After Ten Days Without a Phone or a Word, and My Life Woke Up, are you eager to sign up for a Vipassana course? To help you settle in quickly, it really helps to know some of the practical details in advance.
A quick note: the Vipassana center in Chiayi, Taiwan, is currently a temporary site. The facilities are a bit old, but everything is clean and tidy. It will move to a newly built center in the future.
What follows is from my own experience at the Chiayi center, covering the code of conduct and daily life. I hope it helps with your own Vipassana journey.
Course timing
Arrival
The course begins on the evening of day one. Be sure to arrive and check in between 2:00 and 5:00 p.m. The center provides a simple dinner.
End of the course
The course ends at about 6:30 a.m. on the last day, followed by breakfast and cleaning your room. You'll be finished and leave the center at about 8:30.
The code of conduct
Everyone on the course must strictly follow these rules throughout, so that everyone can focus on the practice.
The five precepts and the eight precepts
All students must keep these five precepts during the course:
- Abstain from killing any being: respect all life.
- Abstain from stealing: don't take what isn't yours.
- Abstain from all sexual activity.
- Abstain from telling lies.
- Abstain from all intoxicants: keep body and mind clear.
Old students (those who have completed a 10-day course with S. N. Goenka or one of his assistant teachers) keep three additional precepts:
6. No food after midday.
* Note: at the 5 p.m. tea break, old students get only herbal tea or juice; new students get brown rice noodles and some fruit. Old students with health reasons may be excused from this precept with the teacher's permission.
7. Abstain from sensual entertainment and bodily decoration.
8. Abstain from using high or luxurious beds.
* Note: there are no exceptions to precepts 7 and 8.
Accepting the teacher and the technique
Students must declare that they are willing to follow the teacher's guidance and instructions completely for the duration of the course: to observe the rules and meditate exactly as instructed, without ignoring any part or adding anything of their own. This acceptance should come from understanding and reasoned judgment, not blind obedience. Only with an attitude of trust can a student work diligently and thoroughly. Confidence in the teacher and the technique is essential to success in Vipassana.
Setting aside other techniques, rites and worship
During the course, all forms of prayer, worship and religious ceremony must stop — fasting (allowed for health reasons, not religious ones), burning incense, counting beads, reciting mantras, singing, dancing and so on. All other meditation techniques and healing practices must also be suspended. This isn't to disparage them; it's so students can learn Vipassana in its purest form and give it a fair trial.
A serious warning: deliberately mixing other meditation techniques with Vipassana will hold back your progress and may even be counterproductive. In the past, some students ignored the teacher's repeated advice, mixed in other rituals or practices, and did themselves real harm. If you have any doubt or confusion, be sure to meet the teacher to clarify it.
My own experience: early on I added a counting technique (counting one to ten with each in-breath and out-breath). That may be fine for ordinary meditation, but in Vipassana it held me back. Only after I dropped the habit did my practice clearly improve.
Meeting the teacher
Questions or doubts about the meditation technique may be taken only to the teacher.
- Private interviews: 12 noon to 1 p.m.
- Public questions: 9 to 9:30 p.m., in the meditation hall.
Noble silence
From the start of the course until the morning of day ten, all students observe noble silence — silence of body, speech and mind. Any form of communication between students is forbidden, including gestures, sign language and written notes.
Students may, however, speak with the teacher when needed, and with the course manager about food, accommodation, health and similar matters. Even these contacts should be kept to a minimum. Students should cut themselves off from the outside and cultivate the feeling of working in isolation.
Separation of men and women
Men and women are kept completely separate. Couples, married or not, should have no contact during the course; the same goes for friends and family.
Physical contact
There must be no physical contact at all during the course, between people of the same or the opposite sex. This is very important.
Yoga and exercise
Although yoga and other exercise are compatible with Vipassana, they should be suspended during the course, since there are no suitable separate facilities. Jogging is also not allowed. During breaks, students can walk for exercise within the designated area.
Contact with the outside world
Students must stay within the course site for the whole course and may leave only with the teacher's special permission. There's no contact with the outside until the course ends — no letters, phone calls or visitors. In an emergency, family and friends can contact the course office.
