10 days in total silence: Vipassana meditation

Tuesday 26th January 2016

What a blessing it is to start 2016 being all by myself for 10 days, no human interaction, no emails, no electronics, in total silence practicing meditation techniques. I highly recommend it! This year will be another challenge for me: Bertrand and I will have to undergo constant adaptions to Solar Impulse 2’s path in order to bring it back to Abu Dhabi and I will also be focusing on initiating my drone project.


After having meditated already for several years, I discovered a new method of meditation that is called Vipassana meditation. What is it?

It’s not just about relaxing, it is a life “tool” to develop and enhance our capacity to observe and become more aware of our body’s sensations and the mechanisms behind each function. From when we were new born babies, we perceive the world through sensations and we react by categorizing them with either “I like” or "I dislike,” creating tons of desires and aversions. Putting a bit of awareness before you react to sensations can really change your life. 
 
By observing and experimenting with these internal mechanisms, we become aware that these sensations are in fact impermanent and ever-changing (as soon as a desire has been fulfilled we start thinking about the next one, thus creating endless insatiable pursuits). Vipassana meditation teaches you how to become more “neutral” and detached from all these sensations, which in turn leads you to a more balanced and peaceful life.
 
So 10 days were just enough to start and to make me aware of this potential. I will need to practice more but I already feel that I can anticipate my reactions. It is good to know that everything is impermanent and some detachment helps!

 

 

Vipassana is taught by S.N. Goenka in the tradition of Sayagyi U Ba Khin.

Mr. S.N. Goenka is the current teacher of this practice and he originates from Myanmar, even though this tradition originally comes from India. He underwent fourteen years of training from Sayagyi U Ba Khin, who passed on this tradition.

Vipassana means “to see things as they really are” and is one of India’s most traditional forms of meditation. It is an ancient tradition that was rediscovered by Gotama Buddha over 2500 years ago and serves as a universal remedy, aiming to remove all mental impurities and render the highest form of happiness, full liberation. The practice takes an individual through a journey of self-observation, combining mind and body, leaving the mind balanced with love and compassion.

This blog post has been originally published here.