Meditation

I attended to 10 days meditation course at Vipassana Meditation Center in Bangalore. A Japanese old student of the Vipassana Meditation introduced about Vipassana and I decided to meditate for 10 days, because all of the accommodation fees and meals are free in the Vipassana Meditation Center.

But the schedule is very hard and we must meditate for 12 hours in a day, we aren't allowed to move during group meditation time(8:00-9:00, 14:30-15:30, 18:00-19:00), we must concentrate to meditate. I have never meditated more than 30 minutes by myself, so I was afraid that I couldn't meditate so long time, but I finished the 10 days course and already became a old student! (Because all of fees are free!) But I think this is very very hard work and I was very tired from meditation. If you want to observe yourself for a long time and find your new and old truth, please apply for this course and see your physical and mental change. First registration can take for over 4 weeks, so please apply over 4 weeks before^^. Having supper is not allowed except the 10th evening but self-service dinning hall allows us to take meals as much as we want in Bangalore, all of the meals are Indian foods but we can use spoon to eat. I considered that about 15 percent of the students are foreigners. We can't speak during meditation but after the 10th afternoon we can talk to other students freely.

My room mate introduced Pyramid Valley International, so I went there on the Day 11. Bus going to Majestic & KR market left meditation center at 7:30am(free). I took a red bus to go to Pyramid Valley at KR market, it is a little bit difficult to find a red bus to go to Harohalli(about 2km from Kebbedoddi, when you go buck to city center with big luggage, you should go to Harohalli bus stop and take a seat). The red bus stops in front of No.215 bus but a little bit far from other bus stop. It costs 35 Rs to go to Pyramid Valley bus stop from KR market. Pyramid Valley is 25minutes walk from KebbeDoddi(Pyramid Valley) bus stop, one bed in dorm costs 150 Rs/24 hours with free meals. There isn't internet cafe near Pyramid Valley but I found a good cyber cafe in "Art of Living" ashram, it costs 15 Rs per hour. You don't have to meditate in the Pyramid Valley, a lot of families visit there to take a rest(actually only meditater can enter the big park). If you want to meditate, you can go to ashram "art of living" with beautiful hall. Accommodation in the ashram is not available except who finished first meditation course, the first course is very expensive but meditation hall is very luxury and all of us can meditate in the beautiful hall.


Pyramid Valley's restaurant provides free meals. Everyone visiting to Pyramid Valley can eat these free meals. Lunch time 12:30-14:00, Dinner time 19:00-20:00, the big park's entering time is 9:00-18:00. Break fast and snacks are provided at cafeteria, cost 30 Rs. Cafeteria has spoons, but there isn't spoon in restaurant. If you want to use, please take a spoon to restaurant.



It is required to take off shoes before entering to meditation hall. Pyramid Valley is in countryside of Bangalore, about 30km from city center. There are Buddhism arts in Pyramid Valley but a lot of people visiting there are Hindu. (Photoed from near KebbeDoddi bus stop)

I wasn't interested in meditation in Japan, but in India, a lot of people meditate and enjoy it, there are a lot of ways of meditation. Meditation can give you a peaceful mind and concentration. You can ask Hindu shrine's stuff to teach you how to meditate, there are a lot of meditation instructors in India.


Art of Living