I did it first in 2011. I've only done one session. I've tried to go back a few times but have created barriers in myself to doing so.
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 loved the clarity of thought that experience gave me. It is interesting how we both went thorough the same phases. The immense calm, the slow agitation and then excuses.
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.
If it was benefecial, why didn't you do more of it..
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...
You are certainly not alone. I both meditate (sometimes) and practice yoga (intermittently), and while both make me feel great and have noticeable effects on my productivity, they're both so much damned work. Once I miss a few consecutive days, its easy to miss a few more.
Brb going to meditate, even though its past my bedtime and I've got a couple glasses of wine in me.
Had a few moments of such afterglow. And then the anguish. And then the thought that, is that not ok too? That the point is not to live in an eternal state of bliss, but to be more forgiving and compassionate when we do slip. And not let it cause any anguish.
Though we might be talking about different things here haha.
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.