“When another person makes you suffer, it is because he suffers deeply within himself, and his suffering is spilling over. He does not need punishment; he needs help. That’s the message he is sending.”
― Thich Nhat Hanh
Event Date: 24th April
It is important for me, as a human, to be aware of the emotions I experience and express, both consciously and unconsciously. I frequently discuss this with my colleagues to gauge my social awareness. My teammate Karan is a Vipassana meditator. He has been practicing Vipassana meditation since a very young age and recently completed a 10-day course. Vipassana helps you reach the roots of all emotions and bring pure happiness. When Karan returned, filled with energy and joy, he shared the benefits of Vipassana with the staff. However, sharing was not enough for him, so he designed this month’s staff session on the topic “Jane Apane Aap Ko” (Know Yourself) with the aim of sharing what Vipassana Meditation is and its benefits. I completely agree with him because I have also experienced these benefits myself and plan to continue to practice in the future.
On the day the staff arrived, we welcomed them with tika and handmade bracelets made by our Dongri boys. I used a mirror as a centerpiece for the session, feeling it was the perfect metaphor for the theme. This time, our guest facilitator was Trupti, a counselor, ABT practitioner and a dance movement therapist who works with women and girls in the shelter homes of Baroda. She came to facilitate a part of the session.
I introduced the topic, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness as a prerequisite for understanding others. I then outlined the program before handing it over to Trupti. She had designed the “Tree of Life” activity to help participants understand their strengths and weaknesses. During the activity, the staff were fully engaged, drawing beautiful trees and honestly sharing about themselves. Trupti instructed them to share their weaknesses and strengths with another person, and the sharing went well, with everyone smiling.
In the circle, each person shared one weakness they wanted to work on. Xavier Sir’s sharing was particularly impactful and set the context as he had opened the sharing; he confessed that controlling his anger in Mumbai locals was difficult for him, despite his efforts. I shared that my fears are my weakness. Through this sharing, it became clear that anger is a common destructive emotion (Vikar) among us. At the end of the activity, Trupti asked about the roots of these negative emotions or weaknesses. The group shared insights about our upbringing, experiences, and learnings. The purpose of the activity was to reach the roots of our Vikara (negative emotions). We were able to touch upon some of these roots, and to delve deeper, Trupti handed the session over to Karan.
That day, Karan was particularly alert and conscious because his father, a senior Vipassana meditator, was unexpectedly present for the session. However, he confidently took charge of the group and began by explaining how our minds are conditioned by various exposures. Often, we become trapped by these conditions without even being aware of it. As a result, we experience negative emotions like fear, anxiety, anger, and more.
While experiencing these emotions, we might wonder why we are experiencing such feelings. This is the time to seize the opportunity to explore their roots. Although it is not easy, it is not impossible. Vipassana meditation helps us reach the depths of our minds where these negative emotions and reactions are stored. It allows us to understand our own limiting chains, much like the story of the elephant who, tied with chains from an early age, grew up believing those chains were his reality, even though he could break them.
Discovering the roots of our Vikara (defilements) and breaking free from various conditionings will make us true human beings. This is a long journey, but we can take small steps. Karan offered that first step to everyone with 10 minutes of ‘Anapana Meditation.’ We all practiced Anapana together. It was a peaceful moment that strengthened the roots of our core identity.
With some insightful sharing, we ended the session and took a group photo. Although the session went well, it felt incomplete. We had planned certain activities but couldn’t accomplish them due to time constraints. Despite this, we didn’t cling to feelings of incompleteness or disappointment. Instead, we thanked each other with the understanding that whatever we delivered, we did so with our heart and soul, and with an abundance of love.