My 10-day Vipassana retreat at Dhamma Ganga in Sodepur, Kolkata during 21-April to 2-May 2024

Photo Copyright: Satyabrata Maiti

When Vipassana Assistant Teacher, Dr. Satyanaryan Saha informed that he  is going to take two 10-day Vipassana courses in Sodepur, Kolkata starting in April, 2024, I thought of attending one, basically for two reasons (1) I have never had been in Kolkata Vipassan center, Dhamma Ganga and (2) since I was getting an inner urge to experience short Vipassan course after two long courses (30-day). It was a unique opportunity to fulfil both.  I did not hesitate further and booked my tickets and applied for the course.  When I was leaving from Anand on 9-Apr-2024, I got the information from Dr. Saha that he would not be in a position to take the course because of his unexpected urgent pre-occupation which can’t be left unattended. As I am a farm believer now that “তোমার কর্ম তুমি করো মা, লোকে বলে করি আমি”=   “Tomar Karma tumi karo ma, loke bale kori ami” (Translation: oh mother, you do your work through me and people think, I do.) and as per vipassana teaching I have to observe every happenings as an observer only, not involving in generating reaction, I decided to attend the course.   There was one more unexpected change in the schedule. The course was to start on 22-Apr-2024 and to end on 3-May-2024, the day of my departure for Anand for which advanced railway ticket was booked.  This change in fact,  was blessing for me since I planned to meet Chandrika (munnu) and her husband Manas who lives in Sodepur and our meeting would be after 26 years. I meet them last in Bangalore in 1998 immediately after their marriage. I planned to meet them while going to Sodepur Vipassana center and spending about an hour recapitulating our old memories.

On 21-April-2024, I left my Didi’s (Elder sister’s)   house from Tamluk, West Bengal at 12:00 noon and reached Dakhineswar bridge by 1:30 pm. I was mesmerized by the beauty of the temple since lighting was perfect to capture some good snaps. I requested the driver to drop me on the bridge and told him to meet after the bridge. I got down quickly, since vehicle is not allowed to stop on the bridge. After taking some good photographs, when I reached to bridge end, I found no car and also I left my mobile in the car hence I had no way to contact the car driver. I walked about a mile but could not find the car and returned back to the bridge again expecting that the car would somehow come taking a round. I again experience miracle when I could not find the car even after waiting for about an 40-45 min. I took a taxi to go to Vipassan center with an expectation that  from their somehow I would contact the driver taking some fellow meditator’s mobile. I told the story to the taxi driver. He told that if I can recognize the car, he would stop on the way.  Miracle do happen in my life again and again, I could experience it once again and I found our car in circle which was about to leave since he was also in utter confusion about what he should do next. It was a great moment that I enjoyed and we went to Munnu’s house and spent about 40 min. They also came with us to see the Vipassan centre and drop me. The centre is in a unique location just beside the Holy Ganga River and has Baro Mondir Ghat (12 temples). The centre is also located in the famous “Mallick Babur Baganbri” where Sri Ramkrishna Dev used to come and stay. It also became famous when Satyajit Roy used the Flamboyant Baganbari in his famous “Teen Kanya” shooting.

My registration process was very smooth because of Dr. Saha’s interventions. Mr. Pawan Kr. Gupta was kind enough to accommodate me in a single room. Teacher also recognised me and talk to me when I was walking in the garden. We had about 30 + male meditators and about similar numbers in female group. One Japanese tourist, Mr. Tom Mizuguchi also participated in the course. The Course started in the evening with surrendering to triple Gem: Buddhang sarnam gachammi; Dhammam sarnam gachammi and Sangam sarnam gachammi followed by Seela and  Anapana in the field of Samadhi. After three and half days meditators were introduced in the field of Pragnaya by Vipassana. Course came to an end on 11^th day morning with distribution of love and compassion to all living beings.

Every time I go to either short or long Vipassana courses, I learn many new things. The subject is so vast; it cannot be comprehended with one or two courses. More we walk in the path many things started unfolding to personal experience.

