Vipassana Centers in India

I've booked up for a ten day vipassana meditation retreat in Sohna, outside Delhi in a few weeks and, having read some of the posts, esp live-in-delihi, I am starting to get some second thoughts about it. I have done one 7 day retreat in England and despite only one day being in silence I felt I coped quite well with it and it spurred me onto want to go a bit deeper into it. I meditate daily and always find it a tremendously enriching and positive experience but the ten days silence does worry me a little. Some questions I have to people that have attended the course would be:

* During the sitting meditations is Goenka's chanting played throughout as I imagine this would be quite intrusive and could feel like you were being brainwashed or part of a cult even if that was not the intention.

* Are you allowed to use your own stool? I have my own meditation stool and do not sit cross legged as I find this too uncomfortable so sit with both legs straight and tucked back into my tail bone.

* Are you able to chat with the tutors at any stage regarding any doubts you might be having?

* How easy is it to start talking again after the course has finished?

* Did the people who went nutso have any experience of meditation before or go into it as complete amateurs as I imagine this would be a possible source of trouble.

I've read lots of positive things about the courses on other messageboard forums, live-in-delhi's comments are the first negative things i've heard. Regarding live-in-delhi - It seems silly to concentrate on quibbles you might have with goenka's interpretation of vipassana and any ego issues which, despite having some validity, seem to ignore the fact that the organisation he has set up provides thousands of people with the opportunity to practice free of charge this noble artform. What harm can this do?

I think all your Vipassan and other techniques have not helped you too much ; your attitude is too paorachial and stinks more than those farts you are talking about

i attended the ten-day vipassana course in dharmashala, himachal pradesh in may this year. my concerns were few - as a smoker, i wondered if i would go crazy without smoking for ten days - the silence was not such an obstacle to me. as it turned out, i thought of smoking three times during my ten days there, and then too in a fleeting manner - the desire was gone soon after it surfaced. the silence was a blessing - it would have been horrible if we were allowed to talk (even at the end of the day of meditation) - this way one kept oneself to oneself and concentrated on the job at hand - looking within oneself. on the last day we were allowed to talk and we did. i had no previous experience of meditation and this proved to be of no hindrance. i found myself (at one stage) wanting the days to go on and on - there were no cares, nothing whatsoever to distract me, the setting was idyllic, the volunteers caring (we could speak to them if there was a problem we needed solved concerning our material needs - illness, comfort, etc). there were teachers we could approach to help us with our meditation queries - there were times when we were called up to the dais/stage where we were questioned about our progress, whether we were experiencing any difficulties. there was no chanting played throughout - every evening we were asked to attend a video screening of mr goenka speaking about the day's meditation - this for me was one of the best bits - he is full of insights, anecdotes that entertain and teach at the same time - even his chanting of buddhist hymns was done to explain matters, not convert (that is not their purpose). i saw some people sitting on chairs at the back - they probably had special permission (infirmity, sickness, not sure) but they were very few. the majority sat on cushions/pillows on the floor and because it was cold at times, wrapped up in blankets. the food was not haute cuisine but then i was not expecting that - it was filling, perfectly adequate. i soon learnt not to overeat (as there are only two major meals in a day there) and then i was fine. yes, there was a bit of farting on the men's side (not the women's - can someone explain?) but it was all done discreetly and not a problem (the meditation space is vast). i was talking normally once i came out - no one seemed over the top about talking when we were allowed to. i don't know about the totally nutty people - i came out just as nutty as when i went in!
to sum up - although it was never easy meditating all those hours on end, overall it was one of the finest experiences i have ever had, something i hope will remain with me for good. do it if you are so inclined.

Anar, Thanks for sharing your experience.

Have booked a 10-day course in Hereford, England. Going in november. Exciteeed.

I have read many opinions both for and against. All I can figure out is to try it myself and see if I find it beneficial. I think for me the silence of ten days may actually be the easiest part - I probaby have a lot more to handle in my body and all the sensations/not reacting to them. I'm sure it can get pretty intense, staying in the same positin for so many hours a day.

If you're sitting for long periods of time it can be helpful to do some walking meditation as well, but it doesn't sound like they do that at this place.

You don't have to agree with everything that somebody teaches -- we all have to find our own paths anyhow; the important thing is that we make the effort and develop our own practice including sitting meditation.

okay, livininindia, what (where) would you recommend for somebody looking to deepen their meditative experience who's got a couple of weeks to spare in South India...? I've just left a yoga TTC course that was great on the asana end of things, but left for wanting (even if it prepared me physically and mentally) on the meditation side, so I am considering Vipassana, but find chanting and pranyama a more effective way to dive in to meditation for me... any recommendations?

If you have a couple of days to spare you are welcome to my yoga place.I am not a 'guru' but can give you some ideas of meditation for FREE!

aum and prem
aborigin

I might take you up on that...where exactly is your "centre"? Is it an ashram...? Forgive me for asking, but can you give me a little of your background...? Do you have a website or blog? I'll be passing through kerala within the next week or two, no set plans...

Thanks for the response!
Cathy

Cathy..don't feel so comfortable to write too much about myself in this forum. Pls pm your email to me and I shall tell you more about myself (as you are new here your pm facility is not yet activated otherwise I could have directly sent you one)

aum and prem
aborigin

sorry aborigin, can't figure out this site and it's messaging system, don't have time or patience this evening to mess around with it, and don't know when I'll get to internet next... may be in Kochin quite soon...

While in Kochi if you have time and if you feel to go through a meditation session or two just click on my name 'aborigin' on the left and you find the option to send a private message. I live an hour away from Kochi...

Have a great journey...

Aums
aborigin

Frog you are right that Buddha did not practice any prescribed form and he actually created his own form. But while Buddha says that all of us can become Buddha how many would be able to do it by following "their own way".

It would be foolish to reinvent the wheel when you have the possibility of trying out, seeing for yourself and than taking what you want out of the experience.

Warm Regards
Maun

Are there any NON-Goenka Vipassana schools or groups in India?
Any Theravadan teachers that are actually living and teaching?
So many in the States. Can't seem to find any in India.

there is a vipasana centre in hyderabad, http://www.khetta.dhamma.org/
check out the wbesite, hope it helps,
regards,
baba.