I've signed up for a 10-day course in mid August and am stoked about what I'll gain and also about the sheer difficulty. Could you talk more about the long-term effects of Vipassana on your body/life?
It will do me more to go back to Vipassana than any single thing I can do for myself. It puts you at the center and you just follow along, being true.
As far as long-term effects, I came out of the experience glowing. Heat didn't bother me. I saw clearly. The afterglow lasted for about three months. Slowly, I became a little bit agitated by things that didn't bother me during the period of afterglow. If I had continued to meditate regularly, I would have been fine. Centered. Since I didn't...Because I made excuses for myself...I'm in a not so great state these days. And yet, if I found myself again in the state after Vipassana, if I took care of myself and meditated, I would be in a much better mental state.
It does great things, but it's not a cure-all. It changed my life more than anything else has and is immensely powerful. It introduced me to myself. For that I will always be grateful. And I hope I respect myself enough to go back soon.
I even went back for a short 4 day course but the 10 day one was the best.
I hope you can go back once more and then continue the practice afterwards.
Surely as rational people that is the course to take?
I see the same with my Yoga practice... touchwood, I am mostly healthy and I should do more Yoga but somedays I am looking for reasons not to do my usual tiny practice..
Is it cause we don't make the outward connection between the practice and our wellbeing?
PS : thinking aloud and trying to see if I am alone in this...
Brb going to meditate, even though its past my bedtime and I've got a couple glasses of wine in me.
That's a pretty compelling motivator to keep up with it.
Also, the meditation itself can be used to calm and focus me during stressful times, but like any exercise, it must be practiced. I haven't probably given it the necessary diligence.
I'd like to emphasize more than anything that the teaching truly does its best to be a force above creed and philosophy. I was very skeptical about it going in. Much of the instruction does not expect you to take anything on blind faith, and all its asking is for you to become a more compassionate individual. There's no proselytizing, or expectation of money in any way. All donations which run the facilities are done in private, and it was maybe mentioned once.
Consider the class as teaching you how to exercise. Nothing comes easy, any gain you have comes from the effort you put in.