10 days without talking – Part I

All our lives since we were born we keep on relying on our senses to analyze and interact with the outer world. The six senses skin, eye-sight, smell, taste, sound and intellect. If these things determine reality then reality is nothing but a combination of electric signals sent up to our brains through the nerves. If thats not reality then what is reality? What is the true meaning of existence? What is the cause of suffering and what is the cure? Does god exist? What is the truth? What is the purpose of life? What is its meaning? I ventured to find out..

Nearly twenty five hundred years ago a prince named Siddhartha Gautam, from Kapilbastu now in the Teari region of Nepal, realized that everyone had the same misery. Also with his keen observation of nature.. he also figured out that there are no consequences without actions. Hence, one day he left all his belongings, family and the castle itself and went forth to look for the ultimate truth.. the solution to the common miseries of mankind. For years he wandered, trying different kinds of techniques of meditation and meeting with different spiritual teachers seeking the answers to his questions. But none could satisfy him fully, none could give his a complete solution, an answer that seemed fit for all the mankind. Each method of liberation was tied to this religion or the other.. each path was filled with assurance of liberation and complete happiness but each associated with different backgrounds and hence unappealing to people of other backgrounds. What Siddhartha was really looking for was a complete solution to the miseries that was applicable for all the people. Luckily he came across an ancient technique of meditation called “Vipassana” Vipassana means to see things in a special way. Special in a sense that to see things as they are and not as we would want them to be.

The whole universe is made up of tiny sub-atomic particles, these sub-atomic particles are created and destroyed with such rapidity that it creates an illusion of solidity. The universal truth is that everything changes sooner or later. This fundamental truth of the universe need not be seeked in libraries or laboratories the answer lies within the framework of our own body.

I was fortunate to come across this technique. Satya Narayan Goenkar, an Indian born in Burma “the land of dhamma” came across this technique while trying to free himself from morphine addiction which was the consequence of his migraine (a severe type of recurring head ache). After he got benefited from this technique this man who was born in a rich business family wanted to let others too know about this technique and hence started distributing “dhamma” for the benefit of others as everyone has problems and everyone would like to have a solution to it.

Damma is a path. A road that leads to full liberation, enlightenment. It is the only way to salvation and the only way real happiness can be achieved. It is the only when a person is free from all miseries that he can be said as truly happy. The path to liberation has eight main folds and it isn't a rite or ritual.. what it is, is the art of living.

1. 
   Speak no lies
2. Do not kill
3. Avoid use of drugs, alcohol
4. Avoid sexual misconduct
5. Do not steal
6. Sheel
7. Samadhi
8. Panna

that's what I remember.. but I had to see wikipedia and here's what showed up..

1. Right View
2. Right Intention
3. Right Speech
4. Right Action
5. Right Livelihood
6. Right effort
7. Right mindfulness
8. Right concentration

http://www.dhamma.org/

more on this on the next post.. :)