Pain, breakdown and life skill - Vipassana retreat in the UK, Herefordshire

Many personal growth oriented people believe that technique of Vipassana is a simple, practical way to achieve real peace of mind that leads to a happy, useful life. Vipassana means "to see things as they really are". It is a logical process of mental purification through self-observation. In other words it is a mindfulness technique, mindfulness meditation practice. Body scan.

[@solotravellervj]

Since how long you have been practicing Vipassana technique

[@maggiedobosz]

2015 and I do not do it on a daily basis, sitting like that for 1 hour may happen 2 or 3 times a year. The most I practised straight after the retreat to keep fluency in the new skill, and it was super painful to my feet and legs every time so I knew I am doing it right :) never damaged any nerve but it really feels as if I am hurting my body, but I am not, after the meditation the pins and needles sensations subsides (passes as everything). But I exercise scanning sensations at least a few times a week, sometimes a few times a day, especially helps when I am actually moving, walking, being outdoors, very calming. On the way to work fr example. But yeah it is not the same as sitting motionlessly, it is just taking inspiration from this technique and matching it to my lifestyle so I can still benefit from it.

[@solotravellervj]

@@maggiedobosz keep doing it it's a great technique I have ever come across.

[@paulhowarth9065]

30 years at Pomona in Australia. Never commented on my experience publically!

[@RaviSingh-jw7mi]

Vipasanna changed my life. May all reach to nibbana

[@acidtrungpa4760]

My personal advice, drop all expectations, and approach this course with "the beginners mind" called in Zen. If this is your 2nd, 3rd or 4th course, approach it that you're there for the first time without expecting to repeat previous experience. If this is your first course, then every day, every hour treats as this is your first sitting at Day 1 :) Quoting Bhagavad Gita: “Let your concern be with action alone, and never with the fruits of action. Do not let the results of action be your motive, and do not be attached to inaction.”

[@MarcusOfDaggers]

I laughed so hard when you mentioned it feels like one's legs might get amputated upon finishing meditation. I haven't done a retreat, but I'm not flexible at all, and my legs go numb super easily, so even sitting for an hour to an hour and a half, I've had that exact thought before! It's nice to finally hear someone else say it out loud.

[@dionysuscreativellc7569]

People that have been through this journey have truly been blessed with a unique gift.

[@AZZaidi]

The beginner's mind comment is spot on. Pain was not part of my experience. I took a leaning seat with me, which enabled me to sit without discomfort. Vipassana is lovely.

[@maggiedobosz]

I think my physical discomfort came from the obstructed blood circulation due to the cross legged position for a long time, with no change, pins and needles afterwards, interestingly - felt like I need to experience the pain as part of the process, and just sit with it until the time passes and we are released to our rooms / canteen. I tried once to engage with my thoughts and maintain the position. The pain DID NOT build up, it was okay, I did not have much discomfort for the whole of that session, felt like I was cheating too because the point was to stay with sensations and let the thoughts pass by unengaged, re-focus on the sensations from the body at all times and 'wash the top to bottom and bottom up' with awareness of the sensations (scanning). That made me think that maybe it is not the physical position on its own but the awareness of the sensations that lead to the build up of pain and the physical discomfort, it was excruciating when I was doing the technique properly, every time, never started hurting less :) I'm telling myself that it works then hahaha

[@RajendraPrasad-zc6kh]

I have initiated many into vipassana. My first advice them to is to start sitting on the floor , how many ever times possible a day, starting with ten minutes till the maximum, atleast one month before they go to the real session. When they go to the real session, they can reap full benefit.

[@dellwright1407]

Good advice.

[@VriEvolutionTarot555]

Interesting!!

[@pushpendranaruka7460]

I also enjoyed by doing 10 day vipasna course . Doing that course is very amazing and unforgettable for me

[@kinsaleenglish6554]

A wonderfully expressed explanation, thank you so much for your insights. This video has really encouraged me to seriously consider doing a 10 day retreat.

[@godog011]

I did this in Pokhra, Nepal it was a cathartic experience. It was the toughest thing I ever did, the only way to approach this is complete surrender to your 2x2 light blue stage (the cushion) on which you spend 12 hours daily meditating. There was excruciating pain, tears, hallucinations, depressive thoughts,urge to quit as our sankharas (suppressed conditionings) surface and the body rebels and finally as we develop equanimity we reach an expanded state of awareness with free flowing sensations and a sense of stillness… Everyone must try this no nonsense meditation at least once in life it is life changing experience for the better.

[@elcapitano1972]

Lovely! 🙂❤️🏡🧘🏼‍♀️🧘🏼‍♂️🏡❤️🙂

[@ashift32]

Great summary, thank you

[@joejoe9979]

Buddha teached us love yourself and be responsible on your action as your action is lead to karma. The good karma and bad karma is on your control. Way of life.

[@vishwaskamble22]

Full of enthusiasm in sharing... Reflects the benefits of this greatest ancient technique discovered by The Buddha for mankind... thank you.

