Dr. Belle Taylor Acupuncture

Buddha

Gotama was a prince who was born under a Bohdi tree in Lumbini, Nepal around 2500 years ago. At age 5 he began to meditate, renouncing a royal life for a spiritual path, he set out to seek wisdom. At age 35, as he sat meditating under a tree he became fully enlightened, the meditation technique which evoked the liberation from his mind was Vipassana. He dedicated the remaining 45 years of his life teaching Vipassana to thousands of people across India to assist others in obtaining their own happiness.

The meaning of Vipassana is “seeing things as they really are”. The experience of my life thus far, including things I have done and seen actively, knowledge I have accumulated at school and university and things I have been taught by respected friends, family or others all come together and build the foundation of my world view. The way in which I perceive the world.

The most valid of all those teachings for me is the experiential lessons. The ones I learnt through my own experience as opposed to someone else’s. But even as I grow older the way I interpret experiential knowledge continues to change as does my wisdom.

Vispassana meditation more often than not is practiced initially as a 10 day course where nobel silence is practiced the entire time, speaking only if needed to ask questions of your teachers, otherwise pure silence. The meditation technique is taught and developed upon for 10 days with 10 hours of meditation a day.

This allows a lot of time for self observation. Observation of my own thought patterns, mental emotional feelings and physical sensations. The technique of Vipassana is to focus your entire conscious attention in this moment on the sensations of your own body. Observing every itch, tickle, tingle, pain, discomfort, vibration, flow, numbness, prick and pleasure or just observing the natural breath coming and going. Observing every sensation with complete conscious equanimity.

Equanimity – a state of stability or composure arising from a deep awareness and acceptance of the present moment.

Thus not reacting to pleasant sensations with craving for more, or reacting to unpleasant sensations with aversion, wanting it to stop. Knowing that the true nature of existence is impermanence, every sensation, pleasant or unpleasant has the same quality, in that it is constantly changing, comes and goes, arises and passes away, impermanence.

It is understood in Vipassana that when we use our sense organs, eyes, ears, nose, mouth, touch, whether consciously or more often than not subconsciously it creates a sensation within our body. This sensation determines how we react to the stimuli. Our reaction usually occurs automatically and subconsciously. The reaction comes from our in built belief systems, behavioral patterns, habits and addictions which vary from being etched into our subconscious very deeply like a line etched into stone to not so deep, a line drawn in water. Thus some patterns are easy to break and others take more time and concentration.

Through observing these sensations with complete equanimity, one is literally observing subconscious reactions within themselves. If capable to push through the boundaries of sheer agonizing pain, irritating itches and pulsating pleasures with equanimity one breaks old behavioral patters, shatters addictions, destroys detrimental habits and changes ones perception of the world for ever.

One can only know this through the incredible experience of it. I honestly sat through the burning fires of hell, my knees and back aching, sweat beading on my head, pulsating pain through my hips, skin over my neck crawlingly itchy, my body twitching. I was determined to push through and remain still and equanimous, these pains and sensations are perceptions which hold me back in life. And all though the pain is arduous and at times darn right tortuous, you can see it is constantly changing, moving, coming and going until all of a sudden it ceases. Tears well at my eyes and as clear as day a realization surfaces in my mind about what love really is… Profound, so profound it changes my entire view of my life. Once you experience something within yourself like this, there is no turning back, not now you consciously know better. Life is different. But this realization is irrelevant to everyone else, everyone but me.

The most special quality of Vipassana is that you “see things as they really are” by experiencing the truth of the world within yourself. No discussion with others about what they saw or how they felt, no dogma, no sectarianism, no preaching. You experience insight, wisdom and understanding from within yourself. The truth of the world as it pertains to you.

There is nothing more rewarding that I have ever done than blessing myself with my own attention for 10 days straight, observing how determined and courageous I can be, by sitting through the agony of my own conditioning. Breaking the barriers of perception I began building at birth. Realizing truths that I thought I had figured out years ago however, couldn’t have been more wrong. Experiencing those truths within myself, feeling them wash over me. The most empowering aspect of Vipassana is that the results you get come down to one person… You. The harder you work by maintaining awareness and equanimity the more wisdom you realize. Through this you understand the responsibility that you carry in your life. Everything you think, feel, do, act, react, know, understand is your own responsibility. Everything pertaining to your life occurs internally. EVERYTHING. Even when seemingly this person does that which “makes you feel like this”… You are responsible for the sensations and reactions, you are responsible for the way you feel and react regardless of what the person has done… And he is responsible for him. I have learnt to un attach.

Goenka tells an awesome story of an angry man knocking on Buddha’s door and coming in yelling and screaming volatile abuse at Buddah. Buddha say’s to the man “Sir, what do you do when someone shows up at your house offering gifts that you do not want?” the man a bit confused replies “I don’t accept the gifts”. Then Buddha say’s “Well I don’t accept the gifts you have come and are offering me. The anger is your’s, please take it and leave.” Obviously we may not all become Buddha’s after one 10 day Vipassana but the way in which we respond to both difficult and passionate situations becomes a lot more balanced.

