“Follow your bliss,” advised the late great Joseph Campbell. Au contraire, “Follow your heartache,” insists Andrew Harvey. Don’t know that one of these bits of advice is more right than the other. But I do know that bliss signifies nothing I’ve experienced that can actually be followed. If we take its definition seriously, and consider …
It’s Mostly a Biology Thing
My initial connection to Vipassana was probably similar to most people. When I hear about meditation and the teachings of the Buddha my first connection is to religion, and if I want to use New Age jargon, I connect it to spirituality. The problem is, once this practice is linked to religion it encounters the conflict …
My Second 10 days retreat
So, it's been about a year since my first 10 days retreat. 13 months to be more accurate and I was really looking for my second ten days retreat. I had been meditating non stop since I learnt Vipassana and I really expected that being already familiar with the technique, the daily timetable and even …
Can you color your emotions?
How often do people feel ‘butterflies in their stomach’ or go ‘weak on their knees’? Or get a ‘hot head’ during the argument? Or having ‘cold feet’ and what about those occasional ‘feeling blue’? Repeated and collective practice of getting associated with the ‘bodily feeling’ rather than with the mental ability to cognize and assess the …
New Writing Schedule
We are updating your writing schedule to: Dhriti and Alex on Tuesdays Guido and Sanket on Thursdays Ryan on Saturdays Dhamma Projects on alternate Sundays
Introducing….Dhamma Projects
Goenka's Organization (GO) - teaches Vipassana Meditation As Taught By S.N. Goenka in the tradition of Sayagyi U Ba Khin. Living Vipassana (LV) - is a blog independent to GO that allows old students to share their inspirational stories. It is a space for old students to share and discuss how Vipassana is impacting their …
No Alcohol
Like so many aspects of meditation, I've struggled to explain the importance of the 5th precept. Like most people, I've enjoyed the boisterous experience and getting a little crazy with some friends over a few drinks. In fact, I would have argued that alcohol allowed me to be more present with my friends because it …
Is Vipassana About Buddhism?
by Naveen from Mumbai, India "Vipassana" has created a furore in my house. The moment me and my wife utter this word, my sons say "Oh no, and now you will talk about Vipassana." Others in the family believe that it is a Buddhist technique and something that has to do with "Buddhism". Yes, it …
Writing for Living Vipassana
I used to cram my head full until it was bursting without taking anytime to process and understand what was going on. Not much made sense, what I did know was that misery was a regular guest at my table. Keeping a journal helped. Somehow the process of translating what was going on in my …
A Mindset
What do you want? I've heard and asked that question hundreds if not thousands of times. What do you want to do? What do you want to be? What do you want for dinner? What will make you happy? We are on an endless search for something better. Recently, I've discovered that this question creates …
Living Vipassana 