It was a normal weekday. After having lunch, me and my best friend Anjali were walking in our office lane. She told me that she was going to apply for vipassana. (I hope I was not the reason for which she opted for this). You know, it's a rule that where ever you have to go, go with your best friend and that will turn into awesome. Vipassana was also not exception for this. Though we were not sure about joining course but still we applied for it and waited for confirmation from their side. I don't know how I got reply from them within a week saying that your seat is confirmed. Anjali also got confirmation within next few days and we decided to go for it. It was our luck to get selected for Igatpuri international vipassana centre.

I always thought what people exactly do by going there? Do they become monk? And many question always cross my mind whenever I see such people. The course was of 10 days and my batch was from 1 st January to 12 th January 2020. Everyone was like what the hell? On new year you are going at such place where you will not able to talk for 10 days. Are you mad? bla bla bla..But I was firm on my decision. I have gone through many blogs from all people due to which I got mixed feelings about vipassana. But then I realize everyone's experience is unique and then I decided to go with clear mind and experience it with full attention.

On 1st January 2020, I travel from Pune to Nashik by bus and then to Igatpuri by cab. Train is available from Mumbai to Igatpuri. After completing formalities I submitted my mobile and other assets to locker department. Then I got my blankets, room keys and headed towards my room. They have single and double occupancy. I have been asked for single room and I said yes very happily.

They have female and male section completely separate. On very first day(0 th day) at evening around 7 PM we were given light dinner. we gathered in canteen area for instructions and they divided all of us into groups. And from 8 PM onwards Nobel silence began. Oath was taken and in that moment I felt like shit , I am gonna become a monk and what my family will say and many thoughts crossed my mind but then I calm down and decided to focus on 10 days. (Also called : Aaryaa maun We are social creatures and we try to communicate with each other through words, gestures, eye contact and all of this were discouraged. They have 5 principles and we have to obey them to get maximum benefit of vipassana. They said it right, you have spent your valuable 10 days so follow instructions to get maximum benefit.

Routine at vipassana starts at 4 AM in morning and ends at 9 PM at evening. I have tried my best to put everything I have learned their and routine I had followed there in this blog.

Here’s a common schedule:

4:00am: Wake-up Bell

4:30am — 6:30am: Meditate

6:30am — 8:00am: Breakfast

8:00am — 11:00am: Meditate

11:00am — 1:00pm: Lunch

1:00pm — 5:00pm: Meditate

5:00pm — 6:00pm: Tea

6:00pm — 7:00pm: Meditate

7:00pm — 8:15pm: Lecture

8:30pm — 9:00pm: Meditate

10:00pm: Lights Out

If we see its 10.5 hours of meditation. Some slots we can meditate in room as well but some are mandatory in common hall. First 3 days were about concentrating on your breathing only. It was just concentrating to the entrance of the nostrils and focus on where our breath touches inside nose. While doing this, my mind was continuously wandering to some past moments and future worries, what if this happens, someone did this to me etc. But We have to bring our mind back to the entrance of the nostril. These 3 days were as back was paining badly and on 2nd day many people felt like running away from this.

From 4th day actual vipassana started. During this, they have said to concentrate small movements happening inside and surface of body, traverse through body starting form top to bottom and sense the sensation inside body. If something is paining focus on that, everything is Anichya(nothing is permanent). Start with calm and quite mind, alter and attentive mind,

on 7th day, each one of us allocated meditation cell. Inside a big pagoda, there were many floors having cells. It was a small room with dim light and aasana was there and we have to sit there and meditate, but frankly speaking this was so scary, i was barely able to concentrate here. this was continued till 10 th day.

Many people during vipassana course cries as for 10 days only breath is there with (me ani maza shwaas). this is an amazing opportunity to look within ourselves and break all the past and worries of future and live in present moment. Our current breath is only shaaswat. That is our life. And the most important this is , "experience the way it is" may it be things or incidences. Instead of it should have been like that or not like that, accept those thing as it is. This will keep our mind equanimous.

On 11th day, course ends and we were allowed to talk. But touching or hugging was not allowed we have given mobiles and everything and on next day that is 12 th day in morning 6 am , course ended and everybody was free to go.

I learnt lot many things from this course. Not to stuck with small things in mind, live in present moment, accept things as they are. If anything happens , think before reacting, is that thing is in my hand, if yes do something about it. If it's not in your hand, just be calm. Somehow Vipassana changed my life for sure. But frankly speaking, I can't do same 10 days course again. But yeah, I recommend to do it at least once.