Music, reading and writing
No musical instruments, radios and so on. Don't bring books, paper or pens. Students shouldn't take notes, so as not to distract themselves. Strict practice is the essence of meditation, and limiting reading and writing underlines that.
Recorders and cameras
Recorders and cameras are not allowed, except in special cases approved by the teacher.
Health
If you take prescription medication, bring enough for the whole course.
Summary of the code of conduct
Take care that your actions don't disturb anyone, and don't let yourself be bothered by disturbances others cause.
Some students may not understand the practical reasons for some of these rules. If so, ask the teacher straight away for clarification, rather than letting negativity or doubt build up.
The daily timetable
| Time | Activity |
| Morning | |
| 4:00 | Wake-up |
| 4:30–6:30 | Meditate in the hall or your room |
| 6:30–8:00 | Breakfast and rest |
| 8:00–9:00 | Group meditation in the hall |
| 9:00–11:00 | Meditate in the hall or your room |
| 11:00–12:00 | Lunch and rest |
| Afternoon | |
| 12:00–1:00 | Rest (private questions with the teacher) |
| 1:00–2:30 | Meditate in the hall or your room |
| 2:30–3:30 | Group meditation in the hall |
| 3:30–5:00 | Meditate in the hall or your room |
| 5:00–6:00 | Tea break and rest |
| 6:00–7:00 | Group meditation in the hall |
| 7:00–8:30 | Goenka's evening discourse |
| 8:30–9:00 | Group meditation in the hall |
| 9:00–9:30 | Questions in the hall, or retire to your room |
| 9:30 | Lights out |
A guide to daily life
Food, clothing, lodging and getting there
Food: meals and what to bring
The center serves only vegetarian food, three meals a day at 6:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
- Breakfast: usually rice porridge, millet porridge, sweet potato porridge, steamed buns, toast and some vegetables.
- Lunch: white rice, brown rice, thin noodles, vegetables and soup, sometimes dessert.
- Evening: brown rice noodles and apples.
- My experience: I practice 16:8 intermittent fasting, so I skipped the evening meal.
- Tableware: bring your own stainless steel bowl, cup and utensils. A bowl of 16 cm or more is best, so you can take all your food in one go instead of going back and forth.
Clothing: what to wear and laundry
- Clothes: bring comfortable, loose clothing. The center has simple hand-washing facilities, detergent, a spin dryer and drying racks. Wash by hand, put it through the spin dryer, and it's usually dry by the next morning.
- I suggest bringing three sets of quick-drying clothes. Some people bring ten sets so they never have to wash, but there's not much else to do at the center, and doing laundry every day was actually a pleasant activity for me.
- If you're worried clothes won't dry in winter, bring one more set.
- Appropriate dress: no tight, see-through, revealing or eye-catching clothes (shorts, short skirts, leggings, sleeveless or tight tops). Trousers and long skirts must cover the knees when you sit.
- Definitely bring long trousers that are loose and comfortable. You'll be sitting for ten hours a day, so breathable, cool trousers really matter.
- Shorts are only for your room or bathing.
- Slippers: you can borrow them at the center; wash and return them afterwards.
- Whatever the season, bring a waterproof jacket.
Lodging: rooms and personal items
- Rooms: there are two- and four-person rooms, all with single beds: a wooden board with a thin latex pad and a straw mat on top.
- Bedding: the center provides sheets, pillowcases and duvet covers, plus light quilts and blankets. Because Taiwan is humid, I suggest bringing your own pillow and sleeping bag — especially a sleeping bag in winter. Bring an extra pillow if you like hugging one.
- Toiletries: towel, toothbrush, toothpaste, soap or body wash, shampoo, razor, unscented deodorant, sanitary products and so on.
- Mosquito net and fan: everyone gets a mosquito net and an electric fan.
- My advice: hang your mosquito net properly! On my first night I accidentally swatted a mosquito — and broke the precept against killing.
- Luggage: a 20-inch suitcase is plenty; it fits under the bed. A bigger one just eats into your living space.
- Essentials: an eye mask and earplugs are a must — even at night the corridor lights stay on.
