New Site with Forum

This may come as good news to some of our followers. This blog will be phased out as it will be replaced by a new site which comes with a forum. Some students have commented that this blog currently does not facilitate them posting questions about the practice so the new site has been created by one of them. We hope they will find this new site more interactive and as always, suggestions are most welcome to improve it. To visit the new site, click sites.google.com/site/vipassanadiary and if you want to join in the forum you would need to register first.

Brief Report on the May Retreat

We just ended our third retreat (May 25th to June 3rd) for this year at NMC. Sadhu 3x to all the fourteen retreatants who made the effort to come yet again to strive for the Dhamma. Four came from KCBA (Klang), five from Subang Jaya,three from Puchong and two from KL. It is heartening to note that ninety percent of them made some progress again this time. I hope some of them will post their reports soon on this site to encourage others to continue going for intensive retreats. The next retreat will be held in Aug possibly from 3rd to 18th so keep these dates in mind if you are interested.

Comments on Dr. Tham's Report

Do you know that it is actually a good sign if you have new experiences; you can say that your practice has improved, of course, provided it is still in keeping with the basic principles of Vipassana. So looks like you have progressed well during the last retreat. For yogis who do not progress they keep having the same experiences day after day so they are "stuck" at a certain level either due to strong attachment (defilements) to that particular experience or due to slow progress in concentration and mindfulness. Whatever it is, lack of progress is generally because they have yet to get a good grasp of the technique. They lack skillfulness in the practice and this will be remedied by practising repeatedly...as the saying goes "Practice makes perfect". Another thing you need to realise is that as you progress in the practice you will have to give up the concepts you are accustomed to, so when you are pracitising, the realities will become more prominent than concepts. If you are seeing more of such sensations it means the mind is discerning this mind and body directly without concepts involved. You wrote "my primary meditation object seems to change to physical sensations hardness, tingling, pressure, etc." It is only natural for the mind to focus on those bare physical sensations when there is stronger mindfulness and concentration in Vipassana. We can say it is a natural result of developing momentary concentration (Khanika Samadhi). Beginners will not have this experience and even if they do, it will be not be clear to them and it would not arise continuously. In ordinary life we cannot perceive these qualities of the elements. Instead we see only hand, leg etc. which are concepts that cover up these realities. These sensations perceived are due to the manifestations of the elements. Hardness is characteristic of Earth Element, Tingling and Pressure, of Wind Element, warmth, of the heat element etc and all these are known as Specific or Unique Characteristics [Sabhava Lakkhana]. Rest assured they are valid objects of vipassana, being paramatha dhammas. They are sensations of the body (at touch sense base) and they are definitely real as you experienced them yourself. It is not created by you or any Creator. By observing these sensations directly, the mind will let go of the concepts for eg. Leg, head etc and at a later stage, there is awareness only of these very sensations continously arising and disappearing. This is directly experiencing the qualities or nature of Materiality (Rupa). A vipassana yogi will have to watch these characteristics again and again for a long time until it becomes clearer and clearer until he realises their inherent conditioned nature of arising, being and passing away, called Sankhata Lakkhana (Conditioned Characteristics). If the yogi continues to practise ardently to a more advanced stage, he will perceive only the Common or Universal Characteristics (Samanna Lakkhana of Anicca, Dukkha and Anatta). "These specific characteristics (sabhava) of phenomena must be noted with relentless effort and precision before the Universal Characteristics can become evident". One cannot hope to perceive the common characteristics without first perceiving the specific and conditioned characteristics. It is simply not possible so there is no short-cut. It will take many more retreats for the yogi to develop enough skill together with the development of the wisdom factor, before his practice matures to this more advanced stage of seeing the common characteristics. Following the process of continuous and constant change in these sensations will culminate in the realisation of Anicca (Aniccanupassana or Contemplation of Impermanence); meditating on the lack of control over the sensations arising and disappearing on their own accord is Contemplation of Anatta. This is having correct vision of mental and physical phenomena known as Vipassana Samma Ditthi. The maturity of this vision leads to attainment of Nibbana and realisation of the Four Noble Truths. Coming back to your report..”Sometime sharp transcient pain (like needle poking) is felt in between other sensations. These sensations become prominent after just a short while of watching R/F. Sometimes I purposely ignore these sensations in the very beginning and continue with my R/F, but a short while later these sensations become more intense and I have to note them”. When the sensations are very sharp and piercing but momentary it is a very good indicator that mindfulness is keeping up with concentrationn so this is a good sign. You should not ignore these sensations because when you do that, you are asserting the ego (wanting to control) instead of perceiving them as Anatta (beyond control). Instead you ought to look closer and try not to miss those “little sensations that come in between”! To do that your mindfulness must be very strong and alert and your notings has to be fast enough to catch up with those changes. We should not, at anytime while practising, try to ignore the objects that arise especially if they are very clear and prominent. As you have said..they are very intense (this is because of good samadhi) even though you tried to ignore them, they will continue to arise. So we just need to be mindful of their arising. No need to do anything about it or anything else apart from being aware of their presence. Eventually you will see each arising followed by disappearing very distinctly..then it will be very satisfying. "sometimes it is also very boring because the arising and vanishing of these sensation is endless . Never ending,.." I sense you are saying in other words that you do not like these sensations ...it is the normal yogi's reaction but you should note as disliking or feeling bored or feeling oppressed at this point. It is good that you noticed the unpleasant feeling of having to note all these endless pheonema..because they are showing you the nature of Dukkha inherent in them. This is the contemplation known as Dukkhanupassana which cannot be avoided if you want to progress in the Wisdom of Seeing Things as they really are. Just remember to note the unpleasantness (as a mental feeling) in connection with watching this ceaseless arising. Hope this has helped to assure you that your practice is going on well. Please continue to practise diligently as much as you can. SADHU 3X and With Metta, Sis. Gin

