A COLLECTIVE of Postings...Sanieh's US tour :)

The date is 070707.  10 days, 111 hours of meditation and 180 hours of closed eyes at a minimum later- I have immersed back into the real world a new person with a new way of seeing and experiencing each moment of my life. Throughout our lives, we swim through opportunities that allow us to experience truly profound (I like that word) life-changing moments... this experience was absolutely one of those!

Just out of the silence and into the world- "as it is". The past 11 days have been full of so much more than I could have ever expected or prepared myself for. Somehow, when it comes to documenting my experiences "on paper", I seem to be at a loss for words. In retrospect, the few people who I knew who had attended a Vipassana Meditation course- shared very little with me. In this realization that has been completely experiential, I understand why that was at this point because for me to even attempt to take you there would be an enormous injustice to the method and quite impossible. What I can say is this: GO. Attend a 10 day course. Only after attending a 10 day course is one able to attend a weekend or even single day at one of the international centers but you must first attend the 10 day silent course where you are taught the method. I will say this much... we did not even get into the Vipassana method until day 4 as the first 3 days were spent preparing the mind. We are working with eradicating suffering at a root level. Not concentrating the mind, but purifying it.

MY STORY: I arrived on Wednesday June 27, Day 0. Going into this without much information at all I wondered how I would find out procedures since I understood that the silence was to begin once we arrived. We got checked in after arriving late afternoon, got settled into our rooms and had an information meeting and dinner. Most of us were walking around not saying a word and the "old students" were talking because they knew what was going on. So during our dinner-  the ONLY dinner we would have during our stay mind you- there was a little conversation but I was still blank and unsure of what was going on. I had prepared myself to stop the conversation once my brother dropped me off so I was a little disturbed because I was ready--- don't worry, it's coming ;)

So after our segregated meal and getting settled into our divided dorm areas, we all met outside the meditation hall where we (the gals- everything was separated at this point but the process was the same for all) hung out awaiting our names to be called when we were giving a number/seating assignment that we were to keep in the meditation hall. We were also informed that because there is no talking in the hall; that this would be when the silence would begin.

At this point we took an oath of noble silence which meant no talking, reading, writing, or communication of gestures of any kind for the entire time - silence of mind, body and speech. I forgot to mention that during registration, we were asked to turn in our phones, reading/writing material and because I am traveling, I also turned in my laptop. Actually, because I saw someone in front of me do it, I gave them my entire purse which caused problems for me on day 6- more on that later... This sounds strict and it is but keep in mind that all 73 participants knew what we were going into. It was a decision and part of the requirements. Another relevant part was ceasing any and all forms of prayer, other meditation techniques, recitation of matras, malas, rosaries etc. This is not to discount any of the above; it's simply to give fair trial to the technique that is Vipassana.

It was very interesting to me that we were never reminded "remember to be back at such and such time for this that or the other...". We were given our schedule and we followed it. There was silence all around us to stop the stimulus so that we could be completely immersed. This is where I say again that the silence is not at all the technique itself it's just part of the process required. And full silence, complete NOBLE silence is absolutely necessary. One cannot be partially silence for a partial day and learn and experience in these stages so this was a part of it. The silence began on the evening of day 0 and went through mid morning on day 9 allowing us a "shock absorber" to re-enter into the outside world. The "retreat" was over after breakfast and clean-up today, day 10.

Life changing- Absolutely. We are meant to practice the technique 2 hours daily for the first year to water the seed. After sitting for 11 hours a day in meditation, one begins to crave those few hours a day.

FRIDAY JULY 13 2006

I've been trying to work on a post and blog it while in the middle of this whirlwind. Traveling has gone well... well besides the part where I broke my 5 year streak of not getting a traffic violation which happened somewhere in the middle of BFE Texarkana or near there. I was lucky that I got caught when I did because I had been going about 89 - 92 mph. I shouldn't brag about that; it's dangerous. I'd also like to add that this was the LONGEST and FARTHEST that I have ever driven on my own J 10 hours Memphis to Austin!

