Dhamma Wheel Buddhist Forum

Just make sure you are prepared for the chanting.

CHANTING?
they really stress the whole "noble silence" thing, so i figured it'd be quiet. or, i was HOPEING.

Hello all,

Goenka retreat- aversion towards Chanting
http://www.dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=8667" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I'm booked for another Goenka retreat 26 Dec - 6 Jan at Pomona Queensland - hopefully work will give me leave.

with metta
Chris

Hi delf,

delf7 wrote:CHANTING?
they really stress the whole "noble silence" thing, so i figured it'd be quiet. or, i was HOPEING.

The chanting occurs, mainly, during the 4.30AM-6.30AM meditation in the hall and it is SN Goenka chanting different suttas.
There are a few minutes of chants at te beginning and at the end of each group sit. The chanting is done by SN Goenka and no one else.
Aversion to the chanting is a common reaction.
kind regards,

Ben

I intend to sign up for my 1st Goenka course in March. I'm impressed with the testimonials I've come across and like the fact that it starts of with 3 days of Samatha. It seems more orthodox then the "dry vipassana" approach. Although I'm aware that the chanting grates on some peoples nerves, I appreciate that it represents an anchor in the Theravada tradition, without which it becomes just another secular meditation system.

You got me excited... I really like chanting. It gets some blood flow, forces some deep breathing, connects the thoughts to the body, has a soothing feeling, etc. Then I realized you mean I get to listen to somebody chant on a recording.... that sounds horrible!!

Buckwheat wrote:You got me excited... I really like chanting. It gets some blood flow, forces some deep breathing, connects the thoughts to the body, has a soothing feeling, etc. Then I realized you mean I get to listen to somebody chant on a recording.... that sounds horrible!!

Don't let it worry you. Do what everyone else does during the chanting - meditate. If you find it really disagreeable you will probably be allowed to meditate in your room during the 4.30AM-6.30AM sitting. Also keep in mind that part of the 'training' is to develop equanimity!
All the best,

Ben

i shall see (or hear) for myself, but now that i think about it, the chanting may be a good way to drown out other, more subtle, noises that actually may be more annoying, like someone's nose whistling, a chair creaking, etc...
and beings the chanting is only a recording of the teacher puts my mind at ease. i was envisioning a room full of people all chanting thier own things, which i think would be quite distracting.
regardless, i have applied for a course and am looking forward to hearing back from them to find out if i am accepted.
delf

My first retreat, whenever Goenka was chanting, I could not help but think of:

At some point, I burst out laughing because I could not get this image out of my head.

FINALLY !
i have been waiting 10 days to hear the news, and i just recieved e-mail from the meditation center informing me that my application has been accepted !!!
it is still a few months away, but i am pretty excited about it.
thanx to all who gave me advice & information about the retreat.
kind regards,
delf

delf7 wrote:FINALLY !
i have been waiting 10 days to hear the news, and i just recieved e-mail from the meditation center informing me that my application has been accepted !!!
it is still a few months away, but i am pretty excited about it.
thanx to all who gave me advice & information about the retreat.
kind regards,
delf

Well done delf!
I have been accepted to my long-course as well!
kind regards,

Ben

Ben wrote:
Well done delf!
I have been accepted to my long-course as well!
kind regards,

Ben

Another 30 days Ben?

You know, you never told the story of your 30 day retreat last year and I'm still pretty mad about it!

Hi MP,
I apologise I made you mad!
This year, since returning from Myanmar, has been extremely busy for me.
I will see what I can do about compiling something about my 30-day course and short pilgrimage for you in the next few days.
As for my coming course, this time its only 20 days.
kind regards,

Ben

I'm booked for another Goenka retreat 26 Dec - 6 Jan at Pomona Queensland -

Unfortunately, family circumstances have made it necessary for me to withdraw from the course this time. But, at least I've made someone on the waiting list very happy.

with metta
Chris

Ben wrote:

Buckwheat wrote:You got me excited... I really like chanting. It gets some blood flow, forces some deep breathing, connects the thoughts to the body, has a soothing feeling, etc. Then I realized you mean I get to listen to somebody chant on a recording.... that sounds horrible!!

Don't let it worry you. Do what everyone else does during the chanting - meditate. If you find it really disagreeable you will probably be allowed to meditate in your room during the 4.30AM-6.30AM sitting. Also keep in mind that part of the 'training' is to develop equanimity!
All the best,

Ben

Agreed. I should have hit the sarcasm button. It shouldn't be too bad. I've already upped my meditation quite a bit, excited about my first 10-day!!