Day 6 into 7 - Insighful information came out - I am thankful

Yesterday's discourse what very very insightful, Goenkaji spoke about different enemies of the mind, & how many impurities the mind can have, all about the aversions, the miseries, the cravings, oh my goodness, how the mind is a manipulator. & that helped me uncover so many things that have passed in my life, & more specifically about an incident that happened at the beginning of the year that lasted 4.5 months.

for reference about the words used my Goenkaji, here is a website that answers https://www.vridhamma.org/A-store-house-of-answers-by-Shri-S-N-Goenka#Craving

I will also share some insights from last night's discourse of day 6 in a next post.  Some important highlights that will help you in your day to day life, and makes you open up your eyes about many things - I surely also encourage you to watch it regardless.

Also to mention, that after the 6 pm group sitting, they shared a wonderful video about Vipassana in TedX talk - here is the video to watch

After watching this, I was very interested to find out how can we spread the message about Dhamma all over the world, and help more people to find peace of mind, balance in their life, and more love and compassion

Anyways, going back to the discourse, after listening and getting myself ready for the meditation, I made sure to check on the sprouts I sprouted - watering them, and drying, brushing my teeth, filling my water bottles - than I sat down to meditate.

Oh... so many things happened in this meditation, so many thoughts, body movements, vibrations, electrifying sensations along the body, day 6 and almost during all my meditations, it was a sensation that was so present. Of course, always equanimity, and Anicca, impermanence. Nothing last, everything is in a changing manner... something we all need to know.

I will share some of the insights and what I have realized during that meditation which gave me more peace in mind, & also reflecting on how the previous Vipassana courses have came to give me self-realizations about so many other things too.

That night, sleeping was uncomfortable.. I had a strange dream/nightmare, that made my whole body shiver, & I couldn't find a way to be equanimous with it, or send love & compassion, it was so hard... and kind of disturbed my whole morning today - event my thoughts of writing are a bit itchy.

So in the dream, it was about a person who has planned on performing something in a resort that I used to go to during the summer, someone who is very down to earth, nice, who, asked me to write a note to the security at the door to give permission to his friend to come join him as he was afraid that because of his friend's looks, misery and poverty, they won't allow him in. So trusting this performer and I wrote a note and handed to the security.

All of a sudden, I hear fire guns, and the performer has been injured along with some people around him, and the hitter was not to be found... getting so worried & anxious about all what is happening, not knowing what to do & how to help, so started asking around to see who is the murderer, and to my shock,  it was the person I asked the security to allow his entrance... and here I felt so guilty, guilty of charge that I am the one who allowed this person in, he fired at his friend, the one who kindly asked me to give permission to allow him in... and I did that with a lot of love, kindness and compassion... ( during Goenkaji's discourse, he mentioned many stories and one was about killing, and how, after this killer met Buddha, he got on the path of Dhamma, and started sharing the merits of this practice and be became compassionate and started teaching the dhamma, also during the video on the TedX talk it was about that too) ( I had to go in the kitchen now to prepare a warm drink to get my mind and body warm so I can keep on writing...)

So I am in bed, rolling around, half asleep half awake, trying to find the equanimity in all of this... in addition to that, this murderer seems to have lived a miserable life, so unfortunate, so abused, and so not merciful, and in this resort, a lot of people who go there, are averagely well off, educated, and have the capacity to pleasure themselves, so he had other intentions when he came in, neither his friend of myself were aware of that. His friend died of the incident and I am still trying to rationalise all of this in my mind, asking for forgiveness,  trying to forgive myself, but this mind of mine was very stubborn, I couldn't let go of the idea that I was the one who allowed this to happen.. plus at the end of the dream, realizing that the family was gathering for dinner with their spouses, in a restaurant down in this resort (which in my dream, this resort looked so much different that what it is, even the chalet I used to stay at was so charming, so big, I was like how the heaven did we get this kind of chalet...) anyways, back to the main story, in the morning in the dream, we got an announcement that during this dinner, all the members of the family were murdered... all this became a Murdoch Mysteries, a series I never watched before, & I am simply guessing it speaks about murders and mysteries. & of course, my mind never was able to find equanimity - and I woke up.

The idea of doing something out of care, love, kindness and compassion, was translated into this, & the practice is to find equanimity with this, to forgive myself... wasn't easy... and I am still going through this today.

This brings up something I mentioned up at the beginning about an insight I had during the meditation at night.

At the beginning of the year, I offered a situation to someone I trust, out of compassion and kindness, in the knowing, that this offer is beneficial to both of us. In the offer contract, the main important items were well written, and knowing that person's way of being, my mind started shaking, and building stories - that one day this offer's agreement might change & I will have to be submissive to the new adjustments that were out of question.

