Back from my Vipassana Satipatthana Sutta course in the Talaka Dhamma Centre in NL. A good moment to reflect on what Vipassana is for me at this moment.

From my experience of various meditation techniques, Vipassana is the most pure and simple one: a combination of observing natural breath and bodily sensations, maintaining equanimity in the process. That’s it and that is what I like about it.

I come out of these 8 or 10 day courses with energy, increased mental silence and strengthened equanimity. And as a consequence an increased ability to focus and act out of connection instead of a trigger which makes life more wonderful.

Helping factors, next to the technique itself, are the equanimity emanated by the teachers, the basic quality of the various Dhamma centers, the prolonged noble silence, the simple vegetarian food and the strict rhythm and discipline of the programme.

The story around the technique, the connection to Buddha and the quest for liberation from suffering and enlightenment is entertaining but reduces the pureness of the process and experience for me. It moves from the field of direct experience to the field of beliefs and forms therefor an unnecessary distraction. And opens the door for critics.

Talaka Center in Almere is a relatively new center and facilities are still in development. Conveniently close but main disadvantage for me is that there are no individual rooms as yet.