I'm headed off to a Goenka retreat tomorrow and I'd love any advice from those further along than I when it comes to preparation, hints, pitfalls to avoid, etc.
Another thing I was wondering: As I'll be gone from my friends and family for a bit, and I need to let them know why they won't be hearing from me, I'd love to have just a general quote on meditation or non-self to post on Facebook or something as I say I'm leaving. I'm pretty private about this stuff but if I have to mention it, I'd like to have something a little more important to say than just "off for a week, the stream of Huffington Post articles and 80's music videos you've become used to will resume when I get back" haha. Any great, simple quotes about the path that would speak to the people I'm alerting to my absence?
Thanks so much!
A Buddhist discussion forum on the Dhamma of the Theravada
Off to Goenka!
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Off to Goenka!
by LonesomeYogurt » Mon Apr 16, 2012 11:17 pm
Gain and loss, status and disgrace,
censure and praise, pleasure and pain:
these conditions among human beings are inconstant,
impermanent, subject to change.
Knowing this, the wise person, mindful,
ponders these changing conditions.
Desirable things don’t charm the mind,
undesirable ones bring no resistance.
His welcoming and rebelling are scattered,
gone to their end,
do not exist.
- Lokavipatti Sutta
Stuff I write about things.
censure and praise, pleasure and pain:
these conditions among human beings are inconstant,
impermanent, subject to change.
Knowing this, the wise person, mindful,
ponders these changing conditions.
Desirable things don’t charm the mind,
undesirable ones bring no resistance.
His welcoming and rebelling are scattered,
gone to their end,
do not exist.
- Lokavipatti Sutta
Stuff I write about things.
-
LonesomeYogurt - Posts: 900
- Joined: Thu Feb 23, 2012 4:24 pm
- Location: America
Re: Off to Goenka!
by retrofuturist » Mon Apr 16, 2012 11:24 pm
Greetings,
Get an early night's sleep.
Best wishes for your retreat.
Metta,
Retro.
Get an early night's sleep.
Best wishes for your retreat.
Metta,
Retro.
If you have asked me of the origination of unease, then I shall explain it to you in accordance with my understanding:
Whatever various forms of unease there are in the world, They originate founded in encumbering accumulation. (Pārāyanavagga)
'We should not congratulate someone on the success of their misdeeds, but on the contrary should endeavour to advise him or her to lead a more skilful and wholesome life. If such advice is ignored then we can only give up and let go' - Phra Panyapatipo
Dharma Wheel (Mahayana / Vajrayana forum)
Whatever various forms of unease there are in the world, They originate founded in encumbering accumulation. (Pārāyanavagga)
'We should not congratulate someone on the success of their misdeeds, but on the contrary should endeavour to advise him or her to lead a more skilful and wholesome life. If such advice is ignored then we can only give up and let go' - Phra Panyapatipo
Dharma Wheel (Mahayana / Vajrayana forum)
-
retrofuturist - Posts: 13616
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- Location: Melbourne, Australia
Re: Off to Goenka!
by Ben » Tue Apr 17, 2012 2:30 am
Greetings LY
All the very best with your upcoming retreat. I know that before my first 10-day course which was nearly 27 years ago, I filled with fear and trepidation. All I had was the recommendation from a school friend and two printed pamphlets "The Art of Living" and "The Code of Discipline" which are still available from the Vipassana Meditation website.
My first course was really hard but intensely intensely rewarding. Keep in mind that it isn't an easy experience. Apart from some stops and starts - I haven't looked back.
For some people - its too difficult. If you go in with a strong determination to complete it (come what may) and you work as instructed then you will (in all probability) have a good experience. And by "good" I don't mean "pleasant".
If you have any questions or concerns - feel free to either raise them here. You are also welcome to contact me directly should you wish.
with Metta
Ben
All the very best with your upcoming retreat. I know that before my first 10-day course which was nearly 27 years ago, I filled with fear and trepidation. All I had was the recommendation from a school friend and two printed pamphlets "The Art of Living" and "The Code of Discipline" which are still available from the Vipassana Meditation website.
My first course was really hard but intensely intensely rewarding. Keep in mind that it isn't an easy experience. Apart from some stops and starts - I haven't looked back.
For some people - its too difficult. If you go in with a strong determination to complete it (come what may) and you work as instructed then you will (in all probability) have a good experience. And by "good" I don't mean "pleasant".
If you have any questions or concerns - feel free to either raise them here. You are also welcome to contact me directly should you wish.
with Metta
Ben
...he wondered whether there was any love between human beings that did not rest upon some sort of self-delusion.
-- John le Carré, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar)
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e: ben.dhammawheel@gmail.com
-- John le Carré, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar)
Buddhist Global Relief
UNHCR Somali Emergency Relief Appeal
e: ben.dhammawheel@gmail.com
-
Ben - Site Admin
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Re: Off to Goenka!
by cooran » Tue Apr 17, 2012 7:35 am
Hello LY,
All good wishes - work hard and stay the distance, no matter how you feel from time to time.
with metta
Chris
All good wishes - work hard and stay the distance, no matter how you feel from time to time.
with metta
Chris
---The trouble is that you think you have time---
---It's not what happens to you in life that is important ~ it's what you do with it ---
---It's not what happens to you in life that is important ~ it's what you do with it ---
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cooran - Posts: 6052
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- Location: Queensland, Australia
Re: Off to Goenka!
by wizi » Wed Apr 18, 2012 5:48 pm
Hi Lonesome Yoghurt, on my first course, I met a dancer who told me on Day 10 that it's better to quietly slip away and not let anyone know you are on a silent meditation retreat. A thousand and one things could pose as an obstacle to getting on a retreat. In hindsight, she's so right. Have a good retreat! 
All beings like yourself are responsible for their own actions. Suffering or happiness is created through one's relationship to experience, not by experience itself. Although I wish only the best for you, I know that your happiness or unhappiness depends on your actions, not on my wishes for you.
May you not be caught in reactivity.
May you not be caught in reactivity.
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wizi - Posts: 76
- Joined: Tue Mar 15, 2011 4:47 pm
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