So my mind tricked me into being submissive to it (The mind), not to the offer or the someone ...neither to the agreement (that was the insight, that made me feel so relieved) & I spent many months rolling this around, trying to find peace in my mind, and that just didn't happen... so few months in this agreement, as my intuition spoke to me... this someone came with another adjustment to the agreement... and I flipped... I simply couldn't find the peace, the equanimity in me to accept the changes, as that wasn't part of the agreement, & that made me feel so guilty, so bad, so unbearable, to myself... , at least I have realized that my mind tricked me for something I allowed to hunt me a long period of time, along to my intuition that is always present to protect me, only that, what I should have done is simply been more equanimous, and have let go of the thought from the start.. and allow what life has to show later to be instead of building blocks, and acting strangely and being so numb. Anyways, the relief happened when this whole agreement was unsealed - and each departed in their own way.

Anyways, those stories happen daily, simply observing the body' sensations, and allowing them to arise and be released, as everything is impermanent, Anicca, Anicca, Anicca..

Another word GoenkaJi loves to use is Sankhara  (mental reactions) you will hear it a lot in this discourses. ( You can find here and in my next post about the discourse: https://www.vridhamma.org/research/Vipassana-and-Vedana-as-Understood-by-a-Novice

It is already 10:47, on this May 12, 2020, and I started writing early around almost an hour ago, where I should have been meditating and heading out for a walk in the sun, even though it is getting cold.

Just to mention, the meditation last night helped me a lot, and I felt so much Metta, I even sent Metta to whom ever encountered me in their lives, that maybe, without any bad intention, I might have hurt them, or I haven't been up to their expectation, I am simply grateful to have been in your lives... and one day may you realize that all that I have done was coming out of compassion, kindness and love... even if the message wasn't as clear as that. We all do mistakes, and we are bound to be forgiven.

May you all forgive yourselves, and forgive others by finding the Metta in your heart, and by shinning your lights where ever you are... May you all be happy, find the equanimity in your path, allowing the calming of the mind, and feeling the subtler sensations in your body, and knowing that everything is impermanent,  & allow yourselves to live in the here and now. The is the Present, & that is the Gift.

Will continue about Day 7 in the second post - Gosh I have so many to write, and I almost half the day is over. (well kind of when you wake up at 5 and it is almost 11)

Have a wonderful day.. until later

Date to post May 12, 2020

15th to publish

That is what I LOVE! For your kids!

So Looking at the Vipassana website, I found this very interesting!

Are you READY?

Anapana Courses for Children

In a time of worldwide social transition and upheaval, more and more people throughout the world are seeking concentration, purification and peace of mind through the practice of Vipassana meditation. Vipassana means "to see things as they really are" and is a logical process of mental purification through self-observation. Many come to Vipassana late in their lives, wishing they had found this technique earlier because it is so effective in learning the art of living peacefully and harmoniously. The ideal time to begin the first steps of this mental training is in childhood when children as young as eight years old can easily learn the technique of Anapana meditation.
Anapana is the first step in the practice of Vipassana meditation. Anapana means observation of natural, normal respiration, as it comes in and as it goes out. It is an easy-to-learn, objective and scientific technique which helps develop concentration of the mind. Observation of the breath is the ideal object for meditation because it is always available, and it is completely non-sectarian. Anapana is very different from techniques that are based on artificial regulation of the breath. There are no rites or rituals involved in the practice or presentation of Anapana.
The ideal time to begin the first steps of this mental training is in childhood. Besides helping children to calm and concentrate their minds, Anapana helps them to understand themselves better and gives them an insight into the workings of their own minds. They develop an inner strength that helps them to choose right and appropriate actions over wrong actions, control and become master of their own mind. Anapana provides them with a tool to deal with the fears, anxieties and pressures of childhood and adolescence. Because of its simplicity, children find the technique easy to understand and practice.
This approach is traced back to the Buddha, who rediscovered and taught this technique nearly 2,500 years ago. The Buddha never taught a sectarian religion; he taught Dhamma - the Universal Law of Nature. Following this tradition, this technique is presented in a totally non-sectarian approach. For this reason, it has had a profound appeal to people of all backgrounds, of every religion or no religion, from every part of the world.

A technique for Today

Children today are growing up in a fractured and rapidly changing world. They need help to meet the challenges facing them and to develop their full potential. Anapana courses can help them find a way to live peacefully and productively, and to make the society in which we live more peaceful. In the words of Mr. S. N. Goenka, “They should grow up to be ideal human beings. That is our only aim.”

Objective of the Course

What is the right age to start meditating?
It’s a question that Goenkaji has often been asked, and his answer is usually the same: “Before birth! Then when the child is born, it comes out a Dhamma baby.”
Not all of us have been fortunate enough to have such an early exposure to the Dhamma, or to give our children such an early start. But more than ever, there are opportunities for children to learn the basics of meditation. And the results are often startling.
Over the past 15 years, hundreds of Anapana courses have been conducted exclusively for children around the world. These courses have yielded substantial benefits for the thousands of children who have attended them. Many of them have experienced a positive change in their outlook, behaviour and attitude. Many have found their ability to concentrate has improved and that their memory has strengthened. And above all, these children have acquired a tool that is of immense value to them for the rest of their lives. Children are, by nature, active and enthusiastic, with an eagerness to learn and explore. For this reason, it is appropriate to offer them an opportunity to explore themselves and their mind with all its hidden faculties, latent abilities and subtle complexities.
Learning Anapana plants a wholesome interest in self-introspection and meditation, which may open an entirely new dimension of life for them later on. Anapana courses for children have been conducted since 1986. These courses have been offered to children of various ages belonging to different socio-economic and cultural groups. They have been conducted in Vipassana meditation centres as well as at schools and other institutions, and are both residential and non-residential. Whether a children's Anapana course is held at a school or at a Vipassana meditation centre, it is essential that the students be given an opportunity to continue to practise Anapana for a short period each day after the course to yield the true benefits of the practice.

