What is Vipassana?, What is Panditarama?
and who else was meditating in Lumbini, Nepal with me?
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What is Vipassana?
Vipassana is a type of meditation that was revived in the 20th century by two main figures; the late Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw from Burma and SN Goenka from India. Both men revived the exact teachings of the Lord Gautama Buddha (from 2500 years back) on how to pursue effective meditation. They have both founded different organizations under the 'Vipassana Method' banner. I am not personally clear on what are the differences in the ways each has interpreted the ancient teachings for a modern practicioner. I do know, however, that the Goenka system seems to rely on only sitting meditation and the venerable Mahasi Sayadaw system uses both walking and sitting meditation in equal amounts. You can ID any further similarities or differences on your own (as well as locate a course near you) by looking at these two randomly chosen respective sites:
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Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw Lineage School:
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SN Goenka School
What is Panditarama?
“Panditarama” is a symbolic five-petalled lotus flower used by the Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw Lineage School and the key symbol of the center I took refuge at in Lumbin, Nepal .
Each of the five petals and the round space in the middle of all the petals represent something. In the middle is “Sila” or morality, at top is “Panna” or wisdom, clockwise next is “Saddha” or faith, next clockwise is “Viriya” or effort, next clockwise is “Sati” or mindfulness, next clockwise is “Samadhi” or concentration.
Who else was there meditating in Lumbin, Nepal with me?
The animals in Lumbini garden are many (who’s sounds I recorded and are now with Barry Hall in San Fran – barry@ninestones.com). They are the howling whooping of the Jackal, the Blue Bull (look like big deer), the explosive crackle of the Spotted Owl, the deep “bu buu buuu, buuuu buuuuu” of the crow pheasant, the orgasmic building gasps of the Koel bird, grasshoppers and the loud rapping sound of the locusts.
Lawrence is one of the few other people meditating here with his girlfriend Luciana and there is also one ultra-serious Japanese young man. Lawrence lives in Palma de Mallorca and here is his email: larryp73@hotmail.com. He says that Feb-Mar is a good time to get high-paying work on boats docking at Palma.
The name of the nun I reported to each day (from Burma) is Sayalay Bhadda Manika and her master (heading the center but absent during my time there: Venerable Vivikananda (of German origin).
Both at Panditarama Meditation Center
Lumbini Garden, Nepal
To contact the center in Lumbini, Nepal by email write to: panditarama@mos.com.np
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Lumbini Panditarama Center Info is available on the web here
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