Amit C

and progress is needed in all areas.

Plan to drop from current 170 to 165.

I went ahead and attended one as guest. It was definitely worthwhile and and I became a member and have delivered my first speech.
It is obviously about public speaking, however it is useful in many ways:
-The core approach is to do a series of 10 speeches with each focusing on a certain aspect of speaking (Speech organization, Body language including eye contact, Vocal variety)
-You will automatically find your own areas which need focus, be it planning for a speech, english language, fear of being in front of an audience.
-There are stories to hear and things to learn from other’s speeches. I enjoyed one about the Mexico desert where the stars touch the ground at the horizon and look forward to others. I look forward to it.
-You become part of a highly motivated and ambitious group.
-There is a leadership track with 10 activities, if you choose to go on that instead of or in addition to the public speaking one.

I would recommend it and am glad I added it to my todo list when Steve Pavlina mentioned it in his blog.

If you would like to find a club near you, please use the following link: http://www.toastmasters.org/find/default.asp

Even went to retreat\courses. Finally using books\CDs by Erich Schiffman and Shakti Gawain.

I tried this and realized I do not want to do it, as it does not call to it, does not lead to enjoyment.
That is another reason, if a book does not engage, I do stop reading it.
Life is too precious, need to follow what my gut feelings say, hence maybe 15% of books I have lie unread.

I tend to keep my weight, but weight loss takes extra effort. Down from 166 to 160.

Eat Better, Exercise regularly.

Brought a 80 GB iPod, a Mirage speaker+docking station for home and a Kensington iPod Digital FM Transmitter for the car. All of them works perfectly, need a few changes in the ipod to access music like I use including using Directory names as Genre (Dylan, Billy Joel, Indian Soundtrack are all Genre)

This uses APIs by Google Gadget and those by Zillow and allows adding graphs for Zindex(kind of median housing prices) for areas of your choosing to your Google personalized home page.

Presenting: Google Gadget for Zillow ZIndex graph

At work as a software developer, I deal with a different field, namely Kernel, Linux, Networking, C, C++, etc.

Some of my friends operate in the “Web 2.0 world”, and work in areas such as Rails, AJAX, DOM, etc. So, I decided to get atleast some familiarity with the field by trying out some mini projects.

Details of my Vipassana Goenka course experience:
On my blog(better formatting and more linksOn 43 things

Details of my Vipassana Goenka course experience:
On my blog(better formatting and more linksOn 43 things

Complete entry with links at
http://blog.rajgad.com/spiritual/2006-08/experience-from-attending-vipassana-course-by-sn-goenka-4-days-out-of-10.html

My notes and opinion about what is Vipassana course by S.N.Goenka:

I believe it might work, one needs to understand what is implied and what is said. It should however be noted, the better lies are those based on half-truths. There are other not so obvious aspects to it which one should know before signing up.

-It claims to be the path as originally taught by Gautama, the Buddha. It’s purpose is to to make one get to happiness by developing awareness that things are ever changing. Since things are everchanging, one should not react to positive things (cravings) or negative things (aversion), this should eventually result in going through life calmly.

-It has 3 parts: Sila(Conduct), Samadhi(Developing concentration) and Vipassana\Paanya(Develop awareness.)

-The actual method involves going deeper until one is aware of the smallest change on every part of the skin. I mean this is the literally actual and physical sense. One does become very sensitive to be able to detect minor sensations on smaller portions of the body. I got a glimpse of this, it is a new experience and yet freaky. The idea is that continuing this would later result in being used to be able to detect mental thoughts as soon as they arise, avoiding reactions.On a general level awareness about self, eating, feelings, etc does increase during the course

-It’s primary appeal is that it is so accessible and free to get into(with donations accepted at the end from those who complete it. There are centers everywhere and courses as they call it (bootcamp, I would say) are happening all the time. It is non reglious which appeals to many.

-The assistant teacher and volunteers are seems genuine people interested in other people’s benefit.

-There are a few not so positive aspects of it that became more clear as time went. Are they enough to make it a cult, I do not know, but here they are.

