A Deep Dive into Silence:
My Vipassana Journey

As an individual, I have always been inclined towards spirituality in general. However, I had never really thought about practicing something as serious and sustained as a structured meditation program. However, my experience of Vipassana completely changed my perspective on the idea of meditation and the benefits one can experience through that process.

It was during the peak of the pandemic third wave that I went for my first Vipassana program, so there were challenges to be overcome in order to even get there. However, I was so inquisitive about Vipassana that I did everything possible to ensure that I did nothing to miss an opportunity, which eventually changed my life.

Through this article, I want to share my own reflections and experiences of the Vipassana journey I went through, and explain to people who haven’t tried it yet, what, according to me, the main context or idea of Vipassana is.

Getting to the Vipassana Program: Major Challenges amidst the Raging Pandemic

It was the last week of the year 2022, and I had come down to India to meet a close friend. We had plans to attend a ten-day Vipassana program at the Global Vipassana Pagoda campus in Mumbai. But as luck would have it, the day I reached Kolkata, I received news that my close friend (along with many other friends) had all been diagnosed with Covid-19. Unfortunately, it was the start of the very week in which the entire nation went into the grip of the massive Omicron third wave. While it was clear that my friend would no longer be able to go for the program, I had two options in front of me – cancel the trip, or go alone. I, as an individual, chose the latter.

I was so curious to learn about the Vipassana technique, and so excited to attend the program, that I locked myself up in my small Kolkata apartment for over a week to make sure I didn’t get infected with the virus. Finally, on January 5, 2023, I left for my ten-day Vipassana program, not knowing then that the experience would change my life and my outlook towards it forever.

A Brief Introduction to Vipassana: What is it?

Vipassana is a meditation technique that focuses on self-observation. It is an ancient technique of meditation that was later made popular by Gautama Buddha during his lifetime. The word Vipassana means ‘seeing things as they really are’. It is a technique of self-purification by self-observation and introspection.

The initial phase of Vipassana is called ‘Anapana’, which focuses on breath work to cultivate deep concentration. Thereafter, on the 4th day, practitioners move on to Vipassana itself. This involves observing bodily sensations with equanimity, without reacting with pleasure or aversion. This practice reveals that the root cause of suffering (‘Dukkha’) is our mental response to these sensations. By maintaining a neutral stance, practitioners learn not to generate new suffering. This equanimity towards both pleasant and unpleasant sensations helps break the cycle of reactions that leads to suffering, providing fundamental insight into the nature of ‘Dukkha’, our minds, and our true existence.

The Vipassana ‘Code of Discipline’ states that the practice is based on three parts – sīla-samādhi-pañña, which means ethical conduct, mind training, and wisdom, respectively. Ethical and virtuous living is the basis for ‘samadhi’ (control of mind). And it is only when ‘samadhi’ is attained that one can develop ‘Pañña’, or the real wisdom about the self, the real truth to eradicate all suffering or ‘Dukkha’.

Practicing Vipassana as a technique, in order to attain this universal remedy of ‘Dhamma’, is a deeply personal and spiritual practice and has no connection with any organized religion of the world. Hence, it can be practiced by anyone, anywhere, and at any time.

However, I believe the meditation will work best for individuals, or only suit those willing to work with the right intention and observe the discipline seriously. I suggest one to go for Vipassana only when one is ready for it. Otherwise, the experience can be quite challenging and daunting. When you are desperate to seek unanswered questions within, or when you feel there’s a calling, you will know within yourself that you are ready for it. This is why I think the strict ten-day schedule of the program is both difficult as well as extremely rewarding depending on how one approaches it. Ultimately it is a strong and solid platform to learn this beautiful technique and embark on the journey of true self-discovery.

What does the Daily Vipassana Schedule look like?

For all spiritual seekers who are interested to try out the ten-day Vipassana program and want to know what the daily schedule looks like, here’s an overview of the schedule from the official Dhamma website at www.dhamma.org

Daily Schedule during Vipassana Program: 

The Vipassana Experience: The 7 Things it taught Me

I think I’ve always been a person who is a bit curious by nature. I deeply introspect about the universe, people, myself, and I want to know and understand more, and learn new things along the way. Personally, I believe spirituality is like a personal unexplored path towards the ultimate truth about self. And it is on each one of us to embark on that path, find our own ways through it, at our own pace, to ultimately arrive at our own universal truth of existence. In my case, Vipassana got me closer to understanding spiritual growth more logically. Given below are a few of my core understandings from the Vipassana program.

