Advice for Vipassana retreat

[Vynce]

In two days I will attempt the classical 10-day Vipassana retreat teached by Goenka. 

It seems to be one of the most hardcore meditation retreats offered publicly. I'm sure some advanced meditators here have already done it.

Any specific non-obvious advice?

[Consilience]

Well it may be a little late, but today and tomorrow I would increase your daily sitting to around 4 hours per day as a means of building momentum before the formal day 1. Unless you’re looking for the whip lash of not as intense practice to extremely intense practice.

Id also recommend letting go of all expectations of how the retreat is supposed to go or feel. It’s common for people to be blissed out, go through excruciating difficulty, total neutrality, or some combination of those three. Remember, (and this is a HUGE insight I would guess the majority of meditators don’t understand about meditation) what is happening in one’s experience or mind at the surface, what is clear and recognizable moment to moment, is not always indicative of what is happening in the depths of mind and consciousness. 
 

Imagine the surface of the Earth before an earthquake - many shifts in tectonic plates are taking place underneath the ground, the overwhelming majority of which cannot be felt or perceived. All it takes is one tiny shift in the tectonic plates and suddenly a massive earthquake erupts. Likewise, deep transformations and “progress” can be made with meditation despite the fact that no surface level or gross manifestations of mind are changing. Many people give up on meditation before these profound earthquake moments can happen. It’s best to keep practicing despite what is happening at the surface level of mind and emotion. 
 

In my opinion, it’s best to not take seriously our surface level emotions and thoughts. The deeper, more intuitive clarity and wisdom as a result of the retreat will emerge on its own and be self-validating. Yet in order for that clarity/wisdom to arise, we need to let go and surrender to the practice, retreat structure, and all attempts at manipulation. Let the pain, fatigue, boredom, and doubt filter through you without resistance, thereby purifying the mind rather than creating suffering.  
 

Last thing, sign up for your next retreat immediately after you finish. To get the most out of serious meditation practice, annual retreats are the minimum. 
 

Have fun!

[Vynce]

@Consilience Man, thank you for this overview. I deeply sense a strong authenticity in what you say. 

I'm already curios what my corruptive monkey mind will say when the practice gets serious. Lets get in the cold shower  

 

 

[Vincent S]

@Vynce Wonderful initiative. I wish you all the best
I signed up for one in 3 weeks, kinda had the same question, but you did me a huge favor, thanks!

@Consilience Thanks for sharing