When I was back from this meditation, one of my friends asked me, what he should call me now, as Buddihist or anything else. This very question pushed me to write this blog to clarify some of the misunderstanding people do have which I call in Buddha’s language “Avidhya” (Ignorance). Lets’ understand first what Meditation means to various sectorial and religious term?

Numerous meditation techniques have been evolved by various masters of various beliefs. OSHO has listed quite a few in his book “The Book of Secrets: 112 Meditations to Discover the Mystery Within”. One interesting point to be noted that is every so call religions or even atheists recognized meditation to know “thyself”.   The major meditation techniques are as follows:

Christian Meditation

Christian meditation is a biblical practice encouraged in both the Old and New Testament. Christian meditation involves relaxing or stilling the body and focusing the mind for a period of time while thinking carefully about the words of Scripture, the character and nature of God, or contemplating spiritual purposes. The emphasis is on developing a closer relationship with God through a fuller understanding of his Word, and a deeper commitment to following his will and his ways. Inner transformation, as well as an enhanced biblical perspective, clarity, and balance, are the desired outcomes of Christian meditation.

Islamic Meditation

Islamic meditation is typically centred around creating a stillness in the practitioner, in order to connect with the divine. Sufism is a branch of Islam with a long history of meditative practices.

Jewish Meditation

Jewish meditation practices have centuries of history, starting around the 1st century CE within the tradition of Jewish mysticism, and expanding with the Kabbalah, a mystical Jewish tradition. Rabbi Dr. Benjamin Epstein compares mindfulness to the Jewish concept of Yishuv Hadaas, which is the Jewish imperative to cultivate peace of mind, tranquility, and composure.

Hindu Meditation

As the spiritual origin of meditation, Hinduism contains many varieties of meditation, from Kundalini meditation to Om (Mantra) meditation. Vipassan although rediscovered by Gautam the Buddha, about 2600 years ago but it has reference in “Rig Veda” which is considered to be amongst the earliest religious texts still revered by a living tradition (1500-1200 BCE).  Oftentimes, Hindu meditations are  practiced intertwined with the practice of yoga.

Modern Meditations used for therapy

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) combines elements of both cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness.

MBCT is typically used to treat depression, and has been shown to be especially effective in preventing relapse in those experiencing chronic depression.

Remember, your cognitive health is more precious than gold and must be protected through your golden years. Keeping your brain strong and healthy is just as important as keeping your heart healthy.

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) was developed in 1979 by Jon Kabat-Zinn.  MBSR programs have become a standard way to incorporate mindfulness into scientific research.

The basic principle of all meditations is: to have control over the mind or to increase focusing of our monkey mind. Vipassan only talks about cleansing of mind in addition to focusing.

You may experiment with various  meditation techniques that best connects with you. But with the astonishing number of meditation techniques available, it can be devastating to try them all. So you might consider just picking one and starting with it, and experimenting as you go  or Fix your goal in the beginning about what you want from doing meditation and choose a meditation type accordingly.  

Oftentimes, experienced meditators go through multiple forms of meditation before settling on one that connects best with them, or feels like it has the greatest effect on their daily experience. I am also not exceptional, before landing in Vipassana, I went through a couple of other techniques and ultimately found that Vipassana is scientific, secular, universal and explained well why and what we practice to achieve the goal.

Let us know a little more about Vipassana.

Vipassana Meditation is an ancient technique of self-observation that aims for the total eradication of mental impurities and the highest happiness of full liberation. Let me share some details about it:

1. What Vipassana means?
   • Definition: Vipassana, which means “to see things as they really are” not apparent truth, not truth seems to be, no imagination, no illusion. It is a form of mindfulness meditation.
   • Process and practice: Observing and practicing SEELA, SAMADHI and PRAGYANA in daily life. SEELA is the foundation of the course –abstain from killing ; -abstain from stealing; -abstain from sexual misconduct; -abstain from telling lie; -abstain from all types of addiction. SAMADHI is developing control over mind and PRAGYANA is the purification of mind by thorough understanding the nature of sensations that we encounter every moment on our body.