[@ericbwertz]

This was very interesting and helpful, in case I ever have the opportunity to do this. Thanks!

[@dheerajkumar-bp3gv]

Thanks dear Sister for your help to understand the novel Vipassana technique. Mangal Ho

[@navneetpandey7957]

This is what I actually wanted to do... thats why I am going to Vipassana....thank you for sharing your experience

[@manfromcaruaru]

wow. you explained wonderfully what you experienced perfectly. It helps me in my personal reflection on this. I am new to this form of meditation. I have been doing progressively for a year now. Thanks.

[@LailaHomemade]

Thanks Maggie. It sounds intense!

[@maggiedobosz]

It was! No surprise the skill stays, even without a regular practise it works each time.

[@ruralhealthandlifestyleman3672]

Hi very interesting

[@VriEvolutionTarot555]

Had this experience! Made a video on it too! I didn’t have to queue up because I had my room with my personal bathroom

[@maggiedobosz]

Wow, lucky you, sounds luxurious! :)

[@janpierzchala2004]

Lovely not looking at others

[@samuelswahn9749]

Thanks for sharing the surface level description of this experience. Hope u had deeper level experience as well which is less so verbally describable.

[@mrjr6971]

Recognizing everything you describe from my Vipassana 10 day experience. was it worth it? Absolutely 💚

[@huydo8605]

❤

[@ArtnCornbread]

❤❤❤

[@kunalpatel420]

sadhu saddhu🙏

[@neeeksta]

The first one in 1984 saved my life .. literally .. and so I did 11 more, and oh, and was a server for .. I lost count. DO it, stop thinking, and no you don't need preparation - this insane softy nappy wearing namby pamby modern life has ironically made life unbearable for multi millions. Life is far from easy, and this volunteering to do something hard gives you something that someone who hasn't done the course will never have.

[@maggiedobosz]

thank you for sharing!

[@jaikumartirkey5141]

Thanks for sharing you experience... I am going to attend vipassana on 25 april 23..

[@zitizen]

How was your experience

[@maggiedobosz]

yup, how was it for you?

[@davebyrne0]

Great to listen and watch your video. Last time I sat was 2013. I’m doing a sit in 2 weeks , both excited and dreading it - the pain ! 😅

[@maggiedobosz]

Thank you for commenting @davebyrne0

[@simeondawkins6358]

Ive been trained i got lucky found some awake teachers its very basic awaness training at Vipassana

[@forcolor9494]

Sounds like your on a good path now! This retreat is called a boot camp of meditation it’s not always been beneficial for people. They are researching the negative effects that can happen at Brown University. Cheetah house. Many come back with difficulty. Sounds like your on a good path now! You might not need this retreat. I was sorta talked into my first retreat and looking back I don’t recommend it to people. Don’t discount your own hard work to get where you are now. That’s awesome!! Good luck!

[@chuckhines459]

I would love to go there.

[@kodeh7931]

This was a great description

[@maggiedobosz]

Thank you!

[@mindoverpose]

I'm heading to my first vipassana retreat (the same one as yours!) soon and naturally a little nervous, but your video is so informative and brings a little ease. Thank you :)

[@maggiedobosz]

Thank you for the comment. How was it for you?

[@colinhume9211]

When you wake up smile. After every meditation smile. Do a 10min Do-in Practice before every meditation. Take vitamins and a water filter. Remind yourself the pain will pass. If you've started you need to finish. Love and the Buddha's blessings.

[@maggiedobosz]

Thank you for sharing your tip!

[@vijayshankarshrivastava3280]

Thank u for your beautiful explanation. My good wishes from India.

[@maggiedobosz]

You're most welcome! Good wishes from Stavanger, Norway :)

[@samuelswahn9749]

4am to 9:30pm for us. Only 2 vegan meals.

[@borninwashingmachine4582]

Can to expires body sensation and so on through doing vipassana gauided meditations 1 hour twice a day and also doing breathing exercises during a day. Not sure if it is equal to 10 days vipassana marathon however anyway as far as l do understand the accumulate effect can be the same. Thank you for reading

[@shivakrishna1743]

Thanks! for the video! Was the entire process useful to you? What changes/benefits you saw in your life?

[@maggiedobosz]

process was rough, after the retreat practice sessions needed self discipline so that was also demanding, but today, like 8 years later, I am still using the scanning for sensatios technique that gets me out of my head, suspends thinking and reconnects with the body and now.

[@shivakrishna1743]

@@maggiedobosz thank you

[@SammyZung-nv1cg]

Wow, thank you so much for sharing your experience and explaining your initial cause of resistance due to misconception. That is actually my concern too. I am kind of hesitant to sign up for the 10-day Vipassana retreat because it might cause me to be less driven or kind of livid in life and eventually not pursuing to accomplish goals. But now I realized that not what this meditation will do to my head. Thank you again.

[@dellwright1407]

Not only that but completing a 10 day course will be a real goal and accomplishment in and of itself. Not for the faint hearted.

