Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 10547

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Vipassana???

Posted by dj on August 23, 1999, at 9:53:56

Anyone have any experience with this meditation technique and if so have any of you done a ten day retreat with them and if so how did you find it??

http://www.dhamma.org/code.htm

"What Vipassana is not:

It is not a rite or ritual based on blind faith.
It is neither an intellectual nor a philosophical entertainment.
It is not a rest cure, a holiday, or an opportunity for socializing.
It is not an escape from the trials and tribulations of everyday life.


What Vipassana is:

`It is a technique that will eradicate suffering.
`It is an art of living that one can use to make positive contributions to society.
`It is a method of mental purification which allows one to face life's tensions and problems in a calm, balanced way.


Vipassana meditation aims at the highest spiritual goals of total liberation and full enlightenment. Its purpose is never simply to cure physical disease. However, as a by-product of mental purification, many psychosomatic diseases are eradicated. in fact, Vipassana eliminates the three causes of all unhappiness: craving, aversion and ignorance. With continued practice, the meditation releases the tensions developed in everyday life, opening the knots tied by the old habit of reacting in an unbalanced way to pleasant and unpleasant situations. ... Although Vipassana meditation is beneficial for most people, it is not a substitute for medical or psychiatric treatment and we do not recommend it for people with serious psychiatric disorders. ...
THE COURSE TIMETABLE

The following timetable for the course has been designed be maintain the continuity of practice. For best results students are advised to follow it as closely as possible.

4:00 a.m.---------------------Morning wake-up bell

4:30-6:30 a.m.----------------Meditate in the hall or your own room

6:30-8:00 a.m.----------------Breakfast break

8:00-9:00 a.m.----------------GROUP MEDITATION IN THE HALL

9:00-11:00 a.m.---------------Meditate in the hall or your own room

11:00-12:00 noon--------------Lunch break

12noon-1:00 p.m.--------------Rest and interviews with the teacher

1:00-2:30 p.m.----------------Meditate in the hall or your own room

2:30-3:30 p.m.----------------GROUP MEDITATION IN THE HALL

3:30-5:00 p.m.----------------Meditate in the hall or your own room

5:00-6:00 p.m.----------------Tea break

6:00-7:00 p.m.----------------GROUP MEDITATION IN THE HALL

7:00-8:15 p.m.----------------Teacher's Discourse in the hall

8:15-9:00 p.m.----------------GROUP MEDITATION IN THE HALL

9:00-9:30 p.m.----------------Question time in the hall

9:30 p.m.---------------------Retire to your own room--Lights out "

 

Re: Vipassana???

Posted by dj on August 23, 1999, at 13:29:03

In reply to Vipassana???, posted by dj on August 23, 1999, at 9:53:56

> Anyone have any experience with this meditation technique and if so have any of you done a ten day retreat with them and if so how did you find it??
>
> http://www.dhamma.org/code.htm
>
> "What Vipassana is not:
>
> It is not a rite or ritual based on blind faith.
> It is neither an intellectual nor a philosophical entertainment.
> It is not a rest cure, a holiday, or an opportunity for socializing.
> It is not an escape from the trials and tribulations of everyday life.
>
>
> What Vipassana is:
>
> `It is a technique that will eradicate suffering.
> `It is an art of living that one can use to make positive contributions to society.
> `It is a method of mental purification which allows one to face life's tensions and problems in a calm, balanced way.
>
>
> Vipassana meditation aims at the highest spiritual goals of total liberation and full enlightenment. Its purpose is never simply to cure physical disease. However, as a by-product of mental purification, many psychosomatic diseases are eradicated. in fact, Vipassana eliminates the three causes of all unhappiness: craving, aversion and ignorance. With continued practice, the meditation releases the tensions developed in everyday life, opening the knots tied by the old habit of reacting in an unbalanced way to pleasant and unpleasant situations. ... Although Vipassana meditation is beneficial for most people, it is not a substitute for medical or psychiatric treatment and we do not recommend it for people with serious psychiatric disorders. ...
> THE COURSE TIMETABLE
>
> The following timetable for the course has been designed be maintain the continuity of practice. For best results students are advised to follow it as closely as possible.
>
> 4:00 a.m.---------------------Morning wake-up bell
>
> 4:30-6:30 a.m.----------------Meditate in the hall or your own room
>
> 6:30-8:00 a.m.----------------Breakfast break
>
> 8:00-9:00 a.m.----------------GROUP MEDITATION IN THE HALL
>
> 9:00-11:00 a.m.---------------Meditate in the hall or your own room
>
> 11:00-12:00 noon--------------Lunch break
>
> 12noon-1:00 p.m.--------------Rest and interviews with the teacher
>
> 1:00-2:30 p.m.----------------Meditate in the hall or your own room
>
> 2:30-3:30 p.m.----------------GROUP MEDITATION IN THE HALL
>
> 3:30-5:00 p.m.----------------Meditate in the hall or your own room
>
> 5:00-6:00 p.m.----------------Tea break
>
> 6:00-7:00 p.m.----------------GROUP MEDITATION IN THE HALL
>
> 7:00-8:15 p.m.----------------Teacher's Discourse in the hall
>
> 8:15-9:00 p.m.----------------GROUP MEDITATION IN THE HALL
>
> 9:00-9:30 p.m.----------------Question time in the hall
>
> 9:30 p.m.---------------------Retire to your own room--Lights out "

