I think I'll be attending a 10 day vipassana meditation course over the summer. Has anyone else been to something similar? It'll be my first time taking any kind of meditation course and I was just curious what to expect. I'd love to hear about any experiences.
Illinois Vipassana Meditation Center, Dhamma Pakasa Street Address: 10076 Fish Hatchery Road, Pecatonica, IL 61063 ??? For a schedule of their courses in 2005: http://www.dhamma.org/schill.htm I've been cosidering this also, but the one in Massachusetts (http://www.dhamma.org/schmass.htm) Darrell
Hey!! I am attending the 10-day one starting January 10th and am very excited about it! This is my first time too and would also like to know what to be expecting! Mine is located in North Fork, California.
A lot of sitting. Most people cannot even stand to sit for over two hours. Not out of boredom, but out of pain to the knees, joints and hip. Lots and lots of sitting. Also there's walking meditation. I've never been to one, but I have seen the preparation in one meditation retreat. The retreatant actually had to build a box to sit in because they also had to sleep in this position. But I'm not sure if that was Mahayana or Theravada retreat. Perhaps it was Mahayana. In any case, you need to contact the center to be properly prep'ed so you do know what you will be faced with. That way you don't go in with expectations. Sustained expectations lead to disappointments. Sustained disappointments lead to impatience. Sustained impatience leads to anger. Sustained anger leads to hate. Sustained hate leads to malice, strife, murder. Darrell