• It is a heavy detox program. No spicy or sweet food, no meat, minimal caffeine, no overeating (no dinner, only fruits at 5 pm, though I do not remember being hungry.), no external stimuli(no TV, no reading, no talking or eye contact with anyone on the the course.), sleep on time (9:30 pm to 4 am and 12-12:45 if you can squeeze it in.) I lost 5 pounds in 4 days, dropping from 174.4 to 168.8.
  * There is talk and mention of old feelings and stuck emotions coming up as pain. I believe that is incorrect, the pain is created due to the continous sitting and exertion. But the effects and emotions that surface are real, the pain and isolation probably make it easier to surface.
  • About money making. The course is free to enroll into, something does standout.
    • Most of the older students seemed well off, this is ofcourse anecdotal confirmation from one course of one center so I cannot be sure, if to come back you need to pay well for earlier ones. I do know that if you want to attend a longer course (20 day and then 30 day.) one has to attend two 10 day course and serve one 10 day course (servers or volunteers prepare food, take care of the place, etc.)
    • None of the teachers or volunteers are paid.
    • The old students attending a course are asked to sign up for cleaning up the kitchen and toilets and they do. There was no paid help in the whole center.
    • -The number of centers is growing, List of those in North America and India. The centers tend to be pretty large (the NorthWest one should be around or greater than 80 acres), it makes it easier to be able to have a nice place to walk around and men and women can have separate areas (kitchen, dorm and walking areas.)
  • It is a movement like the Art of Living\Art of Living cult link or Transcental Meditation\Transcental Meditation cult link.
  • There is no force or holding people back(I was out in 45 minutes after I decided.)
  • There is an almost revered respect for Goenka, the assistant teacher sits on a higher seat and behind him are two higher seats, I guess for Mr. & Mrs. Goenka.
  • There is a lot of control and secretiveness, only Goenka teaches the course (through audio talks during group meditation and video during discourse.) Areas for servers are off limits to students including other buildings, etc.
  • The course is a form of extremism in physical self punishment and in mental breakdown like the sadhus (ascetics) of India or other spiritual approaches I have heard of including Chinmoy\Chinmoy cult link, Zen monks(See above pain article), Zen Master Rama-Frederick Lenz cult link and Landmark forum\Landmark cult link. The physical pain is barely hinted at it by words like it is an intensive course and so on.
  • Mention of other religions and spiritual methods. The direct statements in the group meditation and discourse, is to keep your current religion or spiritual method on hold for the duration of the course. The direct statements are equivalent of “Hold no judgement against them”. However some of the discourse, some of the jokes seemed at major religions, though I will admit, it sounded funny.
    Here is one: Vipassana is a spiritual path of 1. Knowing the right way. 2. Analyzing with a rational mind on it being a right way. 3. Experiencing the right way. Here is an analogy of what it means. If one person is unwell and goes to the doctor and gets a prescription. Then it takes the prescription paper, goes home puts a picture of a doctor, prays his doctor is so great, repeats his prescription 101 times, he won’t get well, that is just knowing the way. If the same person decides to ask the doctor, how the prescription will help and the doctor explains to him. It understands the reason behind it. Then it says, great now I know, this can really work and goes all around saying my doctor is great, your doctor is no good, I have checked and he knows his, this is just analyzing the way. Only Vipassana (this course), teaches experiencing the way, that is taking the medicine. This should be on day 3 of the 10 day Vipassana discourse DVD, if one decides to check it out.

-I noticed an irony is all the older students respond to Goenka saying, Bhavatu sabba mangalam. (May all beings be happy.) with Sadhu, Sadhu, Sadhu, though the notice board says it means “We agree.” Being from India and knowing Hindi, I knew different and as the course progressed the irony stuck. Incase some wants to read more, above is a link to a wikipedia article..

Put in a comment or message, if you need more information.

Amit

Complete entry with links at
http://blog.rajgad.com/spiritual/2006-08/experience-from-attending-vipassana-course-by-sn-goenka-4-days-out-of-10.html

I went to attend a meditation retreat called Vipassana course as taught by S.N. Goenka at the Northwest Vipassana Center in Onalaska, WA on Aug 24th 2006. Vipassana is a general term, referring to Buddhist Meditation techniques. This Vipassana course is actually of a type called Theravada buddhism, though that term is never used.
I left in the evening on the 4th day. It is a 10 day course. These are my thoughts on those who wanted to know what happened and for others considering it. I do not plan to put in a actual details, here are good articles do an accurate job of describing aspects on it

Ajit covers day to day approach and instructions on each day.
http://ajitupadhyay.tripod.com/vipassana_.htm

Simon covers day to day with personal experience and notes on Goenka and his voice, etc.
http://www.aqwi54.dsl.pipex.com/retreats/vipassana/index.htm

Erik’s 43 things entry: What do you actually do on a 10 day course.
http://www.43things.com/entries/view/983157

Why I went:

-Because I wanted to follow a spiritual path and this one seemed non-controversial.

