Vipassana

Ryan mountain hike is a super special one, be up there almost every summer since I first visited this park July 2016, love it.  This time, my fifth time, it was different.  A fresh new perspective thanks to Vipassana, 10 days in silence, no phone, no music, no intoxicants, no reading, no exercise, nothing but meditation for the past 10 days straight.  It was the most challenging while the most rewarding experience of my life.  

First heard about Vipassana back in February from an influential mentor.  She shared it was was one of the most important things she did for herself 🤔. Then a few days later I was telling another friend who I admire and look up to about what she said and she said, oh yeah that was the best things I’ve done.  No way🤔🤔 THEN a week later another person I admire and look up to also said something similar.. 🤔🤔🤔 There is no such thing as coincidences.  My rule is if the universe shows me something three times I have follow the guidance 💫. I believe we are handed things in life when we need them.

Well this was absolutely the case for my timing in meeting with the divinity of Vipassana.  At its core, it’s a meditation technique meaning observing things as they actually are. “As it is.”  It teaches you to compassionately and patiently train your “monkey mind”🐒 to be become objectively aware of your reactions(Sankharas), develop equanimity in your mind, which subsequently leads to liberation and mental purification. 

So many teachings and nuggets of wisdoms, these are just a few of my favorites:

🧘🏼‍♀️All great leaders say “Know Thyself.”  This is the beginning of wisdom as Socrates said.  This practice allows you to get to the root of you.  By doing this work you are digging into the subconscious thoughts that are creating your thoughts, which are manifesting your words, your actions and ultimately shaping your entire reality. 

🧘🏼‍♀️”You are your own master, you make your own future”- Buddha. The path to liberation is your own battle to fight, no one is going to do it for you. 

🧘🏼‍♀️3 causes of unhappiness are craving, aversion and ignorance. If you identify these as the mind generates these thoughts it helps to be objectively observe and not attach to the ideas. 

🧘🏼‍♀️Annica-impermanence.  Everything is always changing always, this is a law of nature. What arises must pass away, accept this moment for what it is.

When I left I had some BIG cries after leaving the retreat driving through Joshua tree.  Feeling so elated, blessed, overjoyed.   I blasted my favorite tunes, danced with the top down (for the first time in 12 days, hello dopamine rush🥰) and got to breathe in one of my favorite national parks, where i fell in love with these scared spaces.  In this moment I felt the strong presence of my late grandfather with me in that moment, he was there with me celebrating.  My heart was bursting with so much gratitude for this experience and this moment.  This will pass as they all do.

The most important thing I’ve gathered in the recent past, life is way too short and precious to spend your time and energy on anything other than working towards YOUR own happiness. Your own well being leads to the joy of everyone around you, we are vibrational beings made up of massive amazing of sub atomic particles.  Your frequency is impacting everyone you encounter, meet and have relationship with. Take a good look inward and you might see the unhappiness your feeling is your own doing 🙈 #gulity

At the end of the day, TIME is our most precious resource, might as well use it towards making yourself feel happy.  You’ll be helping everyone around you too ✌🏻💕