Our first night on the farm, there were so many volunteers that all of the accomodations were taken, so we opted to pitch our new Graviti tent (weighs only 1.3 kg!) in the garden. Its a temporary solution..the garden that is. The upside being that it is a flat area with a clear path, the downsides being that its a little far from things and its in the direct sunlight, plus there are suspicious snake-hole looking things around the tent that make me a little nervous, especially since we were told stories abour snakes roaming through the garden on our first night! But really what can you expect right? Its Thailand. So mai pen rai..
Wakin up! Layered like no tomorrow, it gets cold in the mountains at night!
The farm is 100% organic.
The farm produces lettuces, mizuna, mustard, onions, tomatoes, kale, coriander, sweet potatoes, bananas, cabbage, peanuts and more. The irrigation water is supplied from a well with a pump and is hooked up to manual sprinklers. The rest of the crops are hand-watered with well-water and a mixture of liquid compost made from cabbage, water and sugar. Thai-whisky diluted with water is the farmers #1 organic pesticide option. He suggests that 1 cup whisky, 20 Liters of water will do the trick.
Scott in front of the (outdoor) kitchen
After pouring ourselves some fresh ginger tea into our bamboo cups, we all walk down the dirt road towards a hill facing the sunrise. We practice walking meditation, and sometimes meditate on the hill. When we return back to the farm we make breakfast together before starting work. Then we split up into different jobs, like building mud bricks, cooking, building bamboo huts, farming, hunting for food, etc.
Walking Meditation and Stretches
Sitting around the table @ Breakfast, under the PawPaw tree! From left to right: Me (Canada), Natalie (Germany), Daniello (Holland), Jim (Sweden)
AFTER the 10-day Vipassana Course! " No sensation can measure your progress in Vipassana, the only yardstick is your equanimity."- Goenka
*VIPASSANA MEDITATION- UNIVERSAL, AND NON-SECTARIAN, FOR ALL PEOPLE OF ALL FAITHS OR RELIGIONS.*
Dear blog and blog readers, it is next to prettinearimpossible to tell you what happened to me at this intense VIPASSANA course! It was both the most cleansing, perception shattering, rejuvenating and most difficult thing that I have ever tried to undertake. If you are thinking of doing it, absolutely do not wait. Unless you need to, then mai pen rai. But I say, absolutely DO IT, I feel like its never to early to understand life on a deeper level. Theres really no way to prepare yourself for this either, just throw yourself into it, thats all I can say.(Just kidding- cause I have SO MUCH to say!!) ..Of course something of this magnitude, or this subject could never be experienced, unless experienced, but I will try to share what I can explain. The rest I encourage you to find out on your own.
I will start by saying that I have meditated before, but never like this. 10 days of complete renunciation, (minus shaving my head), noble silence and 12 hours of meditation a day. But YES, we DID IT! Scott and I studied (separately) the Vipassana meditation technique at the Dhamma Simanta Center, under our teacher Robyn Russ, guided by S.N. Goenka. Basically what we did at the center was gave up all material things for 10 days and followed strict guidelines and lessons. We learned a series of breathing and awareness techniques along with activities that solidify the connection of your conscious mind--> to your "un" conscious mind (which is actually conscious). This is what we spent day in and day out doing, connecting with our unconscious mind and gross and subtle body sensations. By simply recognizing that thoughts can alter your breath, and cause physiological changes in the body, before emotions are created, you can identify these moments of change within your breathing patterns and in your bodys cells and use it as a tool. This is meant to allow you to recognize and understand the root of your thoughts and choose a reaction free from craving and aversion which are the causes of misery and suffering.
The course progresses a little each day, adding more to the breathing techniques, challenging the mind and body more every day, and different subjects of "enlightenment" are discussed in the evening discourses.
Some big topics at Dhamma Simanta Vipassana Center:
Anicce (Impermanence) This is one of the biggest points in Vipassana. Since our minds will always have thoughts (which generate emotions), it is normal to feel all ranges of emotions, they are destined to occur at one time or another. So if we know this is true, why must we suffer from them always? All things are "Anicce", all things are in constant change. All things, you, me.. we too will rise and then pass away. Impermanence infact it is the only certain thing in our existence, so we must be mindful of this and all things in our life. The Vipassana technique of meditation teaches people how to live a life free from emotions that bind us. How? Well, by using the techniques we were taught, with time and effort, you can get to the root of your emotional complexes through awareness and mindful living to purify your mind and to be free from all pain and suffering.
