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Completing a 10-Day Vipassana Meditation Course – My Experiences and Insights

Last week, I completed a 10-day Vipassana meditation course. Many of you have asked about my experience, so I want to share it here, hoping it might offer some wisdom and inspiration for your own journey.

This is a longer post, but I hope it resonates with you.

The course was spartan. Every day began at 4 AM. We meditated for 10 hours a day, with three hours dedicated to sitting perfectly still. There was no speaking, no eye contact, and no physical touch. Our last meal was at 11 AM.

These strict conditions strip away distractions, forcing you to confront the raw workings of your mind.

The goal of Vipassana is simple: to see things as they really are. It teaches you to observe your sensations without reacting, cultivating a balanced mind.

The technique weakens the mind’s conditioning to chase after what we crave and flee from what we dislike. Instead, it allows you to respond with awareness rather than react instinctively.

๐—œ๐—ป๐˜€๐—ถ๐—ด๐—ต๐˜ ๐Ÿญ: ๐—˜๐—บ๐—ฏ๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐—ฐ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—ฆ๐—ถ๐—น๐—ฒ๐—ป๐—ฐ๐—ฒ ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฑ ๐—ฆ๐˜๐—ถ๐—น๐—น๐—ป๐—ฒ๐˜€๐˜€
During those 10 days, I experienced profound silence. In that silence, my mind became crystal clear. Memories I thought were lost came back. Without the constant influx of dopamine from my phone, email, and the news, I realized how much it clutters our brains.

๐˜ˆ๐˜ฑ๐˜ฑ๐˜ญ๐˜ช๐˜ค๐˜ข๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ: In your work, carve out moments of silence and stillness. Disconnect from your devices. Use this time to think deeply, plan strategically, and reconnect with your inner self. It will enhance your clarity and decision-making.

๐—œ๐—ป๐˜€๐—ถ๐—ด๐—ต๐˜ ๐Ÿฎ: ๐—ง๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—Ÿ๐—ฎ๐˜„ ๐—ผ๐—ณ ๐—œ๐—บ๐—ฝ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—บ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฒ๐—ป๐—ฐ๐—ฒ
One core lesson was the law of impermanence. Everything changes. Pain and pleasure, joy and sorrowโ€”they all come and go. This understanding brings peace and balance.

๐˜ˆ๐˜ฑ๐˜ฑ๐˜ญ๐˜ช๐˜ค๐˜ข๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ: In leadership, remember that challenges and successes are both temporary. This perspective helps you stay grounded during crises and humble during triumphs.

๐—œ๐—ป๐˜€๐—ถ๐—ด๐—ต๐˜ ๐Ÿฏ: ๐—ง๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐— ๐—ฎ๐˜€๐—ธ ๐—ช๐—ฒ ๐—ช๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ
We all create images of ourselves and spend tremendous energy protecting them. Vipassana strips away these masks, revealing our true selves.

๐˜ˆ๐˜ฑ๐˜ฑ๐˜ญ๐˜ช๐˜ค๐˜ข๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ: As a leader, embrace authenticity. Encourage your team to be genuine. Authenticity fosters trust and deeper connections, which are the foundations of strong leadership.

๐—œ๐—ป๐˜€๐—ถ๐—ด๐—ต๐˜ ๐Ÿฐ: ๐—ง๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—ฃ๐—ผ๐˜„๐—ฒ๐—ฟ ๐—ผ๐—ณ ๐— ๐—ฒ๐˜๐˜๐—ฎ
At the end of the course, we practiced Metta Bhavana, the meditation of loving-kindness. Itโ€™s a powerful exercise to cultivate compassion and love. Simply focus on sending well-wishes to yourself and others.

๐˜ˆ๐˜ฑ๐˜ฑ๐˜ญ๐˜ช๐˜ค๐˜ข๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ: Start a Metta meditation practice. Increasing your empathy and compassion will help you become a better leader.

Vipassana was a challenging, yet profoundly rewarding experience. It taught me the value of silence, the nature of impermanence, the importance of authenticity, and the power of compassion.

These courses are run by volunteers and funded only by donations from former students. I am deeply grateful for their dedication and support.

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