IT'S JUST GEOGRAPHY! (Thanks Norman)

I have a confession to make. For the last few months while living in Nashville people have been asking questions about my move to LA and details of my travels etc. I have been very cryptic and without many words...specifically since Memorial Day weekend. There was a reason for all of that and I believe the words I had been using were that I was "sitting with some things". This was true, completely true. Only there was more. I went to visit a friend in Austin who had been trying to get me to make the visit since last Thanksgiving and because of the circumstances in my life, I never went, never wanted to go and even resisted the idea because I feared that returning to the place I was before I was consciously aware of myself being on the path and living the life that I live now- somehow meant that everything, all of my experiences and growth would somehow be null and void. Silly I know. Well when I went to visit Austin (the last time I went was to attend my first yoga teacher's training) something happened. After hours of tears feeling like I needed to leave I was filled with an amazing peace, INSPIRATION, and harmony. This was very confusing for me since there had been so much resistance and I WANTED to go to LA. Why? Well I love the ocean, I loved the vibe of the beach area the yoga community.

Austin to me, is very much like this same vibe if not more so in many ways with the whole "keep Austin weird" thing going on and it's grown so much - all of this less the ocean of course. The yoga community here is thriving and far less superficial as a whole (city wise)and while there are a boat load of studios, teachers, and students, its not saturated. If I teach for the love of it then why the heck not do so ANYWHERE outside of the place that has the most of it? I think you get where I'm going... well as the Universe would have it even after all the details of my LA move had been set, I found myself in a situation with MUCH opportunity that is currently spilling over into my lap as far as teaching yoga goes in Austin and so I began to unravel the thread that was to take me to LA. Yep, Ever since that weekend, I knew that I was moving to Austin but I did have to sit with some things.

This is a great thing in my life and I am VERY excited and feel that I have been gifted another opportunity to fall in love with the city that I never had an appreciation for when I lived there 6 years ago. My life continues to renew itself so I see each aspect with fresh eyes as often as I am able. I was in a completely different place back then so I feel as though the experience is brand new and I am very excited for the many fires that are brewing and falling in alignment with my life and aspirations.

This in particular has given me such lightness in my heart with the knowledge that I am practicing what I preach in my studies that if we allow ourselves to be a student of the flow, truly, then the abundance awaits us. In the moment that we are able to let go, have courage, and feel our own fear, we strengthen those muscles and are able to do it again and again. This is the reward. So much resistance I had and so much I would have missed in all of my confusion... how did I do it? Well I went inward and I listened and FELT what was real, FOR ME. 

One of the last things I did before departing Nashville was see a beautiful gal who had helped me through so much at a time that was so very dark for me. She has left me with her presence, her wisdom and her teachings that I have been able to make my own in that when we listen to that inner compass, when we trust and learn to let go of the fear in the tiniest of ways even, life unfolds and we come into alignment with our harmony.

SATURADY JULY 14, 07

I am here in Venice Beach, day 1 of Shiva's Summer immersion. Already, the tide is moving and it's moving strongly! Since I had planned on moving here and had many details worked out, one thing I had been working on was finding a job...preferable one that would allow me to be immersed into this lifestyle that is LIVING YOGA. Well I was talking with my teacher's (Shiva Rea - http://www.shivarea.com/ in case you missed it!) right hand gal this morning who said to me "I have a job for you with yoga adventures" which is Shiva's company that does all of these teaching/workshop travels world wide. I tell you my heart SANK. I said to her that I had decided to move to Austin and she was completely supportive and reminded me that it was good for me to listen to that calling inside. It's all about that SPANDA- that buzzing feeling inside, that thing that bubbles up... and even though I feel a little heart sick because THIS was the position I wanted to be in, one that would support my being here and one that is so connected to my life's path, my work, my Dharma, and of course one that keeps me close to my own teacher on many levels. I know that there is a reason for Austin being on my radar. This is yet another example of listening to all that the Universe puts inside of my heart and even when on the surface, we want to run somewhere else- like into the arms of this position that had my name written all over it; that is, until I told her I would not be moving here.

SOOOO... this is what I have at the moment. I wanted to be sure and post because the next several days will have a lot for me to document and share and I do not suspect I will be sitting here on a computer - I didn't want to post too much at a time or I would have zero readers I'm sure! ;)

A funny- not really but worth the share: I rented a car yesterday and was pulling out of a parking garage yesterday/last night in Santa Monica when I made love with a cement pole with the passenger side of my car L

More soon enough- stay tuned...

OM NAMAH SHIVAYA

Sanieh

http://www.saniehyoga.com/

www.cafepress.com/saniehyoga