Children Courses - History & Spread

Mr. Vinoba Bhave, a leading disciple of Mahatma Gandhi, was instrumental in starting children courses in India. After meeting Mr. S. N. Goenka in the 1970s, Mr. Bhave was impressed with his work but he said, “I will believe this is worthwhile only if you can show that it works with hardened criminals and undisciplined school children.” Mr. Goenka gladly accepted the challenge and the course was arranged for the children which was very sucessful.
After this initial course, more than a decade passed until the launch of a formal meditation program for children. The first course took place in 1986, in a school located in the Mumbai suburb of Juhu. It was followed by many more courses, in India and around the world. Meditators enthusiastically stepped forward to serve. Although the format kept evolving; the response from participants, parents and teachers has consistently been positive.
In addition to courses in Government & semi-government schools, regular children courses are conducted for special groups like autistic children, homeless children, orphans, children with hearing and speech impairments, and children with physical and mental disabilities. The Government of Maharastra passed a GR No 'Sankirn 2011/296/11/se-3' on 5th October, 2011 for introduction of Anapana Courses to all primary and secondary schools in the state of Maharashtra.
For more details regarding the history and spread of Children courses, please click here.

How a Children Course Works

Today separate courses welcome children aged 8 to 12 and teens aged 13 to 16. Often the program starts in the morning and ends in the evening, There are also two and three-day courses.
Conducting the course is a children’s course teacher, who has undergone special training at a workshop. Along with the teacher are group leaders, each working closely with a small number of children.
Short meditation periods alternate with supervised play and activities, such as drawing and discussion. The objective is to give the participants an enjoyable experience, help them feel comfortable in a meditation environment and introduce them to the basics of Anapana.
Often the course site is a Vipassana meditation center but sometimes it is a rented facility. And sometimes, courses are held in schools as a recognized part of the curriculum.

Course Structure

To learn Anapana, it is necessary to take an Anapana Course under the guidance of a qualified teacher.
There are two steps to the training: In the first step the children make a conscious effort to abstain from all kinds of unwholesome actions. They undertake five moral precepts: practicing abstention from killing, stealing, lying, sexual misconduct and use of intoxicants and follow the code of conduct. The observation of these precepts allows the mind to calm down enough to proceed for the next step.
Next they learn and practice Anapana meditation - focusing attention on the breath as it comes in and goes out naturally. The entire teaching in all these courses is conducted through audio & video tapes of Mr. S. N. Goenka, principal teacher of Vipassana meditation, who reintroduced this teaching in India and many other countries. Each course is divided into small sessions of 30-40 minutes which includes both practice and understanding of the theory. Residential courses also include games and other creative activities. However more time is allocated to the practice of the technique. The course concludes with the practice of Metta-bhavna (loving kindness or goodwill towards all) in which peace and happiness gained during the course is shared with all beings.

Course Eligibility & Duration

Anapana courses are held regularly at permanent Vipassana centers and rented sites in different countries for children between 8 to 16 years, in association with Vipassana International Academy. Generally separate courses are organized for age groups of 8 to 12 years and of 13 to 16 years. The courses are of different duration to suit every section of the society.

1-day Non Residential Courses:

These are held around the world at schools, camps, and also at Vipassana Meditation Centres. Please follow the procedure as defined by each center. The age groups vary from place to place, hence students are requested to check details from the course schedule.
In one day courses, students learn the basics of Anapana meditation and the half hour practice sessions are combined with interactive discussion, creative activities, and quiet games in smaller groups. The sample timetable is from 9.30 am to 4.00 pm but this varies from place to place. Lunch and a snack are normally provided. The teachers are helped by other volunteers who make sure everyone has a good time.

2 or 3-day Residential Courses:

These are mostly held at Vipassana meditation centres, which are quiet and peaceful places. Boys and girls are taught in separate groups. The meditation sessions are the same as for a 1-day course, but there is more time to relax, to meditate and go deeper and to discuss your practice with the teachers.
In residential as well as non-residential courses, Children have to stay within the course premises for the entire duration of the course. They are also expected to refrain from all kinds of religious practices or other disciplines for that period. Girls and boys stay separately at all times during the course.
To participate in the course, children undertake to observe five precepts as mentioned above and observe the course related discipline. Anapana courses are also being conducted at various institutions like Schools, Orphan Homes, Homes for the Blind, Juvenile Homes, at their request and subject to certain formalities for the benefit of their children.

