Vipassana@Dhamma Setu, Chennai - My experience

For me, the first introduction to Dhamma was by a book named "Dhamma Padham".  I got this book as a gift from one of my manager five years back.  I read through it and forgot. Some time back,  heard about Vipassana in an English course where they talked about it around five minutes.  I was much interested in that and thought of doing it.  But, as I had tight schedule at that time. So, I didn't tried that.  Recently, the vipassana topic came in while chatting with my boss.  He also, very much interested in that and told that his friends also have experience in the vipassana.  The major issue attending the vipassana course is, we should stay at the center for 10 days without any communication which includes talking to co-mediators. 

Two months back, I was looked in to my unused vacation days which was a lot and thought of utilizing is before this year end.  So, I thought of doing Vipassana.  I went through the terms and conditions which looked not simple.   So, I had lot of hesitation to take this as it disconnects me from the world for 10 days.  But, finally decided on taking this course and got approval from my boss. Once I got approval, I had sign in for the course through online.  The process was very simple.  Then, prepared backup plans for all my activities to address my absence.  Before sign-in, I tried to understand how the environment will be in Chennai center.  I don't see any articles in Internet about Chennai center. So, thought of sharing my experience. 

Before get in to more, let me give some basics on Dhamma and Vipassana.

Dhamma is a Pali (language used in Burma) word which means the law of nature, the teaching of enlightened person, the way to liberation.

Vipassana is one of India's most ancient techniques of meditation.  2500 years ago, it was re-discovered by the Gotama the Buddha by him as a universal remedy for universal ills.

Buddha means one who is enlightened.

Following are my real experience from Day-0 to Day-11 at Dhamma Setu, Chennai.

Dhamma Setu is the name of the Chennai center which is located at Thirumudivakkam.  It is on the Chennai Outer Ring Road.  This place can be reached in two ways.  One is from Pallavarm via Thiruneermalai. Another route is via Porur-Kundratur-Outer ring road.

The campus of Dhamma Setu looks very beautiful with trees and plants. They are cleaning the area regularly.

Regarding parking vehicles, I don't think it is advisable to come by four wheeler or cars as it is a open parking under tree.  Even though some of them came by cars/bikes, I would recommend to take public transport/call taxis. 

Parking Area

Though it's a 10 days course, starts on Day-0 (previous day evening at 7pm) and ends on Day-11. The full course is thought by S.N.Goenka who re-introduced in India.  His thought is recorded and played by the assistant teachers who conducts the course.  The full recording is played as per the schedule. The same recordings would be played with the same schedule all over the world.  It doesn't make sense if they play the CDs in different timings.  So, the course is uniform all over the world and they are very punctual doing this.

The teacher for the course is S.N.Goenka and conducted by their assistant teachers.  The assistant teacher for our course was an eighty years old energetic and active North Indian.  He also stays in the same campus until the end of the course.  He discuss with each  students alternative days by asking questions to make sure they understands the instructions given by the teacher via CDs. The discussion happens alternative days.  If he found a student is missing in the seat, he visits his residential quarters to find out the reason.

There were three Dhamma workers helps out the students in all the ways.  These workers are really helpful to students in giving wake up calls in the morning, gong the bell at right time, serving food, solving administrative issues, etc.

I heard that there is no common funding for these centers.  So, each centers has to run with their own funds collected at the same center from old students. They have a policy that they collect the donations only from the old students who completed at least a 10 days course. 

The reporting time mentioned in the time table was 2-4pm.  I was on time there and got a simple application form to fill in my basic information like address, contact phone number, etc.  While submitting the application, they orally ensuring that the students understand the regulations of the course.  Some of the important conditions are

1. Should not keep any communication devices for the 10 days. 
2. Should not keep any audio playing devices like ipod, radio, walkman, etc. 
3. Should not keep any reading/writing materials like note books, story books,  books related to any religion, etc. 
4. Should not talk to the co-mediators.  But, can talk to the assistant teacher and Dhamma workers.
5. Don't waste food as it run by donations  
6. They serve simple healthy food in the morning and noon and evening snacks. They don't serve food after 5.30pm.

