It's been a long time since I've added anything new!
The Vipassana was an unreal experience! One that I will NEVER forget. It's something I think that everyone should do, at least once in their life. 10 days of silence, 10 hours a day of meditating. Sounds painful, I know, and at many times it was!! But the overall outcome is so amazing that all the painful times are forgotten so easily. I've never had so much time to think, and reflect and plan. Believe me, my mind wasn't ALWAYS resting!!!
Here's the website if you're interested in learning more about Vipassana. The entire basis behind it is quite simple, and probably easier if you read about it yourself. Of course, if anyone finds they have questions, I will do my best to answer them, however, I knew practically NOTHING going in to it, and I think it's probably better that way. I didn't have time to stress or worry about anything, I just jumped right in!
http://www.dhamma.org/
We handed in our books, journals, cameras... everything that might distract us from staying 'quiet', so I wasn't able to get many photos of the place. But here's what I was able to capture.
This is one corner of my room. Michelle and I were lucky to have our own rooms... some others had to share. It was so nice to have my own place so I could get away from all the 'quiet'!
This is the walkway on the way to the main meditation hall.
Unfortunately this photo doesn't do this sunset justice at all. I wasn't able to get the right colours.... the mosquitoes were far too intense for me to stand in the bushes too long!
This is the Pagoda. It's a temple with concentric circles of small, closet-sized rooms intended for private meditation. Each of us had to sit in our own cell. Traditionally, meditators sit facing the centre of the Pagoda, so depending on the location of some of the cells, that means that some people have to sit facing a blank wall. A little creepy. The whole thing is creepy really. But.... I just chalk it up to new experiences and go along with it!!
*I promise that I'll have one more post for y'all! I'm a bit delayed and getting used to being back home, but I have a few more pics and thoughts.......
