Doubts about Goenka course! - Need advice please

[Jhana4]

Many Hindus participate in ten-day courses, particularly in India where the Govt of Maharashtra gives its employees an additional ten-days leave on top of their holidays to do a ten-day course.

Now that, is a perk.

If you have time before your course starts, I recommend that you track down and read a copy of John Coleman's excellent "The Quiet Mind". John Coleman is a contemporary of Goenkaji and anothr of Sayagi U Ba Khin's students. In the 1950s, Coleman was outed as a CIA agent in Bangkok and 'disappeared' by spending a number of years undergoing a spiritual journey where he met up with U Ba Khin, Maharishi, Krishnamurti and others. Coleman eventually became one of U Ba Khin's assistant teachers and he still teaches today (occassionally). It is very inspirational.

I'm putting it on my to read list for the year, thank for bringing it up

[motivateman]

Dear Jhana4 and Ben,

Many thanks to both of you for your replies! I much appreciate your advice.

Cheers!

mm

[parth]

Dear Motivateman,

I am a Hindu and have been associated with Vipassana for about 15 years now (U Ba Khin / Goenkaji's tradition). I dont think there is any contradiction there. Infect you may end up understanding Dhamma / Gita much better. Dont think go for it, post Vipassana you might actually understand the true meaning of several Kabir Dohas and so on so forth.

What may go down is your faith on certain rituals which you may come to realise were started by brahmins/ other sections of society for their personal monetary gain and do not have much to do with Dhamma.

For 10 days please just honour the following:
1. Noble Silence - most important
2. try to work on mindfulness to the maximum and follow instructions with zest

The gain you can get cannot be measured.

Metta

Parth

[motivateman]

Dear Parth,

Many thanks for sharing your thoughts. It was good to read this from a fellow Hindu.

I'm just going to go for it!

I'll let you all know how it goes!

Thanks again to all!

Cheers,

mm

[tiltbillings]

Dear Parth,

Many thanks for sharing your thoughts. It was good to read this from a fellow Hindu.

I'm just going to go for it!

I'll let you all know how it goes!

Thanks again to all!

Cheers,

mm

Going for it is a great idea. Whether or not you continue with the specific sweeping type of practice or not, by the end of the retreat you will have gotten a good feel for mindfulness and concentration that will carry over nicely into your everyday meditation. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

[Euclid]

Dear Parth,

Many thanks for sharing your thoughts. It was good to read this from a fellow Hindu.

I'm just going to go for it!

I'll let you all know how it goes!

Thanks again to all!

Cheers,

mm

Great stuff! Nerves are totally natural, we all get them. You'll be fine. We all can't wait to hear how it goes

[parth]

One last thing whatever you may have read / heard about Vipassana / Dhamma till now, forget it and just follow the instructions that you are given in the course without doubts.

Regards

Parth

[Jhana4]

One last thing whatever you may have read / heard about Vipassana / Dhamma till now, forget it and just follow the instructions that you are given in the course without doubts.

Then when you arrive back home remember all of those things you decided to temporarily forget. I agree, if you go on a retreat for a particular method, seize the opportunity to experience what is unique to that system. Empty your cup and give that system 100% while you are there. Some time after the retreat has passed when you have been doing it in ordinary life is a good time to evaluate with everything else you have learned in your life.

[parth]

Jhana4 wrote :

Then when you arrive back home remember all of those things you decided to temporarily forget. I agree, if you go on a retreat for a particular method, seize the opportunity to experience what is unique to that system. Empty your cup and give that system 100% while you are there. Some time after the retreat has passed when you have been doing it in ordinary life is a good time to evaluate with everything else you have learned in your life.

Agreed.

Regards

Parth

[rowyourboat]

Good luck, Euclid!

with metta

Matheesha