by Darlene Romanko
As a yoga teacher, I usually do a meditation in the morning. Seated on my flower pillow, facing east absorbing the sunshine, I close my eyes. Cleansing breath in and out. Scanning my chakras, meridians, chanting the mantras in the way of my teachers. Releasing and absorbing the energies of peace within myself and in my surroundings. Seeking samadhi, the state of bliss.
As a yoga teacher, I usually do a meditation in the morning. Seated on my flower pillow, facing east absorbing the sunshine, I close my eyes. Cleansing breath in and out. Scanning my chakras, meridians, chanting the mantras in the way of my teachers. Releasing and absorbing the energies of peace within myself and in my surroundings. Seeking samadhi, the state of bliss.
The meditation ends and a new book Realizing Change — Vipassana Meditation in Action sits beside me. Remaining on my pillow, I watch the leaves turn their crimson, yellow and orange and read about change. Change in our lives while we journey for truth and happiness.
According to the book, Vipassana is a meditation technique that originated in India and was preserved in the Buddhist tradition. Sayagyu U Ba Khin taught at his Vipassana center in Rangoon and entrusted S.N. Goenka to take Vipassana back to India and spread the teachings — teachings that are applicable regardless of one’s background. An invitation to a 10-day course promises to lead you to discover how to meditate. To deal with change using the mysteries of our mind. It claims that Vipassana meditation develops and purifies the mind using techniques and exercises so we are better able to control ourselves.
Some of my favourite sayings are that “change is inevitable; it’s what we do with it that counts” and “the only thing we can control is ourselves”. This book was inviting me to hone my mind and heart through meditation. One only had to set aside one’s understandings and be open to the possibilities.
Why not? I registered for the course. In spring I will head to the Dhamma Surabhi, Vipassana Meditation Center in Merritt, British Columbia, Canada. Open to spring purification on the road to perfection. Welcoming the possibility of change of the seasons in both nature and myself.
Darlene Romanko
CYA-RYT 200
CYA-RYT 200