Local learns ancient meditation technique

Marta VanPatten (right) studied meditation in India. Photo provided

Marta VanPatten will return to India at the end of the month to take another course in the study of Vipassana, a 2,500-year-old meditation technique.

The Camp Sherman resident plans to volunteer her services at the Kutch Vipassana Center, where the course is taught.

The center is located in Bada, in Kutch, India and is one of the largest and most remote centers that teach the ancient technique. Mango, guava and pomegranate trees shade the 100-acre complex.

VanPatten returned for an earlier stint in India in May 2002. She took a 10-day meditation course and her plans to stay and help at the center extended from six months to two years.

VanPatten explained the teaching of the meditation technique: First, students take a vow of silence and also vow to observe five moral precepts -- don't kill, lie, steal, use intoxicants or display sexual misconduct.

Students spend three days in sitting meditation, trying to closely observe their breath as it flows in and out of their nostrils.

"The next six days of the course are dedicated to the actual practice of Vipassana, where students observe bodily sensations with a balanced mind so that they don't react to the sensations," said VanPatten. "The sensation could be an itch, a bodily ache or pain or something as simple as butterflies in your stomach. So, if a students has an itch, they try to avoid scratching it."

Marta added, "The purpose of this is to learn to do this in daily life. For example, when you become angry, you learn to respond in a more collected manner, rather than react and lash out."

During the course of her stay, Marta became friends with the local people and learned some Hindi, Gujarati and Kutchi languages in the process. Her duties at the center varied, but she mainly served other students who attended the course.

"It's very difficult to take a vow of silence and to sit and meditate for that length of time -- so my job was to try and take care of the students' physical needs and try to make them as comfortable as possible," she said. "During the 10-day course the students are not allowed to write or listen to music. All the things we normally do in daily life are removed so that students can completely concentrate on the technique."

VanPatten carries the benefits of the course with her.

"The course really benefited my life," she said. "And what I really like is that it's universal. Anyone can practice the technique without converting to any religion. It really works! It makes your life more peaceful."

VanPatten plans to return to India at the end of the month.

Her hope is that she can make the trip to India every year for at least one month, and if time allows volunteer her services.