How to Apply

1. Read the Code of Conduct and Course Time Table
2. Select a Center: Select center/non center location convenient for you from Children Courses Schedule
3. Contact the Selected Center: Contact the selected Center and follow the procedure as defined by each Center.

Course Charges

All courses are run solely on the basis of voluntarily offered donations. There is no fee charged. The courses are financed by donations from the students who have completed a prior course and wish to share the benefits they themselves received by giving donations for the students who come after them.

Continuing the Practice after the Course

Continuity of practice is essential for children to get the true benefits of the technique. It is therefore recommended that the child be given an opportunity at home to continue practicing Anapana for a short period of 10-15 minutes each day, after the course. They can also be encouraged to attend refresher courses.

Impact on Course Participants

Parents report that after learning Anapana, their children cope better with problems, behave better, act less aggressive and watch less television. Children say that they use Anapana before school exams and in stressful situations. One boy had resented the time spent by his mother at meditation courses; after he learned Anapana, the resentment gave way to respect and closeness.
One schoolteacher received a surprise when she told a rambunctious 6-year-old in her class to sit in the corner and “meditate.” She was using the term loosely to mean calm down. But in fact the boy went and sat cross-legged on the floor, with eyes closed. The baffled teacher asked what he was doing. He replied, “I’m observing my respiration.” After school she checked with the boy’s parents, who told her about Anapana courses.
Fifteen years ago, a 13-year-old boy from France attended a number of children’s courses. After one course he wrote, “Meditation is a special moment that a person spends in quietness far away from noise, far from everything! Particularly this tranquility, which we find so rarely in life. Life is a river that we purify so little except during meditation. It is sometimes peaceful, sometimes agitated, sometimes clouded, sometimes dark. The mind is always overloaded with all sorts of thoughts. Meditation is an excellent way of taming the wandering mind. It is also a remedy for anger and melancholy.”
That boy is now an adult, and he and his wife are both serious Vipassana meditators. He hopes his two children will attend courses when they are a little older, as first steps along the path he has chosen for himself.
India has also experimented with courses for autistic children, homeless children, orphans, children with hearing and speech impairments, and children with physical and mental disabilities. In Pune, for example, a home for destitute children has offered Anapana courses for the last 10 years to its 400+ residents. Some children have gone on to learn Vipassana in longer courses. Daily meditation has immensely improved their self-confidence.
In Myanmar, there have been courses for children with visual or hearing impairments, children affected by leprosy, and juvenile offenders in various institutions. In the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis in May 2008, old students organized a visit to southern Myanmar to offer physical assistance as well as Anapana courses; about 1,500 children participated within a few weeks.
To read experiences of course participants, please click here.
Other countries have also experimented with courses for children who have hearing and sight disabilities, homeless children and children affected by leprosy. The results have been impressive. For more details, please click here.
Varied and detailed research has been undertaken to study the impact of Vipassana on children. To read research reports and other artciles, please click here.

Anapana in Schools under MITRA Upakram (Project)

MITRA Upakram is an initiative of the Government of Maharashtra in association with Vipassana Research Institute to facilitate wholesome mental growth of school children. MITRA, which stands for MIND IN TRAINING for RIGHT AWARENESS also means DOST in Hindi or FRIEND in English. Under MITRA Upakram, schools in co-ordination with VRI arranges for its students to get initial training of 70 minutes of Anapana, through audio/video instructions of Mr. S. N. Goenka. After the initial training, the school children practice this technique daily for 10 minutes twice - before their first class, and after their last class. Under MITRA projects, school teachers get paid leave to attend 10-day Vipassana courses. For more information on MITRA project, please click here.

Anapana Session for Children - Total 70 min

The following link contains detailed audio instructions on Anapana meditation in various languages. Links for Hindi and English languages contain audio instructions by Mr. S. N. Goenka.

• Hindi    

• English   

• Marathi   

• Tamil   

• Telugu   

• Kannada

 Ref: https://www.vridhamma.org/Children-Courses

Another Website for the course http://www.children.dhamma.org/en/

Here a video that explains.... May you all find the benefits of sending your children to meditate and learn how to calm the mind, and be more kind and compassionate.

Speaking about Food during this Water Fast / Liquid fast Challenge

What I have realized today during my meditation (May 11, 2020) is that it is not about eating, it is all about cooking... this is what I miss.

Preparing meals, mixing things, making juices, smoothies, granolas, dehydrating, (I am currently sprouting to be able to prepare things in the coming days), that is exactly what I miss, time in the kitchen.

I have experienced many things lately, specially during the quarantine period, I even made bread, from the little ingredients I have.

So the idea is not just make something and find the recipe online, it is more then that... First look in the cupboard, see what is available, check any recipe for any thing I had in mind, and try to see what can I use from what I have. As mentioned in an earlier post, I haven't been grocery shopping for almost a month (and yes, I miss that too.... I love being in the grocery shop... ask my friend Manny, he saw me glowing inside one.. just seeing the abundance of food, the organic produce, and products... oh yes I miss that... soon, very soon I will head to TAU Laval or Mile End Epicery soon.)

