid is not salvation in itself lol 😂 ) . But to think we can reach self-realization in 10 days of meditation would be oversimplifying it when people spend years practicing. It is just the start of a journey of who knows how many millions of steps are involved. Taken seriously, it has to be nicely incorporated into one’s busy daily routine somehow with maybe an hour or so of practice. At an organizational level, it is amazing how such a worldwide org has developed and grown, functions practically headless, runs purely on a volunteer network, with little fanfare, no flashy fundraising dinners and strict policies on volunteerism and donations (only from those who have gone through their courses and found value). That last aspect alone should be the subject of a HBS case study if it is not already. Recommend to anyone interested – https://www.dhamma.org
Happy New Year ! Be happy 😃 !!
The journey started out of curiosity. Having never really taken the time out to go-off-the grid, the more I heard about silent retreats, the more intrigued I was. Upon the suggestion of a couple of close friends and relatives, I decided to take the plunge. After all it would be the perfect culmination to an year which started out with a rather ambitious and somewhat playful motto of 3 Ds –Disengage, Disconnect and Detach. Might sound dire but it was really a challenge to manage better the constant digital overload that we are exposed to, and the clutter, confusion and chaos that it brings along, towards a more purposeful, meaningful existence. And bring focus and clarity to our goals and objectives. I had already made significant strides towards these goals when the opportunity came along to explore Vipassana.
First I did some research and reading about the practice. It sounded intimidating – being off your phone for 10 days – was it even feasible? Then as I learned it is doable and many high profile entrepreneurs and business-people have gone through it, I was encouraged. Next step was to apply for the program. I used the tips to stay up and register as soon as the online applications opened for a nearby center. In a few days, I was tentatively accepted and given elaborate instructions. I had to start making a mental checklist of the preparations needed – primarily to ensure that the businesses and the households would continue to run without interruption while I was gone. I also had to carefully communicate to near-and-dear, the management at my businesses, business colleagues and partners.
All that was simply to ensure continuity of functioning of the world that I was closely associated and interacting with every day, while being disconnected from that world. Even with all that prep, it still seemed to require a leap-of-faith to go away. But go-away I did. I was determined.
Little did I realize being off-the-grid would be just one aspect of the program and much more was coming! To put things in perspective, consider this schedule – of waking up every day at 4 am, going into meditation at 4:30 am for an hour or so, a light breakfast of oats and fruit at 6:30 am, group meditation at 8 am sitting still following the technique taught (with steadily increasing levels of difficulty), solo meditation at 9 am, light lunch at 11 am with a rest/break at 12 Noon, followed again by solo meditation at 1 pm, group sitting at 2:30 pm, solo again at 3 pm, tea break at 5 pm (no dinner, the body doesn’t need and doesn’t digest well if you eat in the evening), then group sitting again at 6 pm, a video discourse of the technique and the philosophy at 7pm, group sitting again at 8 pm to finally wrap things up at 9 pm. Some people can’t withstand it and leave after the second day. Others stick around and finish the course and would be glad they did, like I am!
The technique itself is relatively simple and straightforward. You start by observing your breathing very closely, and concentrate the mind (without the use of any objects or verbalization), bringing the mind back to breathing whenever it wavers. Then you start observing the sensations around the nasal area, without reacting to them – just observing them and letting them come and go. You then extend this to the rest of your body starting from the head and traverse towards your feet and then from feet to head, all the while observing and letting go of sensations – irrespective of how painful or pleasurable these are. There is a point during the course where most participants experience parts of the body (or even the entire body) become light and float. It is tempting to get attached to such a feeling but it is emphasized not to get attached to it because some other unpleasant feeling or pain will return. But you will know at that point that it will go away too. Now abstract this to the encounters in our daily lives – something unpleasant happens or someone says something that is upsetting – our typical impulse is to react immediately – causing stress, tension and adding to the negativity – not only to the external factors but also to our internal selves. Instead a calmer, balanced approach helps manage such situations lot better. Both to unpleasant as well as to pleasant happenings.
That’s it. As simple as that. Some of us are a lot better at this than others, but universally, this can bring a greater sense of calm and wellness to beings. I like to believe that I have been going down this path lately, but a program like this accelerates one’s journey.
Taken to the next level, this same path is what leads to self-realization, wisdom and enlightenment (not in 10 days though!). Essentially what Gautama the Buddha practiced and taught. Nothing too esoteric about it but requires enormous discipline, resolve and concentration. He didn’t intend to start a religion. Over the centuries, the rites and rituals have taken on a higher importance and the practice has faded. It is gratifying to see the practice surviving, being revived and being as relevant today (perhaps more so now), as it was 25 centuries ago when it was first taught. Much of it is based on ancient Indian wisdom. Dhamma in Pali is derived from ‘Dharma’ in Sanskrit – which is essentially ‘right conduct’. For many of us who believe in living dharmic lives, the practice provides essential reinforcement.
Another interesting fact about the program for those of us who are business builders or students of organizational studies. It is quite remarkable how the organization functions globally, practically headless and meticulously, based solely on volunteers and donations and that too only from those that have gone through the program. That alone should be the subject of a HBS case study if it is not already. For more information visit – https://www.dhamma.org
Happy New Year ! Be happy 😃 !!
Ram