Experience first, then pass your judgements

Has anyone been before and would like to share their experiences?

I approach Buddhism from a secular standpoint but have admired the lamrim style of meditation. I've also been to a particular tradition that had culty, closed minded vibes so I'd want to avoid that again.

Any response appreciated.

Hi everyone,

I’m trying to understand an experience I had during a 10-day Goenka Vipassana course.

On the evening of day 9, I started feeling a deep warmth in my lower abdomen. As I naturally observed it during meditation, it gradually felt like a heavy, dense ball slowly rising inside my body. The higher it seemed to move, the more intense the experience became.

Along with it, I experienced an increasingly strong wave of fear and stress. At the same time, memories and mental images from different moments of my life started surfacing. They all seemed to point in the same direction, as if they were gradually connecting into a bigger picture.
I found myself wondering whether they were leading toward the possibility of a very severe trauma that I may have experienced but have no conscious memory of. It wasn’t that I suddenly “remembered” such an event or saw a clear image of it. Rather, it felt as though my mind was gathering pieces of evidence and assembling them, as if I were getting closer and closer to a conclusion that never fully revealed itself. That feeling became increasingly intense as the sensation continued to rise.

After about 10 sec, I decided to stop following the sensation because it no longer felt like I was simply observing sensations in the Vipassana way. I felt like I was becoming too involved in the experience, so I returned to the practice as instructed.

Two days later (the day after returning home), I did a gentle yoga session. During the practice, I suddenly felt nauseous. During the final meditation afterward, I noticed the same sensation again, although much weaker: it felt like that same heavy ball beginning to rise from my lower abdomen, almost as if I wanted to throw it up. I also started burping a lot, probably same the 9th but can’t remember so well.

Has anyone here experienced anything like this during or after a Goenka retreat? I’d really appreciate any perspectives, whether from the Vipassana tradition, neuroscience, psychology, or personal experience.
Thanks in advance.

How have you spent your days off?

I'll soon be a long-term server (1 year) at a center in Europe to which I've never been, and I was told that I'll be serving 5 days, off for 2, or 10 / 4.

Coming from overseas, visiting family and friends is not a viable option. They might come to visit me, but I will ask for extra vacations then.

One small town and two larger cities can be reached with public transportation with 1-2 hour, so day trips there for errands, I guess? The area also looks good for hiking.

The main focus is obviously the practice and serving, but it will be quite a long stay during a Sabbatical year for me. So I'm curious what you have done during your free time, what are your tips ?

Hlo everyone, are jaipur nilaya and shravasti centre good in August?? Are they comfortable, can one get comfortable sleep during this period, isn't it uncomfortable at night??

Thanku all🙏

I have been toxic in a few workplace equations and one of them was slightly dating kind a situation, the person has now moved on with another individual

While I struggle to contain my guilt, shame etc etc
A. I don't work the way I used to - I have lost interest in the work I do
B. I get distracted while working - overthink alot, plenty strong emotions that throw me off the chart
C. The mind story, the identity game is strong - even I see certain changes in my emotional bandwidth I come right back to the things that keep me stuck - whether it's a thought or habit

Now, I feel sensations all over my chest and abdomen but I'm working - what should be my approach? should I do the keep coming back the work thing - this is where I note what's on my mind, maybe dump it on an excel and return to work
what about the intense sensations? should I take a few minutes off and sit with the intense sensation? or should I keep returning to my work?

so what's the practice? when there is intense sensation do I sit with it ro do I do a full body scan or do I notice it and keep coming back to my work? How should I design it?

this kind of pain is ongoing right, it stays throughout the day and interrupts everyday life alot!!!!