My Vipassana experience

A month after Vipassana:

 A month has now passed away since I returned from the Vipassana Meditation Centre at Amersfoort, in the Netherlands. Since lot of my friends were asking me where I was during the Christmas and new year and the one who knew that I was gone to find myself were asking how the meditation went, I thought write it so that you have an idea what it was all about. 

Since I was called at the last moment to join the course, I myself had very little idea about Vipassana. What I knew for sure was that I would be gone for 10 days. I packed my clothes for 10 days and got my train to Amersfoort. After a ride for about 3 hours, I arrived at the meditation centre at De Glind.

The registration, the evening meal and the orientation about the courses kept me excited and the 8 pm on that very day, the course and the noble silence was started.

With a short meditation, we went to sleep at 9 pm and there I was with mere curiosity of 10 more days which were due to come.

 You are awaken with a trilling sound of a gong every morning at 4 am and you try to start your day half asleep. I was there at the meditation hall by 4.30 every morning which I was proud of. We followed the instructions and kept on meditating from 4am till 9 pm except during the breakfast and lunch time. There wasn’t any dinner!

First 3 days were mostly the concentration of your respiration and then from 4 till 10^th day, it was all about the sensation and equanimity.  What I felt during those 10 days where the biggest learning of my life. I believe that I had never maintained such a strong discipline in my whole life and the willingness to achieve something had never been so sharp.

 Even though being born in a Hindu/ Buddhist community, I realised that I know so less about my own beliefs.  It was an eye opener on so many aspects of my own life for me. I regret now why I didn’t do this course earlier.

 I had an ocean of time to think, Even though the whole meditation was about getting out of your thoughts.  But I thought, thought and kept on thinking even though i didnt want those thoughts….there were this immensity of thoughts which would sometimes keep me awake at night.  A regret of the past or a fear of the future; the journeys and the difficulties of life I have been through and also the merriest events, the wonderful people I met in last years…..  the thoughts came and passed away.

Coming back home, I feel like I have regained a new life.  I’m trying to practicing it in day to day life where I cope my stress with my meditative thoughts. Nothing is permanent. Whatever happens, it all has the same characteristics of coming and passing away.  I do try to meditate even though the evening hours are very difficult coz of the tiredness. I’m holding to my morning sessions even though I'm mostly half asleep.

I learned to forgive. I think, I now can distance myself when an event occurs so that I wouldn’t let come upto my heart try to maintain my equanimity.   I believe that I would now react differently than I used to do it before. Separating me from day to happiness or miseries is not always evident but I do try to apply it! I think it helps you to concentrate in several aspects of life and try to teach you a meaning of life. I feel more relaxed and I understand why I'm meditating; not for the sake of someone's wishes but my own choice.

I’m glad that I’ve already registered for one day courses for coming months and I’m dedicated to do the 10 days course in dec 2014.

I am joining the one day courses too. The last one was at 26 of January in Brussels.

The practical arrangement and more info about Vipassana can be found here.

Peace,

Raj

Nepal Festival 2012: Weaknesses and Opportunities

The Nepali version of the news was online through different Nepali website based in Belgium. I'm posting the English version here!

Writing commentary or news has not been my speciality in recent years. Not due to the busy schedule but just giving comment does not always effectively lead to a solution. 

Last Sunday I was in Nepal festival in Antwerp.  Like everyone else, I had heard and read about it in different online platforms and quite curious to attend. Even though it had already been organized so many times; it was the first time I was going to attend the first time remains quite memorable.

After visiting the event, the whole thing was going in my head and thought to pin it down to share what they feel; I believe that there are so many other people who feel the same!

Let me tell first what I saw there. I arrived there around 15u. Raining and cold Belgian summer weather seemed quite hardly affecting the organizing committee. As the main stage didn’t have a covered roof, the performances had to be halted in every 10 min. The enthusiasm of the announcer wasn’t really helping to unite the folks around the stage. There were few stalls selling Nepali handicrafts and food. I also noticed a stall giving info about organized travel journeys to Nepal and there was a stall where you could get Posters printed by Nepal Tourism Board.

I had some snacks, wandered around, and greeted the people I know. Giving a percent wouldn’t be accurate, but I could clearly tell that almost everyone who were present there were Nepali leaving few “Belgian” apart.  I saw 3 cultural shows given by different ethnic group representing Nepali dance, music and dresses.

I heard afterwards that the programme was inaugurated by Nahima Lanjri a federal parliament member of CD&V. She is a heavyweight within the party but I really have a feeling that we missed the charm and opportunity. This program could have helped to enlighten many people who were unknown about Nepal and our rich cultural and natural heritage.

Here I have come up with comment which could be taken into consideration for upcoming events.

