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Partial Vipassana

So I decided to "challenge" myself with a Vipassana silent meditation retreat in the middle of nowhere. Here are my covert notes (covert because we are not allowed to write at Vipassana. I will later post details of all the "rules" we were to abide by whilst staying at Dhamma Dipa).

Day 0 (written in retrospect on Day 1)

Felt like I was coming to boarding school again. F13 is my dorm (born in 13th district in Budapest) coincidence?! Felt like it could have been a re-birth. Dramatic? Seems like I'm full of drama.... Got here before my roomie so I chose the better bed (the one by the wall near the radiator) little did I know that radiator was going to come in handy! It was freezing so I turned the heating on. Luckily, it warms up quickly.

Day 1

Went for a walk. The area is not big but I found a decent bench in the wooded section. Felt good to lie down and stare up at the moving trees and clouds dancing around in the sky, a squirrel munching on a branch it seemed. We were told to "ignore" any animal we encounter. It ignored me too. Must be used to it. Walking back into the meditation hall I could smell the pheromones. Possibly two Russian guys were called Igor/ Anatoly. Gosha/ Tolya I thought. The first lot of guys who were called were hotter than the second. Was reminded of Yogi B re closing eyes and seeing x-rated stuff. I feel like my sense of smell has become heightened. Everyone sounded sick this morning in the 4:30-6:30am sitting, also, WTF?! No teacher. I asked her about that later in the so called "interviews" Didn't know I was applying for a job here.... her response was that students should be independent....hmm....I also asked the question about why S N Goenka says that mixing Vipassana with other techniques is "dangerous" I didn't get an answer to this either. In fact on the night of Day 2 when my teacher found out I had been doing Kundalini.....she gave a knowing "Oh" like that explains it all. She started to explain that all they are doing is teaching an ancient technique. To which I said I understood and that Kundalini Yoga is similar in that way... I've had a couple if not 3 sleeps today. Don't think this is for me. It I'm here now so I will finish it but SO grateful for Kundalini Yoga. Gutted that I am missing Ajeet this time though! Possibly ate too much at lunchtime. (Apparently we should always leave 1/4 of our stomachs empty in order to facilitate mediation. It wasn't bad: spaghetti with a veggie topping, cheese and salad (nice salad dressings). A possible vegan sat near me, only had salad. Old students don't have any food after 12 noon, not even milk in their tea. Partial fasting I guess. Although in the manual it strictly states that fasting is not allowed... Strange they don't allow writing or yoga practices. I have been vibrating the mantra Sat Nam Sat Nam, Wahe Guru Wahe Guru. I don't feel hungry. Haven't felt hungry once yet. I've got a black tea with soy milk on the go. I was SO glad to see Digestive biscuits here yesterday when we arrived! I was worried about not having any sugar. Now I'm thinking I don't want to put weight on while I'm here! We met a lady who has done Vipassana twice a year for 26/27 years! She's Indian and has lived in the U.K. For 55 years she says but doesn't speak English by her own admission very well at all. This whole experience seems like one massive deprivation behaviour. Feels weird not producing just being: being a human being instead of a human doing.....doing something I would deem useful. I hope I will learn something other than concerating on the breath coming in and out through my nostrils. At first Goenka's chanting sounded like something coming from the depths of hell bless him but I am starting to get used to it. His heart is in the right place. Not sure why it takes so long to learn this technique?! Almost 22 hrs without technology now. Bit like being back in boarding school in the early 90s. Weird that we can't write or draw. Day 2 Didn't get up for morning meditation. Did get up for breakfast - 06:30am. Got told off for still being in the dining hall at 07:15am "This time is for servers." I said Ok and left. So much energy this morning. We are not allowed to run but I did go for a few brisk walks around the block. TBC....

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At my first ever retreat. Starting to teach tomorrow! Insurance bought and ready. Officially Kundalini yoga teacher! Love love xXx Sat Nam! (at Abadía de Buckfast)

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So this morning I woke up at 07:07, made a banana, oats, almond milk, frozen berries and Manuka honey smoothie and did the Basic Spinal Flex Series Kriya. Set my intention for the day to remain balanced and not slip into workaholism like I have been a bit over the last few days. Sat Nam one and all. Have a blessed day 💗🙏

[mostodd]

If you haven't tried frozen grapes yet this summer, there is still time. They are delicious, nutritious, refreshing and SO simple to make ☺️ Get some grapes and put them in the freezer and leave over night. The next morning you will wake up to a tasty snack. Try it and let me know what you think ☺️ #frozengrapes

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Day 9 of The Green Cleanse! Still going strong! 💪🌱🍏😄🎆 Two more days and I will be over "the worst" of it apparently ☺️ One of my fave things now: stewed apples, cinnamon and honey. Yum 😋 #greencleanse #plantpower #vegan (technically the juice is vegan: apples, pear, spinach, mint, ginger, cucumber and ice to cool it all!) 😆

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Day 7 of Green Cleanse. Trying to think of new innovative ways of taking pretty much the same picture now. This one contains the following: kiwi, green pear, spinach, ice, cucumber, water. Refreshing. Turns out I am not a fan of kiwis in smoothies. Prefer juicing with Granny Smiths. #vegan #plantpower #greencleanse

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Day 6 of the Green Cleanse. Feast at Angela's House 😋 #vegan #greencleanse #plantpower

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Day 5 of the Green Cleanse: New discovered creation: grated Granny Smith with a bit of lime juice and cinnamon. Great as breakfast, dessert or snack any time of the day 😄💪🌱 #greencleanse #vegan #plantpower

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💪😄🌱💗 Day 5 of Green Cleanse. #greencleanse #vegan #greenjuice

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And for the grand finale: Dessert: Granny Smith apple with lime juice and cinnamon. Apple exceptionally sweet. Maybe because I haven't had any sugar for 3 days now. Day Three of Green Cleanse. May try grating the Granny Smith next time. 💗☺️🌱💪 #plantpower #vegan #greencleanse

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Day Three of Green Cleanse

Just mastered dinner out with my family who all had alcohol, meat and dessert 😄💪🌱

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Lunch: spinach, coriander, parsley, pear, gherkin, pistachio, pumpkin seeds, cucumber, olive oil, lime juice, pink Himalayan salt, black pepper 💗💪🌱 #plantpower

[mostodd]

Day One of the Green Cleanse

Feels weird not having coffee although I drink decaff. So far: green juice for breakfast: spinach, cucumber, Grannysmith apple, mint, lime. Pumpkin seeds and pistachio nuts with garlic infused olive oil, lime juice, pink Himalayan salt and black pepper and Cleanse Pukka Tea: organic nettle, fennel and peppermint. Green grapes for snacking. Feeling a bit headachey but also pretty energetic!

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Costa Rica 2015

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And there's the ohm in all it's finished glory in my flat :)

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New project...

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First shots of the campus I was going to be staying at for the foreseeable future. I wasn’t too impressed with having had to cancel my trip to Southern Spain but here I was in Mehico, very jet lagged but warm and pretty impressed with the campus. It was always so peaceful without the students there. They had a pool too. Perhaps a photo of that to follow. Where I spent many an hour swimming and sunbathing until the pool operator told me I wasn’t allowed to wear a bikini by the pool, so had to start wearing an all in one cossie which put the whole sun bathing thing to a stop of course. I used to sneak in at the weekends when there was no one there and just uncover a lane to swim in. I always did think it was strange that they never had any life guards or anything near by. Often thought about what would happen say if you hit your head really hard. Also ended up buying a snorkel mask. Was lovely to swim in that pool. Do love swimming! :)