I just got back from a 10-day course in Vipassana meditation at Dhamma Dipa in Herefordshire. I thought it might be interesting for people to get an idea about the sort of things that we got up to down there, but first, here’s a list of the things that I didn’t get up to.
- I did not see god, get converted or become enlightened.
- No meat-eating.
- No women, no children.
- No speaking (hardly) – in fact no communication at all, not even body language or a smile was allowed.
- No intoxicants.
- No caffeine.
- No reading (except for a few instructions posted on the boards).
- No writing.
- No clothes washing – or any other normal household chores.
- No exercise except walking.
- No email or internet.
- No telephone.
- No music.
- No games or other entertainment.
- No travel.
- No spectacles (except to watch the evening discourses).
- No refined sugar (perhaps a little in the desserts, but not much).
- No proper meals after about 11.30am.
- Only a five or six hours sleep a night.
- No news or information, no radio, newpapers etc..
- No solitude (really, not much).
- No freedom – the timetable was rigid.
- No days off.
- No difficulties at all – meals provided, bed provided, nothing to worry about, nothing could go wrong.
- No money.
- Nothing in my pockets except a few tissues and a clock.
- No stealing.
- No killing.
- No lying (I don’t think I lied – perhaps I did, not sure).
- No physical contact with anyone else.
- No contact with advertising! That was a good one.
All this was supposed to clear the way for some concentrated work on our minds. See what I did do at Dhamma Dipa in my next post.
No killing?!
Hello,
Just a quick question regarding food options. Do you remember if there were any raw foods (e.g., fresh fruits/ veggies, salads, unroasted nuts/seeds) available? I’m just curious as I’m a raw vegan and I’m planning to attend this course in summer. Thank you 🙂
Hi Kate –
Thanks for reading. You’d be best off sending them a message, but from memory there’s fresh fruit and salad. It might not be enough to survive on, though! Give them a call.
And good luck!
d
Hi David ,
I am going there in March , any advice?
Prashanthi
Um… Take a coat? And an open mind 🙂
Good advice! And a flask, a clock and a brolly 🙂