Vipassana Meditation Retreats

[karencanada]

Hi all, I just thought I would pass along some information regarding an organisation that holds meditation retreats all over the world. It is called Vipassana, and originates in Burma I believe under the founder SN Goenka; it is essentially Buddhist in nature; a very simple, stripped down meditation technique that focuses on breath as the tool to help you meditate.
They offer 10 day retreats in so many countries it's too much to list, and the wonderful thing is that they are offered BY DONATION, so you pay only what you can afford. I did a course ten years ago and paid $100 at the end as it was what I could afford at the time.
THe course is not easy! It involves ten hours a day of meditation; and silence through the entire ten days. No chatter, no distraction of the outer world ( your brain will provide more than enough distraction for you if you are anything like me!). There is a short session at the end of most nights when you can go up to ask the teachers relevant questions, and also there are videos/sound recordings in which a little is explained about the Vipassana tradition; a chant is played that as far as I understood is meant to aid in opening your chakras.
After you've done one course, you can go back for 3-day courses, and also serve-- help cook, clean,etc, for other courses. This is how it remains affordable for all.
No one asks how much you can donate, it is up to you at the end of the course to put something in an envelope...so really the only thing needed is the time set aside and the dedication to doing it.
I did a course in 1993 and it was life changing for me, it set me on a spiritual journey that changed my perspective about life in some beautiful ways.
Sorry I can't provide you with a link, me and computers lol.
It should be easy to find...
Peace,
karen

[MaryAnn Layton]

Thanks Karen, for sharing this info. I am so impressed that you took 10 days out of your life to do this!

Next time, just go to www.google.com and type in what you're looking for. There is also a Google search box at the very bottom of this page Here is the official site for those that are curious:

www.dhamma.org/

[catharina59]

Thank you for this!

[GiveInToMe]

Karen! ;D ..... thanks so much for this! I'm really going to make an effort to "escape" one of this days for a retreat like this. I know it will be of much help in my growing....that's something I want to do....

[poetgerri]

Hi Karen,

This sounds like it was/is a good experience that will allow us to learn to tame our mind so we can be more open to messages from our inner spirit - and maybe from Michael too.

And yeah, it sounds like it would definitely be a challenge for many of us who are so used to being distracted all the time. I know I struggle constantly to not let my mind 'float away' into endless mind chatter and worry.

Thank you for sharing!

Gerri