Namaskar Oct 2012

To give one example, the root teaching of anicca strives to instil the
truth that everything, good or bad is impermanent. Rather than
freak out in the face of duress, Vipassana encourages you to calmly
remember it will pass, and remain more level, competent and able
to deal with situations of stress. A few gems of
understanding such as this seem to have remained
with me, resurfacing at odd and unanticipated
moments. Goenka’s technique is held up as the way
in which the Buddha attained enlightenment, but is
determinedly stripped of any religious doctrine or
‘ism’ to offer a universal path to happiness.
Essentially, I’m not sure if the course left me
feeling wonderful because I spent 10 days in the
quiet appreciating and reflecting, or because the magic of
Vippassana brings old students back to the course time and time
again. One of the most incredible outcomes of the experience was
the family of strangers it forged. The end of the course involves
time to reconnect with people before being let loose on the outside
world. This metta day (loving kindness) is most vivid to me now.
The laughter and humanity were almost tangible in the air, such
mass relief that 10 days were over, but so grateful they had
happened.
Hours upon hours of meditation left me especially sensitive to
sounds, tastes, touch and people. Retrospectively, I think the basis
for connection occurred surreptitiously throughout the course.
I want to finish with a little anecdote about a lovely Hong Kong
lady on my course. The bond was first forged when a spider bit me
on the leg in the meditation hall. Sitting down for what felt like the
millionth time, I flinched at a sharp pin in my leg. Looking around,
the lady sat behind me, about 20 years my senior, was brushing
away the spider. I smiled. This began a conspiracy of smiles and I
was met with a huge grin every time our eyes met over breakfast.
Vipassana is free, made possible by
students who have such an
experience they dedicate money or
time to strangers for the course
photos of our families. Such a strange and beautiful circumstance.
I am massively grateful for the chance I got to do Vipassana and
although its trial should not be underestimated, it sent me back
out into life
feeling
recharged and
reawakened
and
reaffirmed.
Vipassana is
free, it is
made
possible
entirely by students who have such an experience they choose to
dedicate money or time to the food and care of strangers for the
duration of the course. Every person’s response seems to be
different, and I am certainly happy I did.
the root teaching of anicca strives
to instil the truth that everything,
good or bad is impermanent
Amy has just moved back to Edinburgh from
Hong Kong to complete a degree in
International Relations. She is loving being
back in sunny Scotland and continues to
practice Ashtanga Yoga.
amydoffegnies@gmail.com
Vipassana Information in Hong Kong
G.P.O. Box 5185, Hong Kong
t: +852 2671 7031
f: + 852 8147 3312
e: info@hk.dhamma.org
w: www.hk.dhamma.org
Although any communication is forbidden, I reasoned to myself
that these few tiny gestures of warmth, surely, cannot be
detrimental to the aims of the course. The lady took on a motherly
role, when on the last day over breakfast she took the plate out of
my hands- to my bemusement, and washed it for me. After nine
days of no human contact, this small gesture of kindness reduced
me to the brink of tears. When the silence ended I eagerly
wandered over and was received in her huge embrace, but we didn’t
speak a word of each-others languages. Later, with our possessions
returned, I offered her a little key chain of a Buddha which
someone had given me once…The ripples seemed to be felt
around the camp…suddenly a cackle of Cantonese greeted me as
ladies congregated and looked at me as I bumbled to the
bathroom. Later she came to me with a red packet and a new friend
translated some sentiments between us. We showed each other
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