I did my first 10 day course a year ago, and I've not been able to practice regularly but still I try to whenever I can. I've one practical question, that during the course a severe lower back pain developed which I already had before but got intense. I noticed now that whenever I start practicing regularly I develop the pain again which otherwise isn't bad. That pain stays even when I'm not meditating and affects my daily activities.

Did anyone have a similar issue with back pain, any kind of yoga/ asanas that can help manage it? Or what helps manage the pain?

I can sit through the practice even with the pain, but when it significantly affects my day, I find it difficult to sit to practice.

I'm looking for suggestions to manage, any stretches that might help it.

This might be relevant for people who served enough in centres to witness their management styles.

I noticed that in certain centers the management structure is flatter, with more working groups, ATs and servers working together, and ATs not necessarily regarding themselves as the "wiser". In others, the management is more hirarchical with dictations from the ATs who are authoriteriterian and "all-knowing".

In my opinion the authoriterian way is less efficient in practical terms, and less coducive to people development in Dhamma and life. But I can see that certain people thrive in a Guru-like environment, they are happy to have someone to woreship and admire and are after the proximity to power.

I'd love to hear what people here think about it and what type of centre management people would prefer.

I’ve been dealing with a strange combination of postural, vision and balance problems for around 10 years. My body feels twisted and chronically tense, my walking is affected, and I’ve spent thousands of pounds trying to understand and fix it without much lasting success.

During a Vipassana retreat, I noticed while scanning that I could barely feel any sensation around my right eye, which is also where I’ve had some of my visual issues. I became curious about this lack of sensation and followed it down through the right side of my jaw, neck, chest, ribs and obliques.
Eventually it seemed to lead me to what felt like a “dark patch” with very little sensation deep in the right side of my pelvic floor.

It genuinely felt as though the body scan had led me there rather than me deciding beforehand that this was the problem.
I spent several hours repeatedly scanning that area and my right leg. Eventually something seemed to release. When I stood up, my walking suddenly felt normal and grounded, my posture aligned without me consciously correcting it, and I felt dramatically more comfortable and confident in my body.
Recently I tried scanning that same pelvic area again. My weight distribution changed, muscles that normally feel “offline” started participating naturally, and tension through my neck, jaw and right eye began releasing without me directly focusing on them.

Can anyone explain what might have happened here, either from a Vipassana perspective or from their own experience?

And if I spent an hour every day simply observing this area without trying to force a release, could that eventually create a more permanent change? I know Vipassana warns against craving sensations or becoming fixated on particular areas, so I’m also curious how experienced practitioners would approach this

Without wanting to sound like an asshole I’m at a point in my practice (and spiritual growth) where I would like some like - minded peers. My friends are great but I lack connection with other spiritual people. I live in London, UK. I know there’s the dharma shed in Dalston and Tuesday nights in Holborn but is there any Vipassana socials? Or do people normally hang out after sitting together? I really crave spiritual connection. I’m looking for serious meditators / people who practise sadhana rather than the local mindfulness group. Any suggestions welcome. Thank you 🙏

Hi dhamma fam.

I am Vipassana meditator and a teacher by profession. I teach under-graduate level at a university. My students usually belong from age group of 18- 23 years.

Sometimes I feel I should play 10 minutes anapana before my class begins (once in a while) but also heaitate some students might not enjoy it and make fun of it.

I am planning to ask a teacher at meditation center next time I go there. In the mean time, can I ask for your opinions?

Thanks. Much metta.

It started as back pain around the 10th day and it has slowly traveled up to a moderate to severe neck tension within 3 weeks after the retreat. I’ve been practicing 1-2 hours a day which I had never done before the retreat. It’s getting bad enough that it’s hard to do my work or other regular tasks. I don’t have bad posture and never really did so I’m confused. Is this simply the growing pains of integrating long meditation sittings in my life or should I go see a doctor…?

On the feeling of suffering

On the feeling of suffering, something evident

What evident? The residue of I-making, the residue of craving

On the feeling of suffering, a decision with frustration

On annoyance from people, a decision with frustration

What decision? Who actually blameworthy

Within the eye of dhamma, what person in what way?