Hi dj, it's Janice. Sounds great, I just hope it isn't too expensive, because you'd be spending alot of money to meditate. I meditate twice a day, everyday, and it does significantly help me. Every religion seems to think their way is the way, blah, blah, blah. You could learn to meditate at a Buddhist church or by yourself, or with a book. I only kind of meditation I've heard is not good for Westerners is 'transadental meditation'. Have you ever thought about how close these two words are medication/meditation, one letter apart. good luck. yoga is fantastic for anxiety. Janice

 

Re: Vipassana? It's free!

Posted by mila on August 23, 1999, at 21:25:15

In reply to Re: Vipassana???, posted by dj on August 23, 1999, at 13:29:03

The Vipassana organization I looked into did not accept money --that would conflict with the Vipassana 'ethic'(for lack of a better word).
They provide lodging and food. I think they may take donations after one has gone through the regiment. I'm not sure about that though.


I Did not try it because I could not get the time off. It seems to be extremely challenging though. For example, talking is not allowed accept at the designated times. And meditating most of the day can be very difficult for a new comer.

It sounds absolutely legit and sincere -which is not something that can be said for most of these type of things.

oh wait now I remember -I think they prefer to ask you to 'repay' them by passing on the knowledge of Vipassana to others.

 

Re: Vipassana???

Posted by dj on August 24, 1999, at 14:52:37

In reply to Re: Vipassana???, posted by dj on August 23, 1999, at 13:29:03

Janice,

As Mila rightfully points out the initial 10 day retreat is free. And 10 days is quite different from a couple of times a day. I have meditated and do yoga haphazardly (previously regularly) and found some benefit from both but not enough to do either regularly -- in fact both of them rouse my anxiety on occasion as I get thiinking about how wierd they are but that applies to most things in life -- including ADs, which are really wierd in their effects, often more so than that which they are supposed to treat.

Hence, I am considering doing a 10 day Vipassan retreat cuz it's quite different in many ways (though wierd in many ways too) and may have benefits. However hearing that others had done it and received benefit or seeing copies of studiies on the same would heighten my motivation to do so...

BTW, what type of meditation do you do & where in the world did you hear that TM is bad for Westerners? I know of some who would disagree with the latter...

> >
> Hi dj, it's Janice. Sounds great, I just hope it isn't too expensive, because you'd be spending alot of money to meditate. I meditate twice a day, everyday, and it does significantly help me. ... yoga is fantastic for anxiety. Janice

 

Re: Vipassana???

Posted by Janice on August 24, 1999, at 23:34:19

In reply to Re: Vipassana???, posted by dj on August 24, 1999, at 14:52:37

Good evening dj! It's free, it'll be a great head start into learning how to meditate and if it will significantly help you. It was a religious woman (who I trust and respect very much) who told me about transidental meditation not always being suited for Westerners. She was just generalizing because her husband, who is North American through and through, does this type of meditation. She said he was a reverse banana, white on the outside, yellow in the inside. I've tried it, long before she told me this, and it made me dizzy and panicky. At this point I won't even try to guess why this happened. Just thought I'd tell you incase you tried it, didn't like it and had given up on meditation. I think you should go for this 10 day retreat. Think about how nice it would be to have someone else organize your day and take care of your physical needs while you concentrate on your mental and spiritual health.

Just make sure you give a friend the address or phone number of where you will be. I sound like my mother. Let me know how it goes. Janice.
>


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