1. The Power of Silence

One of the main things that Vipassana has taught me is that silence and stillness help you get answers to most of your unanswered questions about life. During the ten-day program, participants are not allowed to speak, make eye contact, or communicate with one another in any way. One can only speak to the facilitators in case of any problems, but that too in very minimal words. In short, the practice of Vipassana is about giving ten days of your life to complete silence and stillness – two things that work wonders for anyone trying to seek answers within and striving to build an authentic relationship with themselves.

2. The Importance of Discipline

Vipassana has also taught me that self-discipline is key to achieving anything in life, especially if you are striving to spiritually awaken yourself and triumph over the sufferings of existence. During the program, participants are on a strict schedule from 4 am to 9 pm daily. The important thing to note here is that there is no one to monitor you or admonish you if you are late, or don’t turn up for a session. It is supposed to be your own journey, with yourself, and hence requires your own self-discipline towards it, for you to gain the most from this technique.

This is something that has stayed with me beyond those ten days. I have realized that being equanimous and balanced in life is key to eradicating ‘Dukkha’ and attaining spiritual awakening towards finding peace. But understanding such complex and deep concepts and regularly practicing mindfulness to gradually spiritually awaken oneself to eradicate ‘Dukkha’ from life, needs much practice, and hence self-discipline.

3. The Potential of ‘Satsang’

The word ‘Satsang’ in Sanskrit is made up of two words ‘Sat’ meaning ‘good’ and ‘Sang’ meaning association. Vipassana taught me the importance of physical space and the value it brings to spiritual practice. How crucial it is to be physically present in an energy space where everyone around you has a similar purpose. Being surrounded by the right kind of people works like a catalyst in the case of self-discovery.

4. The Importance of Physical Health

When we think of spiritual growth, we usually think of using meditative techniques to tame the mind. However, what we often forget is the role that our physical health plays in this. During the Vipassana program, participants need to sit on the ground for long hours, keeping their backs straight, and practicing meditation techniques. This is quite difficult to do if one is not physically fit enough. The program includes separate time slots throughout the day for exercising, such as walking and stretching. Break times are also given in between for rest, sleep, and exercise.

5. The Value of The Right Kind of Food

Intricately linked to our physical health and mind, is our relationship with food. It was during the Vipassana course that I realized that eating light, eating simple, and in small portions, is key to both physical fitness and mental focus. Like most of the other points mentioned above, this is also a realization and practice I have adopted beyond the ten-day program.

6. The Significance of Practicing the Right Kind of Meditation Technique

I believe that finding the right meditation technique for ourselves is one of the biggest and most crucial milestones in our journey of self-discovery. I have always been an individual seeking answers to questions within. However, I never practiced meditation or wasn’t aware of which meditation technique suited me. Hence, I tried Vipassana, and it worked out for me. Vipassana inherently is a technique that talks about observation. Observing yourself, your mind, your thoughts, and your journey in a detached manner. It is a technique that helps you realize that you are not your thoughts, but an observer of your thoughts. In this way, through practice and deeper understanding, one journeys inward to find one’s true self.

7. The Power of Intention for Spiritual Growth

Lastly, and quite possibly one of the most crucial realizations for me, is the power of setting intention towards spiritual growth. True intention aligns our actions with our values, guiding us towards purposeful living. I believe that true intent to do something gives us focused direction and aligns all our thoughts and actions with our core aspirations. It anchors our spiritual journey and meditation practice with purpose.

Though I meditate, I am not one who spends hours daily in the practice of meditation as I used to. I have committed myself to a holistic journey of spiritual well-being. I integrate the meditation technique of Vipassana with the study of spiritual texts in a way that complements my daily life. The key is that I now understand the technique and its potential to help me reach the mental and spiritual space I aspire to. I hope that everyone who tries Vipassana can experience a similar transformative journey.

The technique of Vipassana involves self-observation and understanding bodily sensations in an equanimous manner, without reacting to them. This practice, combined with the knowledge gained from spiritual texts such as the Vedanta, Upanishads, and the Bhagavad Gita, facilitates a journey into spirituality. Spiritual well-being encompasses both an experiential understanding of oneself and an intellectual comprehension of one’s physical and metaphysical existence. This dual approach helps individuals attain a deeper sense of spiritual well-being by understanding their true nature both physically and beyond, leading to a holistic spiritual experience.