-It was easily accessible.

-Nipun (http://nipun.charityfocus.org/about/) mentioned “everyone should go to at least one Vipassana meditation camp.” and I know someone who’s brother attends these course and does revisit.

Why I left:

I had enough of the pain and torture. I followed the instruction on the 4th day and did not move my legs for an hour. I had so much pain, I wanted to scream.This on top of pain for all the last 3+ days made it realize, I did not want a brutal method of spirituality.
The course is 10 days of meditation bootcamp. It involves sitting down 11 hours for meditation and 1 hour for a discourse everyday, this results in lots of acute as well as continous pain (in knees, hips, ankles, back and neck, even wrists, etc.)

It is difficult to describe, but the pain was the worst I have ever felt in my life and it was on most of the time and on all of the 4 days. It does not go away during the course, students doing their third course were limping.
I do acknowledge, I have only known minor pain in my life: Overdoing a 3000+ft, 11+ mile hike or my first hot yoga class so that I can barely hobble. In trying to show how it was like: Two analogies. To practically see what it implies: Sit for meditation without moving ‘at all’ for 90 minutes in the morning and evening. Do not apply anything to ease the pain except sleep and a hot shower once a day. Then do it again next day and then think this happening for 10 days. Another way to get an idea: Imagine a hike or jog double of your current capability, now you have to do this everyday for 10 days. You can stop on the way, if you want, but for minutes, take your pace and continue. Use only sleep and shower to ease the pain in the night.

Additional reading: On pain during meditation
and Nipuns pain experience during a Goenka Vipassana course

Would I recommend Vipassana course by S.N.Goenka to others: No

I would suggest

-Find your reasoning for meditation (knowledge, Moving towards understanding of God or higher powers, Calmness, wisdom, creating happiness through insight, developing love, getting more energy aware, etc)
-Pick a meditation with goals closest to your goal, learn from a teacher in a short course, 1 hour per day for a few days and do it 30-90 minutes whenever you can. I would suggest following one of the main line teachers like Jack Kornfield, etc.
-Find someone has done that spiritual path and who will be frank with you about it’s drawbacks and not.

-Check up RickRoss, the cult information site to ensure the approach is not tainted or outright dangerous.
http://www.rickross.com/sg_alpha.html

Amit

YogaJournal.Com: Answering the Call
Reconnect with your innermost nature by going on retreat. By Sarah Powers
http://www.yogajournal.com/wisdom/650.cfm

YogaJournal.Com: Answering the Call
Reconnect with your innermost nature by going on retreat. By Sarah Powers
http://www.yogajournal.com/wisdom/650.cfm

Did the hike to Mt. Si near North Bend,WA. Stopped at the third higest granite peak, haystack needle, I believe. Was around 3100 ft in 8 mile round trip. Total would have been 3600 ft. Next time.

is to buy only books you believe you will read this week.
Thanks to Amazon and neighborhood stores you can always get them later.

I thought of it as nothing to worry about

Around 5% of books I have (maybe 15) I have never read and 5% only partially. The key is that the time one spends and what one gains is more than important that utilizing what one has brought.
It is actually a suggestion from the book “Who will cry when you die”, do not finish every book you start. Not all are worth going through, little or end to end.
Kind of like eating just cause the food will go bad.

My inclination, I will read what is most appropriate right now. Wherever I get it from.

Fantasy novels, with Magic, Gods, Ghosts, Forces Evil and Good. Very interesting books, Paladin of Souls is particularly an impressive book, it starts as a road trip and exploration of the main character’s powers and then picks up in the last 100 pages or so in form of a battle.
Highly recommended
Rating:
Paladin of Souls 4.5/5
Curse of Chalion 4/5

Interesting fantasy book. Magic and wizards, a tale of youth and growing wise, journey across sea. I found it to be interesting and worth completing, but not worth following the rest of the EarthSea series.
Rating: 3/5