During a vipassana meditation retreat, you’re given a strict schedule of ten days of silence. You can’t read, write, talk, use technology or exercise during this time. While it’s incredibly difficult, it can be extremely beneficial. This practice, which teaches you to observe the reality of your thoughts and emotions without reacting to them, can help you develop greater compassion and love for yourself and others.
This meditation technique was originally taught by Buddha over two thousand five hundred years ago, and it was later passed down to non-monks like Ba Khin and Goenka. It doesn’t require any particular religious or spiritual beliefs and it can be used by anyone. Vipassana is designed to purify the mind of recurrent, obsessive patterns that create and sustain suffering, and it helps you gain compassion for yourself and others. URL theistana.com
In addition to the physical benefits, this type of meditation has been linked to increased well-being and prosocial personality traits. It’s also been found to increase brain plasticity, which means it can create new pathways to improve your mental health.
If you’re interested in taking a vipassana course, there are many options available all over the world. You can check out the wiki page for details on the schedule and requirements, but it’s usually donation based and won’t cost you an arm and a leg as some of the more popular high-end retreats might. For more information, you can also read this day-by-day account of what happens in your mind during a vipassana meditation retreat, or this breezy travel article on the same topic.