Happy New Year's Day! Before I set new goals for this year, I want to reflect on my goals for last year. Last year I wanted to immerse myself in Vipassana meditation so I had a clear understanding of what it was, I wanted to establish my daily meditation practice, and I wanted to start …
Category: Personal Experiences
No Longer A Leader
I was raised to be a strong leader throughout school and with various jobs, and while I've been successful in many leadership roles, I'm discovering that I no longer identify as a leader. Vipassana meditation is about one's personal journey. The reality that this journey is discovered almost entirely within one's own body is powerful. …
Feeling Morality
At my first course, I accepted the five precept (No killing, stealing, lying, intoxicants, or sexual misconduct) as part of the trial of this technique. Since the technique helped, I decided to continue my practice. I followed the precepts with varying degrees of strictness. While I didn't notice much of an impact during the day, it was very …
A New Language
One reason I believe I've had trouble connecting with people since committing to my daily meditation practice is the new language I use to think through the world. Instead of rationalizing my way through the choices in my day, I'm feeling my way through them. Instead of seeking entertainment, I'm seeking peace and quiet. Instead …
24/7 Happiness
My understanding of happiness is shifting. Happiness used to be based on an experience. I would do something enjoyable, and that would make me happy. I'm learning that happiness is just a state of mind independent of what I'm experiencing externally. If I'm aware of my sensations in the present moment, I'm happy. Instead of looking for …
Needing To Wanting To Appreciating
My expectations of the outside world are slowly transforming along with my self-confidence. When I was first introduced to this practice I knew I had discovered something special, but I had no idea how to integrate this foreign practice into my life. While I was a strong independent person, meaning in my life came from sharing …
Community Building
I've established my daily practice, and I was right that hosting a group sitting and writing a blog would help me focus on meditation, but I've had little success building a community. The attendance at my Goenka Vipassana group sitting has been low mostly because there just aren't enough meditators in this tradition around. There …
Identity
Its been 4 months since I left the center and I've successfully maintained my practice but to do so I've withdrawn from society. While I know this path is right, it's still very different from everyone around me. To get established in this practice, I found that I needed to pull back and look inward, …
Unrealistic Expectations
I took my first 10-day meditation course 2.5 years ago and I thought I had discovered the tool that would empower me to help people find peace and happiness in their lives. I've come to realize that finding peace and happiness is a very personal journey full of complex choices. While I've found this technique …
No Expectations, No Goals, And No Agendas For The Holidays
The holidays are a wonderful time, but also a tricky time. We get together with our families that know us so well and we have a tendency to push each other's buttons unintentionally. Well, let's be honest. We do it intentionally sometimes too. We've mastered blaming everyone else for our behaviors. "If she didn't do …
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Living Vipassana 