The biggest weakness was the advertisement of the programme. The programme was supposed to introduce Nepal to the Belgian people but almost nobody knew about it. I did an online search where I found no information about the event. There were almost only Nepalis present coz no Belgian people were aware of it. The few who were there were actually invited by us so they knew already someone from Nepal. The organizer published it in Nepali online sites but didn’t think about publishing it in Belgian/Dutch website. Gazet Van Antwerpen could have been a perfect example. De Antwerpnaar; which is delivered for free to every family living in Antwerp. They publish every two weeks every event of the city. Our event could have easily got into their paper but the organizer didn’t think about it. City of Antwerp organizes lot of event during the summer with the name of “Zomer van Antwerpen”. No, we didn’t think to get our event there. The publicity was the biggest reason why we had such a little attendance of Belgians in the programme.

The announcer was speaking in English and Nepali. Wouldn’t it have been ideal to do the announcements also in Dutch? I don’t think we lacked enough Dutch speaking lads and ladies here though. That would also give us the opportunity to show that we respect the local language and people and are even integrated into the society here. It would have also attracted other people who couldn’t speak English. Whether we like it or not, Dutch is the language of this place and it should have got priority in the announcement.

The location itself was a minor too. I wonder why we didn’t choose the “Groenplaats”, “Grote Markt or the front of the Central Station. You could have easily attracted 1000s of people if those locations could have been chosen. You should have just contacted the city council for the permission. Het Steenplein itself is very outlying place and very unlikely that people would show up there unless they knew about it. You could have put some marking or arrows from the Groenplaats, may be with Nepali flag or an attracting picture to attract the curious people. I searched that and sadly found none.

The preparation lacked visibility. I had read few times in the Nepali online news sites where they had been meetings and people holding positions for different responsibilities but the outcome was far worse than it sounded like it would be. A Program organized by the embassy of our proud country was so minimized. It lacked the charm, the festivality and entertainment. You could have easily put some child animation activity, Dress up like Nepali act, or proper welcome gate where you feel like you are now entering in Nepal.

The main stage didn’t have roof. Every other stall did have a roof!!! I don’t know why they decided to build up a stage without room even though the weather forecast wasn’t really so good. Even though the forecast had been good, you can’t really trust Belgian weather. It was raining and the stage programs were broken every 10 min. That just shows the scarcity of preparedness and professionalism.

At the end, if it had been called a day for Nepali in Antwerp I would say it was good enough according to Nepali standard. But if you organize a programme saying we want to attract tourists and introduce our rich culture and heritage then it didn’t work out. With all the respect to the organizer who worked hard to make it possible, you didn’t represent Nepal as it should have been. Neither do I think that the programme made anyone interested to come to Nepal. Our friends go to Nepal because we tell them personally how helpful, friendly and generous we are.

I hope this news reaches as a positive feedback to the organizer so that the future events could do better!

Raj

 

10 Miles 2012

Back again after a year!!! Writing a blog has now become a rare activity for me. But still, how could I not post my second 10 miles photos!

Here are some shots of 10 Miles 2012!!!

DVV Antwerp 10 Miles!!!

My first 10 Miles Experience!

A nice quote...

It is so important to let certain things go. To release them. To cut loose. People need to understand that no one is playing with marked cards; sometimes we win and sometimes we lose. Don’t expect to get anything back, don’t expect recognition for your efforts, and don’t expect your genius to be discovered or your love to be understood. Complete the circle. Not out of pride, inability or arrogance, but simply because whatever it is no longer fits in your life. Close the door, change the record, clean the house, get rid of the dust, stop being who you were and become who you are.

Yes, We can!

Yes, We can! – Democrat President-Elect Barack Obama

How can I not write anything for this historical moment? Barack Obama has won the American election. The win may mean many things to many people. For me, It’s a win for a hard-working Afro-American who struggled for his life and proved that there is nothing impossible. I was following every moment of the election result in TV and internet, staying awake late at night and when the final victory was announced, I was immensely glad. I knew there were millions of people who were out there in the world to share that happiest moment. …….The First Black President of United States of America.
Obama, a sign of change. Here is a video of his victory speech. I completely understand why people have tears in their eyes with happiness. This is surely a moment to be glad about!
Obama, We all love you!

The Football Match I missed!

As a true supported of Club Brugge, I was supposed to go to watch the First Round of UEFA Cup game in Bern. It was against BSC Young Boys, a team from Bern. I had to cancel the plan at the last minute but the sensation of the match lasted quite last as it ended 2-2 at the last minutes. Glad that we won the home match against them and proceed to the Group phase.

Here is a short video of the game. I don’t know who took this video but we just discovered that my two best friends with whom I was supposed to go are there in the video if you look carefully at 25th second.
FCB OLE OLE!!!!!!!!!