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DISCLAIMERS
1) Some content contains coarse language.
2) I am honestly conveying my experience, and only my experience.
(Detailed disclaimers can be found here.)
THE ONE SENTENCE SUMMARY
The retreat was SO hard at times; but the end results were incredibly positive, and it was SO worth all of the tears and trauma.
THE DETAILS
Introduction: Is it bad to cheat on a spiritual task?
Day Zero: I feel like I have checked into an institution – or a cult.
Day One: Get me the hell out of here! (Um, off to a rough start…)
Day Two: A voluntary prison of annoyance and frustration, with desperation – but then a little hope.
Day Three: Ups and downs – and some personal insights.
Day Four: Vipassana Day! And my direct experience of impermanence and change.
A bonus entry: Night of Day Four/Wee Hours of Day Five: Dreams.
Day Five: I’m starting to “get” it… I think?
Day Six: The code word for the day: equanimity. Actually, change that to misery.
Day Seven: A radical (and needed!) shift.
Day Eight: Equanimous observation – a tall order for a short meditator.
Day Nine: A note-free day; and the learnings that resulted from it.
Day Ten: Noble Silence has ended; Noble Chatter begins.
Day Eleven: Home, home, home – I wanna go HOME!
Afterward: So what did I learn?