Ten Parami, (The 10 Virtues) These include;
Nekkhamma(Renunciation);The act or an instance of renouncing: the
renunciation of all earthly pleasures-This meant no cell phones, no bodily decorations, no music, no books, nothing!
Sila (Morality); The quality of being in accord with standards of right or good conduct. -This includes the 5 precepts, such as refraining from taking what is not given, not speaking lies, refraining from sexual misconduct, refraining from killing any living creature and not taking any intoxicants including smoking cigarettes.
Panna(Wisdom); The ability to discern or judge what is true, right, or lasting; insight.-Wisdom is supported by Sila.
"Importance must be given to morality.
Which is good for everyone."
Adhittana (Strong Determination)- As the course progressed we were asked to endure "Sittings of Strong Determination" where, for 1 or 2 hours you were to do sitting mediation without moving at all, even to scratch your nose! If you were experiencing extreme pain, you were allowed to move freely, but for the meditations sake you were encouraged to reduce your movement a little more each session. For example if you moved your posture 3 times during the last sitting, try to only move twice the next time. Eventually, when pain arises you will easily be able to perceive it as "Anicce"(impermanent) and to let it go easier, choosing neither a reaction of aversion or pleasure, and reducing your suffering. After several sittings of Strong Determination I was able to recognize the temperature difference between the air entering my nostrils and exiting, every tingling itch on my nose or my neck, every vibration withing my skill, the air around my eyes, the cloth on my skin. I could feel my heart beating in my wrists, my neck, my legs, I was able to recognize gross senstations of pain, and subtle sensations of cells vibrating. The sittings are meant to train your mind to Anicce, and to teach that we are not our egos, we are simply a band of vibrations like everything else in the galaxies and that we are impermanent.
Upekkha (Equanimity); The quality of being calm and even-tempered; composure.- Vipassana teaches to accept all emotions, good or bad, without reacting in aversion or pleasure. React in equanimity and reduce your suffering. Once you are completely equanimous and there is no suffering being created anymore, the Songkharas (sufferings from your reactions in the past) will be alleviated.
Metta (Loving Kindness); Practicing Metta is encouraged at the end of each meditators session. This is the time where the student takes a few minutes to wish happiness to all beings, to wish happiness to all those who have hurt them, and to all who they have hurt. This is designed to create good will, healing and compassion.
Viriya (Effort)
Khanti (Patience, Tolerance)
Sacca (Truth)
Dana (Generosity)(1)
(1) TheFreeDictionary.com
Bhavatu Sabba Mangalam ! May All Beings Be Happy! :) Thnx for reading!!
Well, we did it!We travelled to Parsang, Lampoon, Thailand to take the 10-day Vipassana course! As I mentioned in one of my previous Goats Do Roam blogs, Self-transformation Through Self-observation, I expected it to be no walk in the park. I thought it would test my endurance of meditation and silent living in general- and it did. It really, really, did! In fact I would go as far to say that it was definitely one of the most challenging things I have done in my life, no contest!
We took a bus from Chiang Mai to Lampoon and ended up in a town whose named I cant remember. I do however remember that the Meditiation Center was a 30 minute drive from where we were, in this town where finding a driver who spoke English was like finding a 2$ Canadian bill in Bangkok.
After struggling in broken English for 20 minutes with some Thai Song Teaw drivers, and enduring their laughter over us lost tourists who dont speak Thai, we were back on the road to our destination in a private Song Taew. At this point we were feeling privelaged that we DID find a ride at all, so we sat back and enjoyed the noon-hour drive through the dusty backside country of Thailand in the dry season. We finally found ourselves at Dhamma Simanta, where we would be living in silent meditation for the next 10 days.
We were enclosed by mountains on 3 sides, a lake on the other
and there was nothing but silence all around.
