Vipassana

Meditation should be a part of life. Even our minds need fresh air. Meditation or Dhamma is not a religion but a way to a peaceful life.

I had applied in the month of April 2017 for the course in September at Borivli pagoda Dhamma with the help of this link. Sometimes your application might get rejected as they accept only limited number of applications for a course. I got the confirmation two weeks prior to the course date. For the course, I should stay away from my family at the meditation centre without any contact or means of communication for 10 days with anyone. Everything is free from registration to stay. 

The location is just near Essel world, Gorai. The pagoda has several branches and details you can find on their website. We have to carry our clothes with us required for ten days. I had to reach there by 4PM on the day of the course commencement. Best transport advice would be going by bus to Borivli station and taking a ferry to Essel World. You can walk from Essel World to the location. The way to pagoda is through a park called Sanjay Gandhi National Park. Our meditation center and stay was besides the pagoda. After reaching the centre we filled a form. We had to deposit our valuables, any religious stuff we are carrying,  mobile phones,  laptops, wrist watches, cosmetics etc. You may choose laundry service for Rs. 300 for 10 days. There is never a dinner in pagoda. So have your sufficient snacks in the evening. You get a room and a bathroom with toilet. 

Every  morning we could hear a wake-up bell at 4.30AM. We have to gather in the meditation hall on the 2nd floor with a drape to cover your head. We have to sit in dhyana till 6.30 AM. At 6.30AM, we get a proper Indian breakfast with tea, coffee, and fruits. Till 9AM we have a break time. Again from 9AM to 11AM meditation. At 11AM proper Indian lunch followed by meditation from 1PM to 3PM in our personal cell(small cells allocated to us to meditate). Evenings were mostly short stories and lessons by Goenka Guruji's in Hindi and English languages. The living area is separated for men and women but meditation centre is shared. You are not allowed to quit the course half way through. There is a garden area for walking in the evening. We are not allowed to run or jog but walk. The entire course is a silent meditation with no eye contact and exchanging smiles. You are not allowed to read or write. Lights out at 9.30PM.

Challenges: 

1. Cannot eat food whenever we want.
2. No contact of any sort with any one.
3. Getting up at 4AM and meditate all the time.

The challenge is to concentrate only on breath and trying to control our flickering minds. On our last day of the course we visited the pagoda and could even break our moun vrat. We got our deposited belongings back. The singer Kavita Seth, was also amongst us in the course. 

This course is not about spirituality or any religion. How overthinking and negativity is the cause of every problem in our life and how to stop that is the main motive of the course. This is Dhamma. Every course comes to an end but gives a hope and purpose to our lives. This one concluded with Kavita Seth singing her song Kehta yeh pal, khud se nikal, Jeete hai chal, Jeete hai chal!