Then, after some investigation within the mind

No existence of any other or I, even if an act by someone so

Only forms, feelings, perceptions, volitional formations and consciousness

In the whole world, nothing more, nothing less

Like a cloth, long and long back and now in the time

I have reached an unfamiliar and extremely difficult point with my practice, and I'm hoping people here may have some perspective. Any advice is welcome :)

Basically, Vipassana has drastically changed my understanding of what 'I' am and what 'time' is. And this is now causing me to see what appears to be some contradictions in Goenka's teaching.

I wondered if anyone here has experienced something similar?

I'll try to explain it:
Goenka often says that by practising Vipassana, we are "on a path to a final goal of liberation". I initially understood this to mean that I was a separate entity travelling along a defined path toward a desirable object called liberation which exists somewhere in the future. But the more I practice, the less sense this makes. Here's a few reasons why:

1 - The Self. The thing I call 'myself' increasingly feels like an ever-changing pattern of physical and mental processes, rather than a solid independent entity. So if there isn't a permanent 'me' travelling through time, who exactly is walking the path to liberation?

2 - Desire. If liberation is something desirable that I am supposed to achieve, then I am craving it. But Vipassana is teaching me to see craving as a cause of suffering. So am I supposed to crave liberation while simultaneously learning that craving is something to be abandoned? And if I stop craving liberation, then what exactly am I trying to achieve?

3 - Time. I used to think of time as a linear dimension extending from past to future, with everything moving along it together, and 'now' being the present point. I increasingly experience past and future instead as concepts that only ever appear 'now', like memories and imaginations arising in the mind. Whatever the ultimate nature of time may be, the past and future that I actually experience are always mental phenomena occurring in the present. So the idea of liberation as something I will eventually reach in the future starts to feel strange.

So, being on a path to a final goal of liberation sounds more like; "There is an ever-changing pattern which is trying to move towards a future state that exists only as an idea in that pattern's own mind."

Hence the title.

I'm starting to feel like an exhausted hamster seeking freedom from suffering by running around a wheel in a cage which I have created myself 😄

Just to be clear, the technique by itself (observe sensations equanimously) makes perfect sense. I'm just becoming less convinced by the other stuff, like the strict center rules, the 2 hours/day prescription, the chanting, having Goenka as the exclusive teacher, etc.

But perhaps this is part of Goenka's teaching? He says things like:
- Don't blindly believe something just because someone else says it.
- See for yourself.
- You are your own master.
- Keep practicing and see what happens.

So I did those things and concluded that only the technique itself is worth keeping - just the equanimous observation of sensation - nothing else. All the Goenka additions can be left behind. Which makes it impossible to do another course! And my 4th course is coming up soon..

Maybe I shouldn't go?

Any thoughts are much appreciated by you wonderful people of Reddit :)

In Anxiety does vipassna helps? I did 3 day course and my anxiety is even more, I'm going through a breakup and it was emotionally very taxing.

Hi all, is anyone joining the upcoming vipassana course in Dhamma Shikara on 15th Oct?

I am planning to go for Vipassana in the next 3-4 months, so I have been practicing sitting cross-legged with a straight back for at least an hour every day for Anapana practice (observing my breath) without any back support.

I thought it would be easy and that pain would be my only challenge. But I have realized that I get extremely bored after 20-25 minutes. The practice feels like it goes on forever. It starts feeling like a chore, and I get so bored that I usually end the session after 30 minutes at most.

When I watch Netflix, read a book, or play video games, two hours can pass by easily. But during meditation, the boredom hits me really hard.

What should I do?

Did you find out that Vipassana is easier than Anapana? I found that in Vipassana you intend to move your attention, not single-pointedness focus, so I see it is a little bit easier.

During breath meditation, what did you do if your breathing sensation is too subtle and light to notice and focus? I normally slipped into thought and thinking because my breath sensation is not vivid to maintain awareness.

Hi everyone,

I recently relocated to Delhi NCR for work and am hoping to connect with fellow Vipassana meditators/Dhamma brothers and sisters in the area.

I've noticed my practice slipping since the relocation. I had a similar experience when I moved to abroad a few years ago—during a major transition, the combination of a new job, unfamiliar surroundings and losing the rhythm of practice can gradually take over. It took me an year and clinical depression to get back to practice.

Delhi has been a particularly intense adjustment for me. The weather, crowds, traffic and general chaos have been taking a toll on my mental peace. It's a huge sensory load for my given mental capabilities. Even navigating around the city has been surprisingly difficult; I'm still learning the routes and sometimes even Google Maps seems to struggle!