- Room conditions: rooms have no doors and no air conditioning, but do have windows. If you really hate the heat, avoid summer. Personally, I think if you have the time, the sooner you go the better — and heat is part of the practice. The meditation hall is air-conditioned.
- Bathing: I suggest showering and doing laundry between 5 and 6 p.m.; then after the evening session you can just brush your teeth, wash your face and sleep. If you prefer morning showers, you can shower from 4 to 4:30 a.m.; you can't shower during hall sittings.
Getting there
- Driving: if you drive, your car will sit out in the sun and rain for ten days — something to consider if you love your car.
- Public transport: take the train to Chiayi Station, then a taxi to the center, about NT$100–200. On the way back you can share a ride with other students.
- Getting dropped off: having family or friends drive you is the best option.
What I recommend bringing
Besides the essentials above, here are my personal recommendations:
- Nail clippers: believe me, your nails really do grow in ten days.
- Apple Watch: keep the network off so it doesn't disturb your practice. I used the TIDE app to time my meditation. Its meditation mode lets you set 60 minutes; turn off the music and set a 10-minute reminder, and it will vibrate every 10 minutes so you know how far along you are without opening your eyes — very reassuring. The Apple Watch also has Voice Memos; before bed I'd go to a corner of the basketball court and record my reflections for the day.
- A watch: if you don't have an Apple Watch, at least bring a watch. Being able to see the time is reassuring.
- A washbasin and a rinsing cup: a basin makes bathing much easier.
- Mosquito repellent.
What not to bring
To keep the course pure and focused, please don't bring:
- food
- books, stationery, recorders, laptops, phones, tablets, MP3 players and so on
- tobacco, alcohol, sleeping pills, tranquilizers or other sedatives or illegal drugs
- amulets, crystals, prayer beads or other religious items
- clothing or items made from animal fur
- jewelry or valuables (safekeeping is provided during the course)
- perfume, essential oils, strongly scented creams, cosmetics, skincare or anything else with a strong smell
About sitting
- In the hall: no talking, and try not to make noises that disturb others.
- Cushions: the center provides traditional meditation cushions — a large square cushion with a small rectangular one on top. If you have your own cushion or meditation items (such as a shawl), you can bring them.
- Props: before a sitting begins, you can pick up extra props from the side or back of the hall — small pads or cushions — to adjust your posture.
- Practice at home: I suggest practicing your sitting posture at home first to find a comfortable position. I didn't find mine until day five, because I'd always meditated in bed before.
- Why sit in the hall: apart from group sittings, you can also meditate in your room, but I strongly recommend sitting in the hall no matter what. I thought I could meditate well in my room — and ended up falling asleep on the bed. Plus the hall has air conditioning!
Other important advice
- The precept against killing: be sure to keep it throughout the course. If you see an insect or a cockroach, get the bug catcher and move it outside.
- When to apply: apply three months ahead. Applications open at 9 a.m. on the day — be there right away, or places fill up fast.
- Exercising in your room: the center discourages exercising in your room because it may disturb your roommates, unless your roommate didn't come or left early. There's a basketball court where you can walk, though.
After noble silence ends on day ten
When noble silence ends at 10 a.m. on day ten, you'll get your phone back. Volunteers will be on hand to accept donations, in cash or by credit card, with a receipt.
- Vipassana books: books on Vipassana are displayed; flip through them and take photos of the ones you like. When you leave the next morning you can choose books to take — just take the ones you like. All of them are available as PDFs in the official Vipassana app. I highly recommend The Art of Living; if you take books, you can make a donation for them.
- Talk to people: talk with old students or the course manager. They usually have lots of experience and have probably faced the same problems as you. You can ask the teacher too, but teachers have practiced for so long that they may feel further from new students; old students are closer to where you are, so I highly recommend talking with them.
- Download the official Vipassana app: it has a wealth of resources — practice recordings, videos of Goenka's evening discourses, even published books.
Those are my personal tips for life on a Vipassana course. I hope they help. I look forward to you joining this life-changing journey of silence too!
Links
- Apply for a 10-day course: dhamma.org — Dhamma Udaya schedule
- TIDE app: tide.fm
