Vipassana in Hyderabad
Before starting my Vipassana meditation at an Ashram, I stay one night at one of the five star hotels in Hyderabad. I knew that the meditation course in Vipassana would be grueling, so I wanted one night of comfort. I’ve done the course many times, but I know each time my reactions will be different. My very first 10-day meditation course, I wanted to run away on my second day, but I’m so glad I stuck it out. Vipassana changed my life, for the better.
This time around, on the sixth day of meditation, this huge festival in India erupted. I mean erupted! I thought back in the U.S. that we knew how to celebrate on the 4th of July and on New Years Eve, but this fireworks display puts us to shame. I was in the midst of a Vipassana meditation session, and the world around the Ashram exploded continually for 4 hours. A stream of intense explosions. Unfortunately, I was not able to see any of the celebration, but I definitely could hear it. It sounded like they were right outside the walls. At first, I was frightened, because I didn’t know if it was a celebration or a war. These thoughts interrupted my meditation, because I lost focus on my body and breath. I was thinking all kinds of thoughts, like what if Pakistan finally went crazy-ass and attacked India. I was thinking how on earth can I make it to the U.S. Embassy. I opened my eyes, which no matter what, you’re not supposed to do. But, I’m glad I did, because all of the other Vipassana mediators were sitting like perfect Buddhas on their cushions. So, I figured if they weren’t worried, I won’t worry. I went back to my practice.
Of course, after the 10-day Vipassana session, I found out about the celebration. The amazing insight I got from this celebrations is just how my mind will throw up all kinds of thoughts and conjectures about something it doesn’t know, and just how much I went along with each and every thought. True insight, this loud celebration helped me understand the true nature of mind, that it’s all illusions, thoughts are what they are thoughts, not to be taken seriously, not matter what the thought. Just watch it arise and pass, arise and pass.