What is Vipassana Meditation? Goenka's 10-Day Course Explained

Goenka's 10-Day Vipassana meditation course attracts people from all backgrounds who seek an immersive, intense, and potentially life-changing experience.  Most people though, know very little about this meditation technique and the course structure before joining the course. 

I know that was my case. That's why I've decided to try to explain, in layman’s terms, what is Vipassana meditation and what exactly you do during the 10-day Vipassana meditation course.  So I hope that old and new students will find this article helpful.  

3 Things I Hated about Goenka's 10-Day Vipassana Meditation Course

Goenka's 10-day Vipassana Meditation Course can be a life-changing experience.   10 hours of meditation per day is really powerful.  But there were a few things I hated about the course, so much that I doubt I will ever try it again in the future.  

There is No Aim in Meditation (Lessons From My 2nd Vipassana Retreat)

Meditation hall at Dhamma Arunachala Meditation Center

I recently completed my second 10-day Vipassana meditation retreat (where you sit in silence and crossed-legged on the floor for 10 hours a day) and I gotta tell you, I was so glad when the course was over. I even started counting down the days from day five and told myself during the last few days that I would never do this course again.

I Started a NON-Gratitude Journal. It's Changed My Life

I know, everybody recommends having some form of gratitude practice like for instance a gratitude journal.  There are countless videos and blogs talking about it. There is even scientific research proving the mental and physical benefits of having a gratitude practice.  

Yet, instead of writing a gratitude journal, I've decided to keep a non-gratitude journal. Instead of focusing on what I feel grateful about I've decided to focus on what I don't feel grateful about.