Mahasi vipassana meditation (quote)

[UrbanLuis]

Does anyone practice this method? Has anyone ever been on a retreat and learned this tradition?

Mahasi Sayadaw was a monk and meditation teacher from Burma.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahasi_Sayadaw

[brianberkeley]

Urban Luis,

The most common Vipassana system is the one put out by S.N. Goenka. This is a 10 day extensive meditation program. Meditation is done in 45 minutes blocks, and this is what you do, with brief breaks for meals.

Vipassana meditation or insight meditation is simply counting your breath. The technique is ancient, and can be found in the Majjhima Nikaya. The Goenke system is just a concentrated retreat. Be advised that this is a physically challenging program.
I am personally unable to sit on a zabuton for ten hours a day, because of an old motorcycle injury.

The Northern California Vipassana Center in Northern California has an excellent website you might be interested in view. There as Goenka centers all over the world...

[UrbanLuis]

Thanks for the reply. I have actually been to a 10 day vipassana retreat in the Goenka/U Ba Khin tradition. I went to a center here in Alberta Canada.

Mahasi retreats are usually longer (21 days) but not as strenuous as they incorporate standing and walking meditation. There is a monastery here in Ontario Canada that offers these teachings. There are probably several in the USA. I was wondering if anyone has experience with this particular method.

[Miss Hepburn]

Originally Posted by brianberkeley

I am personally unable to sit on a zabuton for ten hours a day,
because of an old motorcycle injury.

I know, right?
I was surprised to see the Yogananda group meditation is set up with chairs.
But then I did it a couple times and voilà...
(can't turn off italics, sorry),you could sit for hours and hours and I did!
THEN, the local group
came up with an idea, placing small wooden blocks from 2x4s under the back legs...again....what a difference! I personally bring a small stool covered with foam and soft fleece stapled for extra ease!
Wow...turns out Yogananda adapted the lotus position for Americans back in the day...he also dumbed down techniques for Americans, most involved for 20 years are not even aware of what he left out.
Sorry, I digressed, but it's interesting to this meditation thread probably.


Btw, they also stop the meditation with chimes to give breaks....VERY disconcerting...I have never heard of such a thing! I was so deep, experiencing one of the most profound moments, I will never forget,
and they ''knocked us out of meditation", basically.
Made me think these people have no idea how deep one can go or something, I dunno.*shrug*

While I am at it, then I'll stop ...Yogananda, who lived in sunny Calif, told them to keep fresh air going.
Very nice, but you would freeze and be distracted by freezing here in CO winters!
So no common sense often with these folks...on many matters, sweet like little innocent children...
but as adults seemed like they all were airheads.
I went for over a year twice a week until the cold was just too much.


Sorry, UbanLuis, I don't have exp in that meditation.