It has been a month since i finished my 10- day meditation course in a remote area in Dasma Cavite, those 10 days were as meaningful as my life turns into a new perspective in living.
It all started when my friend told me that Mr. Mon, our professor, is actually inviting all the teachers of Golden Link College, my previous school, to participate in the said activity. Mr. Mon. is one of my most admirable professors during my college days and due to my interest in meditation i agreed to come right away, but realized i was the only one who could come for my other colleagues had their different commitments.
It didn't stop me though, It never put a second thought either. I know that this activity is what the universe is giving me as an answer to my curiosity, so all the things i got during that 10 days were all cancelled. I promised to myself that i will finish the meditation for my own good no matter what happens.
THE JOURNEY STARTS
It was 3:45 pm when we dropped down into the far end of the greenfield subdivision, Dasma via tricycle. The road was fairly nice but approaching the end was not so, the road was not yet cemented and there were some wild grasses along the way, there were minimal residences every after wide fields. okay, to describe it, it was a barren lot, but it was not so isolated. we were about 20 in the group of males and females, we all came from the North part of the Philippines. I actually don't know their backgrounds, but we were smiling to each other... i thought it was enough to convey welcome to each other. On the site, i saw people of about 20 more, i guessed they came from the South part of the Philippines, all of us were gathered in the covered tent area quite big enough to cover at least 40 people. There i got to glance at each faces i will be with for 10 days. There were filipinos, but i also see Koreans, Iranians, Americans and an african, they all resides in the Philippines and since this is the only Vipassana Meditation course here in the philippines, they all gathered for the event. alright, the silence started ahead. We all knew the rules of the camp since these were all previewed to us via internet site, so we knew that we were not supposed to talk with each other at any possible way. It was awkward indeed, but i saw in every ones faces that they were really treating this seriously.
After an hour, the facilitators came in, with a serious but welcoming aura. They started by orienting us about the structure of the site, where are the places we can access and which we should not. They also inform us that in order to start the meditation camp properly we need to surrender everything that will let us reconnected to the outside world such as picture, wallet, cellphones and gadgets and even jewelry and other materials except from our clothes. after surrendering all... the facilitators instructed us to bring our materials into our respected cells/ room and be back at the tent. ( still do not know what to do next)
At the tent we ate our very first dinner, it was just 6 pm. so Again, we ate without talking... ( but others talk and someone even tried to talk with me) but after an hour... the facilitators went out from their quarters and set up the audio stereo... this time, i realized that even facilitators were now not saying any word. the stereo played and we heard a man saying all the rules firmly which includes:
1. No communication at any means ( No words, No glance, No physical contact, no gestures, or whatsoever) - we may just consult facilitators for any concern.
2. males and females are isolated and should not even glance towards the opposite sex.
3. Be quiet and equanimous ( noble silence is observed)
4. live as if you are isolated to the world
5. Observe the five precepts
a. No killing at any means (means, we should not kill even a single ant)
b. No stealing ( do not even touch what is not yours)
c. No sexual misconduct ( even in thinking)
d. No wrong speech ( even in mind )
e. no intoxicants ( even in food intake)
6. we should strictly follow the schedules.
a. waking up at 4:00 and sleeping time at 10:00
b. eat twice a day. ( breakfasat and lunch but no dinner)
- all are vegetables and fruits, during night we can only take tea
c. meditation hours are required, specially times required to be in the meditation hall.
At that moment i know that i can follow the rules, i even said to myself that i will surely finish this at ease. hmmn.. i got confidence that this is easier than my expectation. But one thing i am confused and wondering of, why is that until now they were not really orienting us about what will happen for the next day. they did not even discuss or define what meditation is, or even ask us about our motivation or preferences. this seems crazy... it is the only activity that i joined that actually starts without knowing, without even asking... only rules to follow. hmmn, although i got these second thinking, i still uphold my decision that no matter what i got to finish this.
At the end of the rule orientation, we heard a chant clearly from an old man. I actually do not know what the words mean, it is like an old language. and as it ended, the more that my mind got more questions. but i told myself to set aside these, i know it will be clearer after days.
One of the facilitators, signals us to fall in line, based on gender, and we one by one went to the what so called "Meditation room" it was so dark for that night turns 8:00 pm. the meditation room was also dark inside but i am seeing a little light coming from the center front. all of us got our sitting mat and as we sat, a long silence comes in.......... then our teacher comes in.... and .. and...
