|
Why
is the course ten days long?
How
many hours a day will I be meditating?
How much
does the course cost?
How can
I apply for the course?
I can't
sit cross legged. Can I meditate?
How can
I be sure I am capable of doing the meditation?
Do I
have to be a Buddhist to practice Vipassana?
Why is a
course conducted in silence?
Why is the course ten
days long?
Actually, the ten day course is the minimum; it provides an
essential introduction and foundation to the technique. To develop
in the practice is a lifetime job. Experience over generations has
shown that if Vipassana is taught in periods of less than ten days,
the student does not get a sufficient experiential grasp of the
technique. Traditionally, Vipassana was taught in retreats lasting
seven weeks. With the dawning of the 20th century, the teachers of
this tradition began to experiment with shorter times to suit the
quickening pace of life. They tried thirty days, two weeks, ten
days, down to seven days--and they found that less than ten days is
not enough time for the mind to settle down and work deeply with the
mind-body phenomenon.
Back to
Top
How many hours a day
will I be meditating?
The day begins at 4:00 a.m. with a wakeup bell and continues
until 9:00 p.m. There are about ten hours of meditation throughout
the day interspersed with regular breaks and rest periods. Every
evening at 7:00 p.m., there is a videotaped lecture by the Teacher,
S.N. Goenka, which explains the progress of one's experience through
the course. This schedule has proved workable and beneficial for
hundreds of thousands of people for decades.
Back to
Top
How much does the course cost?
According to the tradition of pure Vipassana, courses are run
solely on a donation basis. Donations are accepted only from those
who have completed at least one ten-day course with S.N. Goenka or
one of his assistant teachers. Someone taking the course for the
first time may give a donation on the last day of the course or any
time thereafter.
Back to
Top
How can I apply for the course?
Please download the PDF Application Form and fax the filled in application form.
Alternately, you can download this text version of the
Text Application Form and
email the filled in application form to info@khetta.dhamma.org
Back to
Top
I can't sit cross
legged. Can I meditate?
Certainly. Chairs are provided for those unable to sit
comfortably on the floor.
Back to
Top
How can I be sure I
am capable of doing the meditation?
For a person in reasonable health who is genuinely interested and
willing to make sincere effort, meditation (including "noble
silence") is not difficult. If you are able to follow the
instructions patiently and diligently, you can be sure of tangible
results. Though it may appear daunting, the day's schedule is
neither too severe nor too relaxed. Moreover, the stability of other
students practicing conscientiously in a peaceful and conducive
atmosphere lends tremendous support to one's efforts.
Back to
Top
Do I have to be a
Buddhist to practice Vipassana?
People from many religions and no religion have found the
meditation course helpful and beneficial. Vipassana is an art of
living, a way of life. While it is the essence of what the Buddha
taught, it is not a religion; rather, it is the cultivation of human
values leading to a life which is good for oneself and good for
others.
Back to
Top
Why is a course
conducted in silence?
All students attending the course observe "noble silence": that
is, silence of body, speech and mind. They agree to refrain from
communicating with their co-meditators. However, students are free
to contact the management about their material needs, and to speak
with the instructor. Silence is observed for the first nine full
days. On the tenth day, speech is resumed as a way of
re-establishing the normal pattern of daily life. Continuity of
practice is the secret of success in this course; silence is an
essential component in maintaining this continuity.
Back to
Top
|
Commonly Asked Questions About
Vipassana Meditation 
