Minggala-ba!

Before I left Bangkok, realization struck me. I am on my own again. No more Judith, Martin or Wouter. Realized the last few months that travelling together makes things much easier on a practical level. And far more important, more enjoyable on an emotional level. I had mixed feelings between excitement and being nervous. Going alone to Myanmar.

Not an easy start
The first few days were a real struggle. Within one week saying goodbye to Wouter and found (or lost) myself in three different countries. This was just too much for me. I was doing ok, just lost my happy mojo on the way to Myanmar. Perhaps forgot it at the airport...
I felt alone, didn't meet new people. As it turned out, this was probably my path. Slowly going into silence.

Monkchat
The first night I went to the famous Shwedagon Paya, a stunning masterpiece of a religious monument. Here somehow my second plan enrolled itself (first plan was going to Myanmar without any plans). Watching the pagoda changing colors during the sunrise, I found myself among a group of monks. Who found who? Faith I guess. We talked for two hours and they gave me advice about a meditation center, where I was looking for during this travel time. And if monks gives you this gift, you take it! The next day I visited the center and faith again was working in my direction, within two days an new course would start and there was one place left.

Vipassana Meditation
What is Vipassana? Vipassana means insight; seeing reality as it is. It is a process of self-observation. Ultimate goal: fully enlightment. Hmmm that sounded like a state of mind far away, but hey why not give it a try. The technique focusses on mental purification. A mind without unhappiness, craving, aversion and ignorance. Do you still follow me or already think that I lost my mind here?

This self-purification process takes ten days. Or at least the course, the process a whole lifetime. In some cases probably many lives. Ten days of not talking, reading, writing or making eye contact. No form of communication: noble silence.

Also here, like in the ashram, a strict timetable. Every day following the same schedule. It came down to 11 hours of meditation per day, only sitting meditation. The first two days felt like meditation boot camp, so tough on my body. I almost gave up on my enlightment. From day three it slowly got better and on day seven I was really into it. What did we do besides meditating? Walking, resting, showering three times a day (it was over 40 degrees sometimes) and before you know there was the gong again; back to our cushion.

In the center I lived among only Burmese woman (the man and woman are strictly separated). Interesting. Only because of the noble silence, no talking means no insides in their lives. Just witnessing them meditating, cleaning and doing laundry. You'd be surprised about the amount of burps and farts they relive during the day. Sometimes I tried to join in, I was a weak opponent. Never got I even close enough to their volume.

On the 10th day we were allowed to the speak again. So strange to suddenly hear your own voice again, getting all these impulses from other people. It is so humane to talk, making contact. It felt like reconnecting with old parts. Smiling.

As far as my personal experience, I don't want to get to spiritual on you. Giving the impression that I am turning into a Buddha here. Although, according to goeroe G this is possible for everyone.
I can tell you that since the meditation I found my happy mojo again and it is shining!

More reflections on
Myanmar, land of a thousand temples and a million sunsets. Everywhere you go the golden pegodas are decorating the landscapes. Sparkling in the sun. Specially around sunset and sunrise, these moment the light is always the most beautiful, but in Myanmar it is even more special. Land of gold.

What I really enjoyed were the compliments when I was wearing my traditional longi (long skirt). I had the same reactions in India on my salwar kameez. Local people really appreciate your interest in their country, trying to blend in somehow. But to be honest, it looks far better on them. Still, receiving compliments is just nice.

Dear Myanmar, from heart to heart: let's meet again.

With metta*,
Marjolein

* Metta is a meditation technique we learned on the last day: here we send out peace and harmony into the world. I hope you felt mine.