Observation Without Judgment: It involves observing oneself without judgment, focusing on the deep interconnection between mind and body.

Process starts with observing natural breathing to recognizing sensations from gross to subtle  on the body with an understanding of impermanence (Anitya). All sensations are arising to pass away. One should be a mare observer without having  any  positive or negative desire for such sensations since they are not permanent.    

Code of Discipline: During the course, participants must follow SEELA with noble silence for the entire course.

Course Duration:

Ten-Day Residential Courses: Vipassana courses are taught at ten-day residential retreats where participants learn the basics of the method and practice sufficiently to experience its beneficial results. It is totally free of cost.

2. How Does Vipassana Work?
   • Mindfulness and Awareness: Vipassana is a direct and gradual cultivation of mindfulness or awareness. It proceeds piece by piece over a period of years.
   • Intense Self-Examination: The meditators are trained to be aware more and more of their own following life experience, examining certain aspects of existence deeply.
   • Self-Transformation through Self-Observation: The technique focuses on observing physical sensations throughout the body, dissolving mental impurity, and cultivation a balanced mind full of love and compassion.
3. Benefits:
   • Reducing Stress and Anxiety: While more studies are needed, research suggests that Vipassana can reduce stress and anxiety.
   • Brain Plasticity: It may also promote brain plasticity, enhancing cognitive flexibility and adaptability.
   • Practitioners believe it can lead to enlightenment and increased awareness.

If you’re interested in exploring Vipassana further, consider attending a course. You can find more information and free courses at the Dhamma.org website

Some advice to those who are planning to join a 10-day course:

1. Have strong determination to test the technique with free mind.
2. Noble silence must be 100% followed. First 2-3 days your old habit pattern of talking my disturb you but when it becomes silent, your power of analysing a situation will improve.
3. Surrender 100% yourself to the technique for 10-days, thereafter you may dump it if it does not suit you.
4. Never ever think that you will be converted to any other religion. If at all nay conversion it does, that is from our ignorance to enlightening.

Epilogue

We must understand that our Dharma (=human characters) will not change by following rituals of Hindu, Muslim, Christens, or any other sect. It is universal and remain the same as long as we remain human being. Therefore, my answer to my friend is, I am Hindu by birth as per Indian constitution and human being by quality. Whatever, I follow, I shall remain   human, I may be a little better human understanding myself by Vipassan practice. Vipassan is a tool to tame the mind if consciously practiced.

On 1-May-2024 when noble silence was lifted, I could meet some wonderful meditators and was amazed to see some of the youngsters who started walking in the path.   On  2-May-2024, I left the Vipassana Kendra at 7:30 am realising nature of our mind that is beautifully reflected in a Tagor’s song “যা কিছু পায় হারায়ে যায়, মরীচিকা ধরিতে চায় এই মরু প্রান্তরে” (Translation: whatever we get, is lost, mind wants to catch oasis in the desert).

May all beings be Happy, Peaceful and Liberated!

Satyabrata Maiti

Disclaimer:  I am to make it clear from the mind of the readers that this is not a self-help guide for learning  Vipassana without going to a  Vipassana center.  It is only to make people aware about such a wonderful scientific technique available that can make us free from all our sufferings because of ignorance,  if practice in all sincerity. I may add here that no part of this blog is my original work. I have collected and compiled the information from the open source literatures and presented here only for information and knowledge.

Acknowledgement:

1. I am grateful to  S. N. Saha, my senior in the profession and now AT for helping me in his own way to be in this path.
2. Jagan Mohan, one of my IIHR colleagues who gave me the first information about Vipassan center opening in Bangalore in 1997 that stimulated me to take first course in 1997.
3. I am thankful to  Mr D.P. Mandal, Assistant teacher and two Dhamma Sevaks, Benoy Mandal and Mr. Tapas Roy for their support and care during the course.
4. I thank the Dhamma Ganga Vipassana Centre and its wonderful kind-hearted staff for making my stay and meditation peaceful.