[@maggiedobosz]

thank you for this comment, it feels like you appreciated what the other person shared, it was very kind @@dellwright1407

[@dellwright1407]

@@maggiedobosz 🙂🙏

[@nejmatoundz1620]

Thank you for sharing your experience. How did you feel when you left that peaceful place and how do you feel now after all this time. Are you planning another one ?

[@maggiedobosz]

When I left the peaceful place (physically) I felt like I took it with me. On the way back, already in London, I was travelling by underground and for the first time since childhood I felt... bored. I haven't experienced boredom because I was engaging with my own thoughts but after the retreat I was present, no thoughts other than processing sensations from my senses so I realised wow what's that feeling?? I am BORED Wow, blew my mind. :) moments of no thoughts or passing thoughts and finding space in between the thoughts is a common thing for me these days. I enjoy suspending thinking and just looking at the world around, feeling my body - back pressing against the back of the sofa, tickling blanket on my neck, things like that are very calming. Feels like my emotional world gets to zero, neutral level. Not planning another retreat in the future, I feel that I have incorporate moments of practice throughout the week, sometimes throughout the day so I don't feel like I miss anything. Life feels better with this practice. I learnt to rest in this way more.

[@Paramveer108]

I am doing VipassanaMeditation in home but planning to visit in January.

[@maggiedobosz]

How did it go? Did you try the retreat?

[@Paramveer108]

@@maggiedobosz "Yes, it was an amazing experience, and I will take the 10-day course again."

[@jimig6442]

It's more of a breakthrough, rather than a breakdown.. Breakdown sounds discouraging.

[@maggiedobosz]

then it would be... a breakthrough through a breakdown!

[@searay422011]

Thank you for your experience at Vipassana but each individual lives different experience you need to live the experience. It is very difficult to explain. Metta

[@laufissdichgesund7866]

Tanks for this video? Do you have any recommendations for such a retreat in Europe?

[@maggiedobosz]

I only tried with Dharma Dipa in Hereforsdshire in the UK, that's the only direct experience I had. 10 days meditation retreat on site. I do recommend that place and people. At the time it was donation based, not sure how they function these days, might be worth searching online!

[@ChrisBrooksbank]

I have heard of people injured for life by ignoring this physical pain

[@anjaliradhe]

when they come looking for you to see if you're ok, are you allowed to look in their eyes or talk?

[@maggiedobosz]

yes, they broke the rule to check if the person is okay, they spoke, I spoke and we looked each other in the eyes. I believe the rules are to help with the practice, if something might be wrong with you they need to act fast to help you - hence the rules are lifted for those situations.

[@rajeshb6851]

According to Congress psychiatrist how does vipassana adds values to human body and its stomach. Do reply. Thank you!

[@maggiedobosz]

feel free to share some research!

[@Eraj1979]

Since its about focus on breathing, and being mindful, why can't it be done lying down flat? why put one's body through the discomfort and distraction of sitting cross legged for hours? Appreciate that for certain other meditations one needs to do that. But for vipassana I did a guided meditation, where the guide said get your self in a comfortable position, sitting cross legged or lying down, and that the head, neck spine need to be straight and aligned.

[@qAmndAp]

Goenka says that too. Lying down may not be beneficial because you are not in an active position, but “sit comfortably” to your ability would be a good start for a first 10 days. Next week......

[@maggiedobosz]

Yup, I agree what was said by @qAmndAp In my view the position when you are lying down is very relaxing, even a bit too relaxing and perhaps easy to fall asleep. I had a nap by using vipassana technique where I focused ont he sensations in my foot, I did not manage the full body scan - I felt asleep and had a wonderfully refreshing 15 min nap. I think it is easier to be 'vigilant' and stay focused in the position that flexes your muscles in some way, sitting cross-legged or sitting on a chair with no back support etc, or with the support if you must. Just don't relax the body too much unless you are happy to fall asleep! :)

[@Akki-gl3bp]

Hey please tell me why i get more worried after few days of vippasana

[@maggiedobosz]

At the retreat or when you tried to do it at home just like an experiment

[@Akki-gl3bp]

@@maggiedobosz home mam

[@ashish888]

how much donation is appreciated after the course please ? If soemone gives me excact or average figure please.

[@RajendraPrasad-zc6kh]

They don't demand any. Whatever you give will be appreciated. My suggestions to friends asking the same question is, very first thing is you cannot quantify the returns from Vipassana with money. But even if we have to for donating purpose, if one is fairly capable, they can make a small calculation : average rent for the room anywhere in India × 10 days, along with food costs. This gets one out of confusion of how much to donate. Please note that, if everyone goes without donating, how any institution has to survive for that matter?

[@dellwright1407]

There is no suggested figure, what you give helps future student sit their course.

[@maggiedobosz]

I gave 50 GBP at that time, my income was scarce at that time and very unpredictable, not sure how it would be today as a norm - and I don't know what the norm is. They suggested to consider personal circumstances so I did.

[@paulhowarth9065]

stop doing this nonsense and let people find out for themselves, you do not have depth of experience to influence people with your personal opinions

[@karlschultz3337]

Enlighten up, bud