Trying to be smart with what is available. Like for example, before my 2:30 pm sitting today, I decided to take out some carrot pupls I saved from juicing almost a month ago, and put it in a pot, with garlic, turmeric, ginger, water and organic vegetable broth, and left it there on very low temperature to cook. What I have realized is that my meditation was really flowing with vibration, from the top of the head all the way down, really nicely with lots of equanimity, oh that was wonderful... until my belly started making noises from the laxative herbal tea I had this morning, but nothing has occured yet. I think, just the thought that I prepared the soup, being in the kitchen gave me the pleasure... not sure if that is a Shila, or what does he call it... it is a nice pleasure to prepare anyways, I feel good, and that helped my mind to be so present & I did enjoy the meditation.

Now having the soup on the stove, waiting so soon I put it in the vitamix to mix it and maybe allow myself to take few sips.

I just wanted to mention this today... as I found another pleasure then writing... which is cooking...
funny I am saying that, and noticing that this Blog was created in 2012 because I loved writing and was truly inspired... and my challenge was to learn how to prepare raw food, as I couldn't afford spending my salary at Crudessence, back in the days... go figure... who thought one day I can mix things without the need for the ingredient book (check one of the first posts...) and follow every recipe in each book that I had to translate so I can post it here ...from french to English...

I guess, all of this is a wonderful reminder, and a great gift to remember.... we all have gifts within us.. dig deeper and they shall blossom.

Love ya!!



PS: I have been food recycling! I find this very interesting... the taste though... definitely needs a lot of adjustments

Carrot pulp - Garlic - Turmeric - Ginger - Dried spices (Onion, celery, rosemary, thyme, herbal salt, Coriander)

Taste was so so - that I had to squeeze a lemon and add black pepper to taste a bit better

So the few things I have prepared during the past days...

A look like miso soup

This one I added water with organic miso broth, plus these algae

I added it because it contains a lot of Iron and Vitamin B12

and it looked like this - had a small cup and froze the rest.

As for this one, I made one small cup, then throw the rest... it was way too expired...

Mouloukia Soup

Viriya, The Pāramī of Proper Efforts

I felt, sharing these info are so meaningful, for whom ever feel the peace within... in JOY

Viriya, The Pāramī of Proper Efforts

- by S. N. Goenka

Pāramīs are virtues—that is, good human qualities. By perfecting them, one crosses the ocean of misery and reaches the stage of full liberation, full enlightenment. Everyone who is working to liberate oneself has to develop the ten pāramīs. They are needed to dissolve the ego and to reach the stage of egolessness. A student of Dhamma who aspires to attain the final stage of liberation joins a Vipassana course in order to develop these pāramīs.

Little by little, one develops these pāramīs in every course. They should be developed in daily living as well. However, in a meditation course environment, the perfection of the pāramī can be greatly accelerated.

A human life is of limited duration, with limited capabilities. It is important to use one’s life to the best purpose. And there can be no higher purpose than to establish oneself in Dhamma, in the path, which leads one out of defilements, out of the illusion of self, to the final goal of ultimate truth. Therefore no effort is more worthwhile for a human being than the exertion of all one’s faculties to take steps on this path.

In a Vipassana course, a meditator makes best use of his energy and of the time at his disposal by developing the faculties of sati (awareness) and of paññā (insight). The student strives to become conscious of everything that is happening within himself, from the grossest to the subtlest level. At the same time, one strives to observe dispassionately whatever reality may manifest at this moment, with the understanding that this experience is impermanent, this will also change. These two faculties, in proper combination, will lead the meditator along the path to full liberation, full enlightenment.

From time to time, because of the ingrained habit pattern of the mind, the meditator is inundated by waves of craving, aversion, sloth and torpor, mental agitation, and scepticism. These are nothing but the reaction of one’s own mental defilements, trying to stop the process of purification one has begun. The wise student persists in the struggle, using all his or her energy to oppose these enemies. One thereby strengthens oneself in the pāramī of viriya.

Truth is God

- by S. N. Goenka

Not long after I started teaching Vipassana in India, a course was organized at Sevagram. This is the village founded by Mahatma Gandhi as a place for people to carry out his ideal of a simple life of service. Among those who participated in the course were several who had been close to Gandhiji in his lifetime. Near the end of the course one of these people, an elderly man, came to me and said, “Now at last I understand what Gandhiji was doing, after all these years!” And he told me the following story.

It had been the custom of Gandhiji to hold mass prayer meetings to which tens of thousands of people would come. At these meetings he would tell all the people to chant prayers or hymns and to clap their hands. But while they did so he would sit silently in front of them, with closed eyes and hands folded in his lap. He did not clap his hands not utter a word himself.

“One day,” this man told me, “I asked Gandhiji, ‘Why don’t you chant and clap with everyone? What are you doing as you sit there with closed eyes?’ He replied, ‘I am witnessing God within me.’

‘You witness God within yourself! That is wonderful! Please tell me what form God takes in your inner vision.’