My experience of Vipassana was honestly one of the hardest, most challenging and rewarding experiences of my life. The first day about 6 hours in, I was in agony, so much pain and resistance was boiling up from deep within me and I said to myself, “fuck this, I don’t want to be spiritual anymore!” I pictured myself getting up, throwing my shawl, cracking the shits and storming out whilst asking someone for a cigarette. But I persevered.

Over the 10 days I observed agonizing burning pain turn to tears and wisdom, and insanely amazing pleasurable psychedelic meditational experiences lead to insights about future career pursuits. I was totally conscious and equanimous for days, other days I wrote entire books and blogs in my mind, other days I observed my thoughts narrating my own life to myself and laughed at myself because I thought my mind was a wanker. Its an interesting concept laughing at ones mind, it implies that there are two of me. My mind, and the real (non wanker) me. My consciousness.

Everything in my life is in a constant state of change. The only real truth for all of existence is impermanence. No two moments in time will ever be the same. Our bodies which consist at the atomic level of particles of light resonating at varying frequencies off one another from moment to moment always interacting with the other particles of light resonating around them. Always changing, every moment I am a different person, never to be the same person again. The only thing that makes me feel as though I am the same person, is living a life reacting unconsciously to stimuli based on a limited world veiw. As opposed to taking control and responsibility of my life, becoming the master of my mind and living consciously aware with wisdom, growing and evolving every moment with the understanding of impermanence. Seasons change, tides come and go, people grow old and die, relationships end, new ones begin, a new sun rises and sets every day, understanding of impermanence is liberation from pain and suffering. 

I am so happy to have found a meditation technique which completely empowers me to take responsibility of being the master of my own mind. That has given me permission to love myself enough to be the center of my own attention for at least a few hours a day, giving to myself, discovering myself, loving myself. So that in time I will have the love and energy to share compassionately with those around me the truths and empathy I have discovered. To have a technique which can potential lead to enlightenment and at the very least great happiness, compassion and strength to listen to and follow my own heart.

I came to Nepal seeking something, something that I have been looking for, for the longest of times. Name the book, i’ve read it, the technique, I’ve tried it, the workshop, I’ve done it. They were all stepping stones, they taught me that what I was looking for was within but it felt like I had a map telling me where the treasure was buried, however, I didn’t have a shovel. Vipassana is my shovel. I have found what I was looking for, its inside me and I’m not going to lie, it ain’t easy digging, at times the soil is soft and at other times I’m hacking through marble but the wisdom I have discovered already is much too profound to stop my pursuit of happiness, every barrier I break down is an overwhelming step closer to unconditional love which grows within me and flows out into you!!

For more information on Vipassana meditation as taught by S. N. Goenka continue to read below! Lots of love and happiness to you!!

This man is an absolutely loveable legend, tells many a captivating story and keeps you constantly laughing. At the end of the day and point of exhaustion, watching Goenka on a discourse DVD re motivates and prepares you for the following day. He knows exactly how your feeling because he has been through it ALL before!

Path to Enlightenment

Three basic qualities which can lead to a peaceful mind and exceptionally happy life.

Sila – Moral conduct

Always behaving in a way which brings no harm to others or self.

Samadhi – Concentration of mind

Developing a calm and attentive mind which remains in the present moment.

Stilling your thoughts.

Becoming the master of your own mind.

Panna – Wisdom of Insight

Realisations of your own truth.

Insights arise during the experience of your meditation

Mr. Goenka has taught tens of thousands of people in more than 300 courses in India and in other countries, East and West. In 1982 he began to appoint assistant teachers to help him to meet the growing demand for courses. Meditation centres have been established under his guidance in India, Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, France, the United Kingdom, Japan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Burma, Nepal and other countries.

The technique which S. N.Goenka teaches represents a tradition that is traced back to the Buddha. The Buddha never taught a sectarian religion; he taught Dhamma – the way to liberation – which is universal. In the same tradition, Mr. Goenka’s approach is totally non-sectarian. For this reason, his teaching has a profound appeal to people of all backgrounds, of every religion and no religion, and from every part of the world.

10 Day silent meditation retreat

                 4.00am – Morning wake up bell

4.30am –  6.30am  – Meditation

6.30am –  8.00am  – Breakfast

8.00am – 11.00am – Meditation

11.00am –  1.00pm – Lunch

1.00pm –   5.00pm – Meditation

5.00pm –   6.00pm – Tea

6.00pm –   7.00pm – Meditation

7.00pm –   8.15pm – Daily Discourse DVD

8.15pm –   9.00pm – Meditation

9.30pm – Bedtime

If you feel brave and ready… follow the link to liberation…

http://www.dhamma.org/

Be Happy!! =)