10-Day Vipassana Retreat
I recently completed a 10-day Vipassana meditation course near my home in Hyderabad. It was a challenging but transformative experience, and I wanted to share some insights. What is Vipassana ? Vipassana is a meditation technique said to be a direct teaching of Gautama Buddha, preserved in its purest form in Burma. These 10-day residential courses are offered freely, with donations accepted at the end for those who wish to contribute. However, there are strict rules. The most significant is “Noble Silence,” meaning no communication with fellow meditators, not even through gestures. All phones are surrendered on the first day and reading or writing materials are prohibited. Participants also commit to celibacy (Brahmacharya) for the duration of the course. I know what you might be thinking: this sounds like torture! And it can be difficult. But I genuinely believe everyone should give it a fair chance. I'll tell you what the technique part of it and philosophy of Vipassana. The core...