VIPS

The diagram above is a simple way to understand the Dhamma. It is called the noble eightfold path. In order to reach enlightenment according to the Buddha, one must:

• practice Sila (pronounced Shila): a set of morals that are followed particularly closely during the retreat. In essence: do not kill, steal, lie, engage in sexual misconduct, or take intoxicants. During the retreat, this means no killed animals as a meal (therefore: vegetarian food), no sex, no alcohol or cigarette, etc. Relatively straightforward for a healthy vegetarian like me. The food was not very varied but always good — I happen to love Indian food. A strong Sila should translate into your speeches, actions, and way of life. It is the foundation for a greater wisdom, like the image of the dome above.
• practice Samadhi: once your Sila is solid, you can build your faculty to meditate.That means taming your mind, and concentrate it on a single point. During the retreat Samadhi is taught through the Anapana meditation technique, i.e. tame your mind and concentrate it on your breath. Hence the concept of mindfulness: meditation is often mistaken for the art of emptying your mind; quite the contrary, it is the art of filling it up with one point of focus, in a very intense way.
• practice Panna (pronounced Pania): this is about understanding the laws of nature within yourself. The meditation technique taught to reach Panna is Vipassana. So Vipassana is both the name of the meditation retreat, and the meditation technique taught starting on Day 4, after 3 days of intense Anapana. Yes, that’s a lot of terms to remember, you should probably read the few lines above a 2nd time, and hopefully you’ll still be with me.