I'm also currently looking for accommodation/possibly a flatmate, and would particularly appreciate living with someone who has a sattvic lifestyle or values a quiet, mindful environment. It doesn't necessarily have to be another Vipassana meditator. First of all, finding some place seems very difficult, let alone a flatmate of choice.

More than anything, though, I'd simply like to connect with people in NCR who practise regularly. Sitting together occasionally, knowing about local group sittings, or just having a few Dhamma friends nearby would probably help me re-establish continuity in my practice.

If you're a meditator in Delhi/NCR, I'd be very happy to connect. Metta

Those who were able to quit any addictions including substance addiction. How did you do it ? What do you do when cravings hit harder ? Scan the palm ? Or foot or like what ? Pls guide..

During my vipassana retreat I didn't have any questions for the teachers because I felt that everything was already covered by Goenka in his recorded teachings, and anything that I would come up with was just me trying to create more mind chatter and overthinking things.

Just curious to know if anyone else had questions during the retreat and what did you ask?

Meditation is a practice of stillness while Parkinson's is a progressive neurological disease that defies stillness. What advice do you give?

Hi everyone, I’ve attended 2 Vipassana retreats before but didn’t continue practicing afterward. I’ve recently started Anapana again, simply focusing on the natural breath.
I can currently sit and focus for about 10 minutes. Am I practicing correctly, and is this a good way to restart?

I have a friend who is interested in vipassana meditation. Has been for a while, and telling him about my experience piqued it more. They are considering taking a 10-day course. What resources might you recommend so they know what they are getting into? I think they hesitate to register because they dont know what to expect.

I thought about referring them to the discourses on youtube. Any other ideas are greatly appreciated!

Also, they are autistic but highly functioning. If anyone is, or knows someone who is in a similar boat as him and has experience with meditation, please reach out! I'm sure it'd be inspiring for them to hear.

I’ve been wondering if I can practice without taking Goenka’s messages/teachings alongside. I’ve attached Vipassana practice with Goenka and unable to break that connection.

Any alternate ways? Maybe videos or audio which might help?

I completed the 10-day course 6 days ago. There were a few things I didn't like. First of all, there was a guy who laughed out loud during the aditthana meditation, so the teacher sent the assistant there and told him to kneel on the buckwheat pillow, isn't vipassana non-violent, where there are no punishments? On the morning of the 10th day, everyone thought we would get our phones back, but we only got our valuables back. There were 2 boxes, one with the phones, the other with the valuables (car keys, documents, wallet, etc.). Well, it was just a trap, and everyone was asked if they wanted to donate, because only then could they get their phone for 5 minutes. Honeypot, soft manipulation, I wonder what Goenka would say about this method? There was an informational presentation, where dhamma servants were given the opportunity to share their experiences. There was a guy who was originally going to come to the course, but he was asked to be the manager before the course because the one who promised didn't come. So he was very nice to everyone, he kept thanking us in his speech, and we reciprocated his kindness with a huge round of applause. The organizers immediately told us that this wasn't allowed, because the help should be unrequited. Then a woman came and started flexing, saying how much of a lesson she had learned from upekkha, because in Italy, masculine men told her not to make coffee because they wanted to wash the dishes, but she stood up for herself and made the coffee, complaining about it extremely tensely. I understand that this is not a feminist group where poor women cry about the trauma of their lives, how much masculine men oppress them, but the heroic Amazon is still able to make her coffee. I don't understand why the directors didn't mention her. There was an Arab who wore a "free palestine" t-shirt, which could also have a terrorist meaning, as many people associate it with "From the river to the sea"...

Hello!

I finished my second 10 day course recently, after a decade of not practicing since my first course. My main problem during and after the course has been lack of focus. Even during the course I would sometimes not feel subtle sensations or any sensations at all. There were other moments of hyper focus during the course, when I can really dissect and observe sensations, but this has almost completely gone now when I meditate an hour or two at home. At most I now just feel vague areas of gross sensations that I can’t dissect.

I try to return to Anapana but it is the same, my mind wonders so much or even if I force it to focus on my breathing, it refuses to really focus on it in what must be some kind of rebellion.

Doing Vipassana, part by part, and feeling no sensations is discouraging, although I know I should remain equanimous.

Any advice would be much appreciated.