‘Well, throughout my body I can sense change taking place, a constant flux or flow. This is the true nature of this body. I observe this truth. And for me this is God. Whether it is really true that there is a supreme God I cannot say, but there cannot be any doubt that truth is real. For me truth is supreme, truth is God. I experience this truth moment by moment within me.’”

Gandhiji had never even heard the word “Vipassana”, but he had spontaneously started practicing the technique. After all, what is Vipassana except observing the truth about ourselves, the truth of our ever-changing nature? And whoever observes this truth is naturally transformed by it to become a pure-minded person who is fit to experience ultimate truth.

Questions and Answers

Student: Aren’t there any chance happenings, random occurrences without a cause?

Goenkaji: Nothing happens without a cause. It is not possible. Sometimes our limited senses and intellects cannot clearly find it, but that does not mean that there is no cause.

Student: Are you saying that everything in this life is predetermined?

Goenkaji: Well, certainly our past actions will give fruit, good or bad. They will determine the type of life we have, the general situation in which we find ourselves. But that does not mean that whatever happens to us is predestined, ordained by our past actions, and that nothing else can happen. That is not the case. Our past actions influence the flow of our life, directing them towards pleasant or unpleasant experiences. But present actions are equally important. Nature has given us the ability to become masters of our present actions. With the mastery we can change our future.

Student: But surely the actions of others also affect us?

Goenkaji: Of course. We are influenced by the people around us and by our environment, and we keep influencing them as well. If the majority of people, for example, are in favour of violence, then war and destruction occur, causing many to suffer. But if people start to purify their minds, then violence cannot happen. The root of the problem lies in the mind of each individual human being, because society is composed of individuals. If each person starts changing, then society will change, and war and destructions will become rare events.

Student: We’ve talked quite a bit about anicca, impermanence. What about the teaching of anattā, which is ordinarily understood as “no self” and “no abiding self?” Ordinarily we think that we need a self in order to function in the world. We have expressions like “self-esteem” and “self-confidence”, and we believe that “ego strength” is a measure of a person’s ability to cope with daily life. What does this “no-self” teaching mean?

Goenkaji: For those who haven’t experienced the stage of “no-self,” it is true that in the apparent world there must be an ego, and this ego must be stimulated. If I don’t crave anything, I won’t get the stimulation I need to function. In my courses, whenever I say that craving and attachment are harmful, people say that if there were no attachment, no craving, what would be the fun of living? There would be no life. We’d all be like vegetables.

Being a family man who has done business in the world, I can understand their concern. But I also understand that when you work with this technique and reach the stage where ego dissolves, the capacity to work increases many-fold. When you lead a very ego-centred life, your whole attitude is to do as much as possible for yourself. But this attitude makes you so tense that you feel miserable. When, as a result of doing Vipassana, the ego dissolves, then by nature the mind is full of love, compassion and goodwill. You feel like working, not only for your own benefit, but for the benefit of all. When the narrow-minded ego-stimulation goes away, you feel so much more relaxed, and so much more capable of working. This is my own experience, and the experience of so many people who have walked on the path.
This technique does not make you inactive. A responsible person in society is full of action. What goes away is the habit of blind reaction. When you work with reaction, you generate misery. When you work without reaction, you generate positive feeling.

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May these information enlighten you in your path of life, may you realize that you can start anytime being this, living this, and admiring at all times what life has to give.... Life is magic as I always say.. simply allow it to be.

A noble act

This is how a true meditation is performed...

I truly would like to find the best way to offer the same to my clients who come see me for guidance, assistance in the energy healing I provide... as it is my only source of income.

Vipassana Course Finances

According to the tradition of pure Vipassana, courses are run solely on a donation basis. Donations are accepted only from old students, that is, those who have completed at least one course with S.N. Goenka or an assistant teacher.

In this way course are supported by those who have realized for themselves the benefits of the practice. Wishing to share these benefits with others, one gives a donation according to one's means and volition. Some taking a course for the first time may give a donation at the end of the course or at any time thereafter.

Such donations are the only source of funding for courses in this tradition around the world. There is not wealthy foundation or individual sponsoring them. Neither the teachers nor the organizers receive any kind of payment or favour for their service. Thus, the spread of Vipassana is carried out with purity of purpose, free from any commercialism.

Whether a donation is large or small, it should be given with the wish to help others: 'The course I have taken has been paid for through the generosity of past students; now let me give something towards the cost of a future course, so that others may also benefit by this technique.'

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How wonderful, how mindful, how attentive... may we all live in this generosity of life, may we all find the way to live together as one.

Date - May 11, 2020

Day 6 - 4 more Days to go! Yuppy!

Oh my goodness, time passes to slowly though the the challenge will end soon, though not the journey.

This journey of mind purifying, allowing it to rest, and be at all times equanimous, is a long way to go... practicing in your daily meditations, and day to day life, will help you a lot to be focused and ultimately get there.... to liberation.

Today I finally woke up at 4:22am, only got up at 4:50am to get ready, shower, set for meditation for an hour, morning chanting, then a warm lemon water - following I joined the online group sitting from 7-8am.