The Dhamma Simanta Center in Parsang was among one of the newer centers. It was much larger then I thought initially, and very clean, AND had Western toilets! I was impressed. It was divided into two sections, one side for men, one for women. Each side was in an "8" shape, with rooms all around the outside, each with their own balcony facing the mountains. Immediately upon arriving to the huge Center-complex we were separated into men and women. The course had officially begun. We were given our instructions.
It went something like this:
-Noble Silence must be maintained until the 10th day. (This means no talking, no singing, no humming. You must be silent when around others and when alone There should be no form of communication between meditators, avoid eye contact, physical contact and body language with others- keep to yourself at all times.)
-Men and Women should remain segregated at all times. -Smoking tobacco is not permitted. -No cell phones, reading, writing, no radio, no camera etc. -Dress modest.
-During the Vipassana course one must conscientiously follow the 5 Precepts:
Abstain from killing any being;
Abstain from taking what is not given;
Abstain from sexual misconduct;
Abstain from telling lies;
Abstain from all intoxicants.
The list went on and on. I had a slight feeling of "Oh shit, what have I gotten myself into? I want to do what I want, when I want, and noone can get in my way. Except now Im trapped. I need to devise an escape plan!! "
As I was having these thoughts, we were being given our daily time-table which we were expected to follow routinely for the next week and a half. The teacher, Goenka, a former student of Vipassana, recommends to follow this schedule properly for the best results. In order to give the technique a fair trial we were asked to do our best, waking up with the roosters before dawn cracked over the horizon! I thought this was only fair since we did come such a long way to give it a try, so I decided I would cooperatively follow through.
Here is a look at what we did for the first 9 days!
4:00 am
Wake-up bell
4:30-6:30 am
Meditate in the hall or in your room
6:30-8:00 am
Breakfast
8:00-9:00 am
Group meditation in the hall
9:00-11:00 am
Meditate in the hall or in your room according to the teacher's instructions
11:00-12:00
Lunch break
12:00-1:00 pm
Rest/ or question hour to the teacher (This is the only time you are permitted to talk)
1:00-2:30 pm
Meditate in the hall or in your room
2:30-3:30 pm
Group meditation in the hall
3:30-5:00 pm
Meditate in the hall or in your own room according to the teacher's instructions
5:00-6:00 pm
Tea break
6:00-7:00 pm
Group meditation in the hall
7:00-8:15 pm
Teacher's Discussion in the hall
8:15-9:00 pm
Group meditation in the hall
9:00-9:30 pm
Question time in the hall or rest
9:30 pm
Retire to your own room--Lights out .
So how well do you think we did? How do you think you would do? Would you ever try this course? Do you know anyone else who has?
*More info on our experience coming soon. Thanks for reading!
This is a post I forgot to post! I wrote it before arriving in Thailand, and figure I should post it because now I HAVE UPDATES! Well, here it is:
I have been accepted to the 10- day
Vipassana Meditation Course in Thailand!
It is one of my goals while on this Thailand trip to further explore myself, my limits, and also meditation. It could be said that I am on some kind of a "spirit quest".After much research and deliberation I decided my interest was in the Vipassana Technique. I did some course- comparing, and applied to the course that best suited me. I wanted something that was not religiously affiliated, and in a safe area of Thailand. I liked the details and location of this course, and the best part: the course isfree.This includes your accommodation AND food (vegetarian of course) for 10 days.
All courses are run solely on donations made by graduates of the Vipassana courses. After you have completed the entire course( and ONLY after) the temple will accept a donation from you to fund a newcomers 10 days. I thought this "pay-it-forward" kinda temple suited me just fine.
filled out a few-page questionaire where you are asked about your experience with meditation, your medical history, if you have any addictions etc. It was pretty simple and I finished it within 15 minutes. Within a few days I received an acceptance letter via e-mail with details on directions to the temple, what to wear, thecode of discipline etc.
The Global Vipassana Pagoda
You eat what the center gives you, you are not permitted to leaves the center's grounds, you must follow the code of discipline and Noble Silence, you have limited sleep and you must meditate for most of the day. But the teachers there are impressive, and I am so intrigued by their knowledge and way of life! The chance to learn about meditation and live in Noble Silence while in Thailand is a chance that comes once in a lifetime--so why not? I am so pumped for this experience but after reading the information provided by the center, I am sure of one thing only. This experience will not be easy. It will be no week at a resort, thats for sure, butI know I will challenge myself, and that I will learn a lot. Thats whats important!