( this is not yet even the start)
(let me write more about this journey of mine after some day)
It all started when my friend told me that Mr. Mon, our professor, is actually inviting all the teachers of Golden Link College, my previous school, to participate in the said activity. Mr. Mon. is one of my most admirable professors during my college days and due to my interest in meditation i agreed to come right away, but realized i was the only one who could come for my other colleagues had their different commitments.
It didn't stop me though, It never put a second thought either. I know that this activity is what the universe is giving me as an answer to my curiosity, so all the things i got during that 10 days were all cancelled. I promised to myself that i will finish the meditation for my own good no matter what happens.
THE JOURNEY STARTS
It was 3:45 pm when we dropped down into the far end of the greenfield subdivision, Dasma via tricycle. The road was fairly nice but approaching the end was not so, the road was not yet cemented and there were some wild grasses along the way, there were minimal residences every after wide fields. okay, to describe it, it was a barren lot, but it was not so isolated. we were about 20 in the group of males and females, we all came from the North part of the Philippines. I actually don't know their backgrounds, but we were smiling to each other... i thought it was enough to convey welcome to each other. On the site, i saw people of about 20 more, i guessed they came from the South part of the Philippines, all of us were gathered in the covered tent area quite big enough to cover at least 40 people. There i got to glance at each faces i will be with for 10 days. There were filipinos, but i also see Koreans, Iranians, Americans and an african, they all resides in the Philippines and since this is the only Vipassana Meditation course here in the philippines, they all gathered for the event. alright, the silence started ahead. We all knew the rules of the camp since these were all previewed to us via internet site, so we knew that we were not supposed to talk with each other at any possible way. It was awkward indeed, but i saw in every ones faces that they were really treating this seriously.
After an hour, the facilitators came in, with a serious but welcoming aura. They started by orienting us about the structure of the site, where are the places we can access and which we should not. They also inform us that in order to start the meditation camp properly we need to surrender everything that will let us reconnected to the outside world such as picture, wallet, cellphones and gadgets and even jewelry and other materials except from our clothes. after surrendering all... the facilitators instructed us to bring our materials into our respected cells/ room and be back at the tent. ( still do not know what to do next)
At the tent we ate our very first dinner, it was just 6 pm. so Again, we ate without talking... ( but others talk and someone even tried to talk with me) but after an hour... the facilitators went out from their quarters and set up the audio stereo... this time, i realized that even facilitators were now not saying any word. the stereo played and we heard a man saying all the rules firmly which includes:
1. No communication at any means ( No words, No glance, No physical contact, no gestures, or whatsoever) - we may just consult facilitators for any concern.
2. males and females are isolated and should not even glance towards the opposite sex.
3. Be quiet and equanimous ( noble silence is observed)
4. live as if you are isolated to the world
5. Observe the five precepts
a. No killing at any means (means, we should not kill even a single ant)
b. No stealing ( do not even touch what is not yours)
c. No sexual misconduct ( even in thinking)
d. No wrong speech ( even in mind )
e. no intoxicants ( even in food intake)
6. we should strictly follow the schedules.
a. waking up at 4:00 and sleeping time at 10:00
b. eat twice a day. ( breakfasat and lunch but no dinner)
- all are vegetables and fruits, during night we can only take tea
c. meditation hours are required, specially times required to be in the meditation hall.
At that moment i know that i can follow the rules, i even said to myself that i will surely finish this at ease. hmmn.. i got confidence that this is easier than my expectation. But one thing i am confused and wondering of, why is that until now they were not really orienting us about what will happen for the next day. they did not even discuss or define what meditation is, or even ask us about our motivation or preferences. this seems crazy... it is the only activity that i joined that actually starts without knowing, without even asking... only rules to follow. hmmn, although i got these second thinking, i still uphold my decision that no matter what i got to finish this.
At the end of the rule orientation, we heard a chant clearly from an old man. I actually do not know what the words mean, it is like an old language. and as it ended, the more that my mind got more questions. but i told myself to set aside these, i know it will be clearer after days.
One of the facilitators, signals us to fall in line, based on gender, and we one by one went to the what so called "Meditation room" it was so dark for that night turns 8:00 pm. the meditation room was also dark inside but i am seeing a little light coming from the center front. all of us got our sitting mat and as we sat, a long silence comes in.......... then our teacher comes in.... and .. and...
( this is not yet even the start)
(let me write more about this journey of mine after some day)
Comments
Post a Comment