At around 9 am decided to get ready for a walk, by the time i got dressed, and make myself a laxative tea, as with no functional enema, & no epson salt, this garbage inside is not getting out... even when you drink water and liquids.. this must come out.

The nice bit warmer weather out there was kind, the wind touching the face, sometimes slow, and sometimes harsh... after a 6.60 km, the sun came out, so I simply sat on the bench and bathed in its warmth... oh how lovely to feel the touch of the sun rays on your face, how rejuvenating to be in that energy, I sat there for 30-40 min enjoying every moment.

Coming in home that was a full almost 2 hours out, it is time to drink something warm & get ready for more meditations. With Vipassana in the process, being equanimous with mind, with everything that arises, to let go, as everything is anicca, impermanent - this is the real challenge... even if you have been a meditator for years... and a vipassana meditator too, this takes time, especially sitting down, trying the full hour not to move, and your legs get so numb, that once you allow them to move, you can feel nothing... & that is tough.

Over the night, last night, most of my dreams where about food, grocery shopping, fruits and vegetables... all that you desire was in the dream... although I do not believe I dreamed of any animal product... or maybe what the animal produces... cheese and eggs. Haven't had these in a very long time.

You know, parts of the precepts we follow upon taking a Vipassana course is abstaining from killing any living creatures, and one of them is killing to eat animals, or have them killed for you to eat them. Although, from even before, I have stopped eating animals since I slowly got into a full plant based lifestyle - which I love & am grateful to be living it.

So here are the precepts we follow:

The foundation of the practice is sila - moral conduct. Sila provides a basis for the development of samadhi - concentration of mind; and purification of the mind is achieved through panna - the wisdom of insight.

The Precepts

All who attend a Vipassana course must conscientiously undertake the following five precepts for the duration of the course:

1. to abstain from killing any living creature;
2. to abstain from stealing;
3. to abstain from all sexual activity;
4. to abstain from telling lies;
5. to abstain from all intoxicants.

There are three additional precepts which old students (that is, those who have completed a course with S. N. Goenka or one of is assistant teachers) are expected to follow:

6. to abstain from eating after midday;
7. to abstain from sensual entertainment and bodily decoration; 
8. to abstain from using high or luxurious beds.

Old students will observe the sixth precept by having only herbal tea or fruit juice at the 5 p.m. break, whereas new student may have tea with milk and some fruit. The teacher may excuse an old student from observing this precept for health reasons. The seventh and eighth precept will be observed by all.

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Even though it is mentioned during the course, I believe this should be abstain at all times.
Why to kill any creature that is alive, specially insects, we live in their environment, so we should learn to live together... and for the last 5 years since I have taken the course, I have not, won't say never as we never know, have intentionally killed an insect... I helped a bee get out of the water, a taranchula to get out of our retreat site, twice - on separate occasions.  I took out a cockroach out of our chalet on the beach - my parents didn't believe I would do that... and so on and on...

Abstain from stealing... shouldn't this be at all times!
Abstain from all sexual activities - it is mentioned during the course because you don't want to get lost in the lust and pleasure, which takes out the mind to a different focus. In the discourse, what Goenkaji mentions is, to abstain from hurting anyone sexually, or doing anything sexual without the consent of the partner. As once anyone does anything that hurts the other, he/she is hurting him/her self more.. this is where the impurities of the mind get stuck.

Abstain from telling lies... why should anyone lie anyways, what is the benefits from lying. A person who lies, is someone who is afraid to be judged, or looked down at... the truth will always come out, so why not say it in the first place.

Abstain from all intoxicants ... speaking behind anyone's back, judging people, or bullying ... we should abstain that during all our life... being kind, compassionate and loving is what humans should be.

Abstain from sensual entertainment and bodily decoration, during the course, this is of important, as you don't want your eyes to start looking outside of yourself... after the course, I believe it is also good to be minimal in your decoration, or smells, being modest, using essential oils instead of chemical perfumes.. ( at the beginning, I didn't get it, later, I realized it makes a lot of sense)

Abstain from using high or luxurious beds, we are all equal, and no one is better then the other in how they live, how you are makes you unique, kind, loving, compassionate and caring. Aim for that.

Off to meditation now, followed by a 2:30 pm group sitting, and again at 6pm, then the discourse of Day 6... Can't wait.. that is what keeps me moving... and looking forward to finish this challenge.

PS: with the liquids I am having, the body gets full, and it stays strong, you just need to be gentle with it, give it all the care and love. Other kinds of nourishment will come soon, once I decide to buy groceries. I realized that since April 12, 2020 I didn't step into a grocery store to fill my fridge.. I have been on an intermittent fast where I eat at 11/12 (breakfast - a granola bowl or a smoothie) followed at 5/6 or 7 a dinner (that can be a salad with lots of sprouts)

So I was able to handle a full month without buying anything, and simply using from what is available, and FYI I live alone now - Had a flatmate and she used to buy her own food - she never liked to share when I proposed to buy organic food that I can prepare plant based food for both.. anyways, life is a choice, and I respected that.