"Vipassana, which means to see things as they really are, is one of India's most ancient techniques of meditation. It was rediscovered by Gotama Buddha more than 2500 years ago and was taught by him as a universal remedy for universal ills, i.e., an Art Of Living.
This non-sectarian technique aims for the total eradication of mental impurities and the resultant highest happiness of full liberation. Healing, not merely the curing of diseases, but the essential healing of human suffering, is its purpose. Vipassana is a way of self-transformation through self-observation. It focuses on the deep interconnection between mind and body, which can be experienced directly by disciplined attention to the physical sensations that form the life of the body, and that continuously interconnect and condition the life of the mind. " Read more of this article @: dhamma.org/en/vipassana.shtml
The Tradition
"Since the time of Buddha, Vipassana has been handed down, to the present day, by an unbroken chain of teachers. Although Indian by descent, the current teacher in this chain, Mr. S.N. Goenka, was born and raised in Burma (Myanmar). While living there he had the good fortune to learn Vipassana from his teacher, Sayagyi U Ba Khin who was at the time a high Government official. After receiving training from his teacher for fourteen years, Mr. Goenka settled in India and began teaching Vipassana in 1969. Since then he has taught tens of thousands of people of all races and all religions in both the East and West. In 1982 he began to appoint assistant teachers to help him meet the growing demand for Vipassana courses." -From dhamma.org/en/vipassana.shtml If you would like to learn more about this ancient technique of meditation, watch this video. Enjoy! http://video.server.dhamma.org/video/intro/vintro.htm
This is an excerpt from the Bio Page on Michael Gabriels official website.
Follow the link above to read his full bio, listen to his songs or read his lyrics.
"Michael Gabriel trained and performed as a classical singer in Vancouver, B.C. He has been the lead singer in original bands in both Canada and the United States. After releasing two solo EP's in -‘Open to the Moment’ & ‘Places Along the Way’, he toured with his classical guitar across Canada.
For the 2007 Canadian National Tour he traveled for eight months from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast and many places in-between. During the tour, he performed solo (guitar & vocals) songs from the debut full-length album: ‘The Certainty of Change’ and showcased new material.
Michael dedicated part of his 2007 tour to spreading awareness about children in developing countries and he continues to with this message today..."
Enjoying some samosas and curry dishes...except Bri.
Shes just faking. :) Notice how the rice is the only thing eaten off her plate?
Day 1:Canadian Greenhouse Conference in Niagara Falls for the day, Fine Indian Cuisine by night, St Catharines!
Day 2: Starting the morning with some fresh, organic and fair trade Dark Roast coffee @ the St. Catharines, Market Square :)
Then a long drive ahead of us to Chapeau, Quebec. Woo!!!
Little House on the Prairie revisited?
We found this mini Trading Post (pictures below) posing as an artistic depiction of an old Saloon town, complete with "Big Liz'z Boarding House", an "Ambulance", Barber shop, an Indian village, a cemetary and even an "Under Takers". From the road, we actually thought it was real!
It was somewhere off of Highway 41, just South of Pembroke.
Inside, you will find a real store, selling your usual native goods such as; mocassins, dream catchers, deer antlers etc.
View of the Ottawa River from Sarahs front door!
Bonfire @ Sarahs, beautiful night.
Sarahs Cousin playing a travel guitar...!
Day 3: Day at Sarahs Organic Vegetable Farm in Chapeau Quebec, then an hour drive to camp in Gatineau Provincial Park!
I LOVE this pic :)
Sarah harvesting
Fresh organics by Sarah
Some black aphids on corn.
Just arriving at Provincial Park du Gatineau, Secteur Lac La Peche
After 3 days of driving, conferencing, exploring, and a night partying in Cheapeau, QB, we are over tired, and giddy with our second wind when we realize we have reached our destination!
