Just FYI, though there teachers there (for presence and questions), S.N. Goenka has been filmed and it is his video and dharma talks that are shown. Shannon had various reactions to him that I didn't. (One description she has for him is "cult-like" which I disagree with and can also see elements of. I mean, you are watching a video. That said, I think it's an effective way for an old man to teach what he's spent his lifetime learning in a consistent way.)
I tend to be a take what I like and leave what I don't kind of person so whenever he mentioned reincarnation (being Buddhist - which I wasn't at the time), I ignored it pretty easily. The methodology and teachings are sound, and if you follow the practice, you will definitely learn mindfulness and about your own monkey mind and how to tame it.
That said, it's probably the hardest thing I've ever done - except for maybe getting divorce. It was an incredibly worthwhile practice for me and changed my life. And I really don't think you can do less than 10 days for this kind of stuff...just because the monkey mind is the mind you've had your whole life. A 2-day or even 5-day workshop isn't long enough to really learn discipline.
no subject
Just FYI, though there teachers there (for presence and questions), S.N. Goenka has been filmed and it is his video and dharma talks that are shown. Shannon had various reactions to him that I didn't. (One description she has for him is "cult-like" which I disagree with and can also see elements of. I mean, you are watching a video. That said, I think it's an effective way for an old man to teach what he's spent his lifetime learning in a consistent way.)
I tend to be a take what I like and leave what I don't kind of person so whenever he mentioned reincarnation (being Buddhist - which I wasn't at the time), I ignored it pretty easily. The methodology and teachings are sound, and if you follow the practice, you will definitely learn mindfulness and about your own monkey mind and how to tame it.
That said, it's probably the hardest thing I've ever done - except for maybe getting divorce. It was an incredibly worthwhile practice for me and changed my life. And I really don't think you can do less than 10 days for this kind of stuff...just because the monkey mind is the mind you've had your whole life. A 2-day or even 5-day workshop isn't long enough to really learn discipline.