Meet Sara Amy. Sara is a practitioner of Vipassana meditation and lawyer, devoting his life to share ways to benefit others.
Sara, what is your background?
I was born and raised in Toronto, Canada. School leavers, too sensitive, but with a heart of gold - completely wrong and disillusioned by the North American society - there was only one way to go and that was down. I've always been a hard worker, loyal, with morality and ethics, hardly suitable for office work that I had died. To distract me from the pain of the ordinary, I did what most people did; a passion for the party.
I became a "weekend warrior and professional embraced my dark side with humor, intoxicants, and techno music. I was really ignorant without understanding the real joy or fulfillment. The only time I felt true happiness was when I was in a relationship. There I freely give, from a place of love, but all the time I was doing it selfishly to fill an empty space in my life. Because I had no understanding of self-love, I am always delivered violent men to keep me on my toes and sorrow and disappointment was a constant state of my life. This was the catalyst for my spiritual awakening; men and substances could not fill that void, apparently I had to.
Sara Amy
When did you discovered Vipassana?
In 2010, employment shows I became joined at the hip with was shot under me. Left with little savings, the rabbit hole was my next pitstop; one that I could not indulge in a state of depression. Now unemployed, single and almost 40, something had to give. One night in the darkest state that I had never met, I put on my couch sobbing in the depths of my soul. Admittedly, I'm drunk, but it was not the only thing that affects my mindset. This was my mind itself which had finally had enough; He grabbed me and shook me to my core. I pushed verbally the most poignant words of my 38 years, "I go. I do not want to die. All I'm doing is not working. . I need help "Currently almost tragic, bizarre word came to the forefront of my brain". Vipassana "
What is this strange word? Where did it come from? I did not know at the time, but it was enough to get down off the couch and my laptop I tried to spell the word in hopes that would know the answer. And he did. a web page appeared. he said "Vipassana Meditation."
How at- it changed your life?
he made the life I deserved. I affectionately refer to these times as an awakening mid-life. the process is compared to surgery of mind. in the ten days you go into the depths of the mind and extract the root deep seeded problems. This technique works with the sensations of the body. it is not based on religious views, it does there is no dogma involved, you are not asked to renounce beliefs or rites and rituals, but asked that you give lessons for the duration of the course without interference from previous techniques to give it a fair trial.
I find that my mind was constantly rolling in the past or live in the future, it has never been resident in the present. This technique delivers you there. It left me feeling peaceful, and found a new direction in life. I knew without a doubt that it was time to start living in the present; spread peace, love and happiness was my only desire.
After completing my first class, I sold everything I owned, and in a few months, I left Canada. Bali was my first stop, and apparently the universe had a bigger plan for me to bring me here. Vipassana meditation was necessary, and I am the ideal person to deliver the message. I was ready and able to offer my time in the service, something that I had gone to the wrong direction for many years. I quickly discovered that helping others by offering unconditional support and encouragement left me feeling good. I could never repay my debt of gratitude for the opportunity to get out of pain so it was the best thing.
Tell me about Vipassana and S. N. Goenka.
Vipassana meditation is practiced Buddha after trying all other forms of corporal mortification and mind control and find it insufficient to liberate him from the seemingly endless cycle of birth and death, pain and sadness. It is a precious technical as Burma, has been preserved in its original state for over 2500 years.
vipassana
Vipassana meditation has nothing to do with the development of supernatural powers, mystical, or special damages, even if they can be awakened. The purification process that occurs is simply an elimination of negativities, complex, knots, and habits that have clouded the pure consciousness and blocked the flow of the pure qualities-the highest love of humanity ( metta ), compassion ( karuna ), sympathetic joy ( mudita ), and equanimity ( upekkha ).
Vipassana Meditation as taught by S. N. Goenka is a practice, a simple, universal to cleanse the spirit and enjoy true peace. You can develop greater self-knowledge, self-control, happiness, wisdom and compassion. There is no charge for the course; all expenses (food and lodging) are covered by alumni donations.
Where is the retreat of 10 days held?
The Bali retreat is held at an ashram engaged in Bangli mountains near Kintamani. The property is beautiful, rustic but comfortable, with panoramic views over the valleys, dotted with fruit trees and bamboo forests. Because of its elevation, often our courses are refreshing for those who live in Indonesia, while the night temperatures can dip to colder weather, but the hours of the day are nice and refreshing. Our main focus for Indonesia in Bogor about 45 minutes from Jakarta.
Vipassana was used in prisons, first in India and now the US What are the results?
Vipassana Meditation has been successfully introduced in various prisons across India and the United States and shows tremendous results. Many inmates work through their trauma using Vipassana meditation, able to go to the back of their mind and cut the son who have them spinning out and act in ignorance, violence and hatred. In turn, they mentally overcome their past and find a safe place to live in the present. There are two documentaries that I highly recommend watching: Doing Time, Doing Vipassana can be found on YouTube, and The Dhamma Brothers may be purchased online
What are your future goals?
To continue to spread peace, love and happiness, obtained by volunteering my time in service and continuing with my practice from home. In addition to this, I hope to be able to continue to perpetuate and facilitate Vipassana meditation courses in Bali. It is my dream that is shared by others, hopefully one day establish our own center that will allow more people to come to classes more often to learn this wonderful technique.
For more information on Vipassana meditation, or to register for a course to come to Indonesia, please visit www.java.dhamma.org