We packed the canoe, equipped with whatever we needed for the trip and started making way to our paddle-in only campsite across Lac La Peche. It was an extremely warm day for October, about 26 degrees Celsius! And as we arrived, the sun was on its way down...:)
I was pleasantly surprised to find a completely isolated campsite on a peninsula awaiting us. It was the cleanest campsite I think Ive ever seen. It was very well-treed, no gravel (ew),had immediate access to the water, and was well stocked with fire wood and even had its own outhouse, which was also the cleanest Ive seen. Ever. My experience at Lac La Peche was awesome, and I when I left I wished I could just stay a liiiiittle bit longer. I would definitely recommend this campground. It is phenomenol. Check it out! Map of Gatineau Park, Secteur: Lac La Peche
Since I had already worked in Western and Central Canada, I was itching to go out East. Why? I really dont know. Probably because it was as far as I could get without crossing an international border, and because it was near the water. And, well..
why not?
The view! Minutes away from the farm.
Here is The New Minas Basin, which is opens
into the Bay of Fundy, directly connecting
to the Atlantic Ocean.
I figured, Im young, Im healthy- nothing here is holding me back. I did not hesitate at all and once I had decided that I wanted to go to Nova Scotia, (and eat all the seafood I could get my hands on, while resting on the beaches of an Atlantic Maritime province) I was determined to find work there! More money, more travel is sometimes the case, so I knew I needed to make some money while I was there to maximize my exploration while there.
I was offered work at an organic farm in Grand Pre, in Annapolis Valley along the Bay of Fundy (wine region and agriculture region of N.S.) I was hired as a Farm Hand, who would; harvest root vegetables, herbs, and thousands of pumpkins at Halloween time, as well as help make and package tofu, and run a Tofu stand at the Halifax and Wolfville farmers markets. The Halifax market was HUGE. It is at the Old Alexander Keiths brewery down by the docks. I heard its the largest market in Canada, and I believe it. Its pretty much delicious labyrinth. And the Wolfville market...Lets just say, its close to my heart!!
I highly recommend Richard Hennigars Suprima Organic Apple Juice! He minimizes gasoline dependance, and has organic Grass Benders. Thats right, grass benders! I harvested apples for Richard for the summer and the next summer I did some grass bending. But its not for the faint at heart. :)
Below is a pretty hilarious, while very informative video clip of what part of our job was while working at Suprimas Organic Apple Orchard. Here is a coworker Rick, a Nova Scotia native and Richard Hennigar, the owner of Suprima explaining what it is, and the benefits of organic grass bending. Some clips from the Wolfville market too.
Wolfville was a good biking distance from Grand Pre, about10 km, and was full of students my age since it is the Home of Acadia University. I was also able to meet some people from the Katimavik program too.They came to internship for a few weeks on the same farm I was at,and we had some good laughs!
I also worked with some foreign woofers, (Willing Workers on Organic Farms) from France, Belgium, Germany, California, and Japan. THAT was so much fun in itself.
One of my favourite memories has to be going into Wolfville on foot one time, our way lit by a full moon. We met up with some local university students our age down by the harbour, had a bon fire and ended up singing Bob Marley in unison by the end of the night. Or rolling down grassy hills after having a few drinks! haha and walking to see the full moon at the harbour..all good times.
Full moon, low tide. Wolfville Harbour Mudflats
All in all, Nova Scotia, whether youre in Annapolis Valley, or Cape Breton Island..it really is a magical place. Some say its all the amethyst there that creates this relaxed and happy energy, but who knows.
While I was there, I had some of the best seafood in the world, and met what Im sure are the friendliest, and most genuine people Ive ever met. AND the ultimate goal, I learned A LOT about all sorts of farming! From working on this organic tofu farm, to Richards organic apple orchard, to a local winery- I tried it all...and I loved it all.
Who knew the East Coast was so Artsy Fartsy?I love it here!Live music everywhere, markets, and fvals and homemade this and homemade that, and stuff like thisme more
Photo by moi.
This is a painting of coffee-bean pickers. I found it at a fair-trade coffee shoppe
on The Bay of Fundy.
Photo by: Jamie Boland. A neighbor has found very unique way to display flowers.
Photo by moi.
Yeeeep. A naked body hanging in a tree. I know, Awesome! I am not sure who made this..or how it got into this tree, but..cool! ( I wonder what thats made of ? A life-time supply of paper-mache?)