Another report after the HR Retreat.

Since after my retreat in NMC last month, my primary meditation object seems to change to physical sensations: hardness, tingling, pressure, etc. Sometimes sharp momentary pain (like needle poking) is felt in between other sensations. These sensations become prominent after just a short while of observing R/F. Sometimes I purposely ignored these sensations in the very beginning and continue with my R/F, but a short while later these sensations become more intense and I have no choice but to note them. Noting these sensation is very interesting in the beginning, but after some time it is very boring because the arising and vanishing of these sensation is endless . Never ending, only sometime they become less prominent. Sometime the whole hour is just spent on noting these sensation and painful feelings at the end. with some thinking, hearing in between. Dr. KH Tham

COMMENTS FROM YOGIS AFTER THE HARI RAYA RETREAT AT NMC AUG. 2012

Funny how my shift from Breathing In, Breathing Out practice to Vipassana practice had brought me to a different level of understanding in the world of Meditation. I was less tired physically and mentally even though I slept much less at night and did not take naps in the afternoon. Effort was boosted up and so was my initiative. No doubt the first few days were quite terrible, being restless, sleepless nights, having to wake up at 4am but after experiencing the results, it was really worth every bit of it. Vipassana had made me observe the “happenings” within me to a more precise degree where I am able to understand them (mind and matter) more deeply and profoundly. There was no more of the wanting to get into “Jhanas” and stay there; to avoid all pain and simply to enjoy the bliss. Vipassana according to my understanding is to watch the Rising and Passing away of all the phenomena of Mind and Matter, which deepens the realization of Cause and Effect, Impermanence and of course, Dukkha. Oh! How full of suffering this body is. Even eating with mindfulness was such an interesting chore. Watching the mind choosing the food first, then noting the hand stretching going for the food, scooping, lifting, bringing the food to the mouth, opening the mouth etc. Lastly, watching the food going down from your throat and all the way into your stomach. It’s certainly not an easy task to feed this body! I And it took me at least 45 minutes just to finish my lunch. I never thought eating a meal could be so tedious. But it is when we practice noting all our daily activities like this, from moment to moment, our mind becomes purified; there is no chance for craving, anger, and other defilements coming in. The mind becomes tuned into the present moment…so much PEACE and CLARITY. Surprisingly pain also became less oppressive and more bearable when watched closely and it’s characteristics of being ever changing and non-self, became evident. Now the half hour of painful sittings have become an hour and a half of pleasant mindful sittings. Overall,I certainly had a very uplifting experience and am planning to go back again for another retreat very soon. Sis. Vidita

Retreat for SASBAS (Sambodhi Centre) at Samadhi