Only time I went was a 10 days ago to get all the ingredients to make kimchi - a kind of sauerkraut - so Green & Purple cabbage, beets, I added ginger, tumeric, garlic. So they get ready by the time I finish this challenge.
Also got an original kombucha, which I prepared my own with that started & the scooby, and they should be ready in 14 days!

Anyhow, living with little, is feasible and very much doable... we don't need much to be satisfied, simply being grateful with the little that we have is enough... what ever comes in more, be happy and thankful.


Here is the discourse of tonight... looking forward to watching it later at 7:20pm.

Adios! Till tomorrow we meet, another day will be born..

 

Day 5 Vipassana Meditation & Water - Liquid Fast

Day 5, & I will tell myself, 5 more days to go!!! Simply hearing that makes me feel almost accomplished.

This is not an easy process, it is one of the big challenge I took on my own, at home alone.
Being on Campus with the group of Vipassana meditators makes a huge difference, even if you are in silent and not allowed to speak to anyone, you simply know that you are not alone, and well taken care of, from food preps mornings and noon time to tea time in the evening, the instructions of every meditations, the morning chanting, and the simple walk around the campus, that is precisely well lay out for you in order not to get lost, or get out of the path.

I totally encourage you to at least try it once in your life, and trust me, the first time I was there... I thought that was enough... then I came again two years after, then again a year after  to serve... and serving is a heavenly experience... so selfless, caring and serving with full love, kindness and compassion.

As for the water fast, that too, don't do it alone unless followed by a medical doctor on campus, like we did in Egypt. Making sure you are flushing all the garbage in your intestines every day... & being with a supportive group whom you share with, talk to, and experience that journey together.

Unless you want to do it alone, then there are ways to follow, just don't mix Vipassana with Water Fasting. I am stubborn so I did. (95%)

The morning half day course wasn't as easy in my meditations as I wanted to be, "I" the "I"... no more expectations, that is the learning here... experience things as is, here and now.

So in the NOW of my meditations, the first hour in the guided meditation was good... the following hour, the own alone time... my mind wandered around in my past, my teen life, the abusive relationships I had... and so many impurities came out... it was tough to witness all of this again... and to write simply about " abusive" here... in my mind I though wow, I have so many stories and confessions to write about... so many that can empower women out there and let them know they are not alone... so many that I am simply sending love, compassion and forgiveness to these men... From 17 - 23 where the hardest ever...

All that I had to go through, the first birthday surprise ever that I missed for my twenties which was planned by my cousins... because that ex was supper possessive aggressive.... & didn't allow it... & so many stories... I believe he was mentally ill and I was too young to notice & very much afraid to share or tell anyone... I remember after that I said no more boys in my life... I simply want to have friends and be free... no attachments what so ever... until I met a good ones in my early thirties... he showed me love does exist... doesn't have to be abusive... thought that relationship didn't last, I knew God sent him for a reason, to open up to relationships again and not be afraid to be in love... that path also showed me, that the first step to be in love, starts with self-love... & I have been on this path for 8 years now.

Enduring all these thoughts in my mind, & my body's sensations going strangely within... I figured, I maybe know what I would like to do from now on... & what I would like to be

"An Author"
Or maybe I prefer
"A Writer"

feeling an author comes from authority, where are writer feels more right.

To write about all my journeys, the good ones and the hard ones, the empowering ones, and all the path to be here and now... I am simply grateful for all life's experiences, it taught me a lot, even in the hard days.. so the shinny ones can be seen openly and freely.

Photo by Suzy Hazelwood from Pexels

Photo by Suzy Hazelwood from Pexels

Photo by Suzy Hazelwood from Pexels

Today is May 10, 2020, my Birth day is in 10 days... Stepping into my 40ties. What a Gift.

A dream to be fulfilled, maybe from now on, my writings will be the healing journey for so many...in addition to the meditations I put together, and energy healing sessions I offer (www.rawhealing.ca)

Maybe I'll also add more public speaking conferences and support group sessions ... for everything I have endured in my life & learned from... to feel this peace within...

"Early years of Childhood... Teens life... Major Brain Surgery, The Journey into a career, The Awaken Moment, Reborn, , Living with a Meningioma Brain Tumor for 11 years, The path into Raw Food, The Journey into Energy Healing, The Discovery of Self in my own eyes, All the Retreats, Meditations, The Businesses and Events I put together... Volunteering... etc..."

And to be honest, this journey/challenge of Vipassana & Water/Liquid fast, home alone, gave me the courage to write again... after all these years... although I am writing what ever comes to my mind, without checking the spellings, mistakes, grammar or even the sentences' structure... I simply hope the message is well received & you are enjoying my writings... when I decide to publish them after this journey.

I am off to my 2:30 Group sitting meditation... then hopefully should the weather gets warmer outside, I will go for a small walk ( it is cloudy, 7 degrees, feels like 2, and the wind 33km.h & wind gust 50m/h, I can even hear it from here)

I will continue later to add the discourse of tonight...