The Dhamma Setu web site is a self explanatory site which has lot information.

Then, requested to meet the assistant teacher who is also confirming that we will stay until the end of the course.After that, they have given room number to stay along with bed sheet and pillow covers.  Also requested to deposit the valuables like mobile phones, tablets, note books, etc. and get it back on last day.   I would suggest to deposit all the valuables as there is no locks for the rooms.  Also, it doesn't tempt you to try out a call or writing something in the note books.

Gents residential quarters

Most of the rooms are two occupants with bathroom.  We can get the hot water from a common area.

Then, we were called for a meeting at 7pm in dining hall to explain the terms and conditions. This meeting was to  give complete details about what should/should not do, dress code, how they notify the new stuff, etc. Also, there was a clear separation between ladies and gents area.  After this meeting, had dinner and the noble silence also started. At 7.45pm, we all assembled at the Dhamma hall to get in to the course.
 

Dhamma Hall

In the Dhamma hall, given a cushion seat for each students.  Students should sit in the same place until the end of the course. With this, started giving instructions to begin with Annapana meditation.  With this instructions,  the day ends. All the instructions were given in English and Tamil.

The Day-1 starts with a Wake up bell at 4am followed by 4.30am bell to start meditation.  This first sitting ends at 6.30am for Breakfast. 

Served Pongal on the first day. With that, tea and milk also available. The main course varies every day with idly, upuma, khichdi, etc.  There is no limit in the quantity.

Then, the next meditation sitting starts and 8am and goes up to 10am with 5 minutes break.  From 10-11am we can do the meditation at the residential quarters or in the Dhamma hall. 

The next bell is at 11am for Lunch. In the Lunch, they serve two chapatis, white rice, sambar, curd, etc. In some days, had variety rice, butter milk,  sweet, chana masala, etc.  Overall, it was not very tasty but good healthy lunch every day.

Way to Gents Residential Quarters

Again, the meditation starts at 1pm and goes up to 5pm with small breaks.  In this period, there is a chance that they can allow us to do meditation at residential quarters.  I prefer to do it in the residential quarters were we can sit comfortably in the bed with back support.   They prefer to sit in the cushion  with legs folded.  If student feels hard to sit in the floor, they are allowed to sit in a chairs.

Had a tea break at 5pm in which they have provided a masala puffed rice and a fruit along with tea or milk. There is no major change in this menu for all the 10 days.

Next, 1hr meditation session starts at 6pm.  After this session, daily discourse is there for 1 and a half hours. In this discourse, they teaches the next step in the meditation.  The new step would be tried out from 8.30 to 9pm and go to room to retire.

Gents walking path

Like the above schedule and food, the day goes until Day-9.   On the Day-7, provided cells in the pagoda to each students to sit in and practice meditation. The students could use this instead of residential quarters. Though it is silent, I don't prefer as the cushion provided in the cell was not comfortable for me.  So, I mostly did it in my room.  

Pagoda

On the Day-10, we are allowed to talk each others and can make phone calls.  They sell CDs and books.  Also, students can give donations.  No one asks us to pay donations. In the 10th day schedule, there is a time for donation, that's it.  If students like to give donations, they can reach the office and pay what ever they want.

In teacher's last discourse, he wants all the students to continue the meditation daily morning 1hr and evening 1hr for at least 365 days with out fail. 

The course ended at 6.30am on Day-11.  As the funds are not enough to maintain the meditation hall,  requested the students to help out cleaning the Dhamma hall.  This took around 30minutes. After the cleaning, had breakfast and got a call taxi to come back home.

While coming out from the center, I felt the course was very good and need to work hard to do the meditation at home daily to get out of it.