Vipassana Meditation Centre

The History Of Vipassana In The Philippines. A meditation course of Buddhist origin held in a convent of the Catholic nuns? Strange, indeed… This remark came from the manager of a Malaysian-Filipino company in the Philippines upon learning that the first Vipassana meditation course was held from 17 to 28 October 2002 at the Novitiate house of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (RSCJ) in Montalban, Rizal, Philippines. The idea of organising a Vipassana course in the Philippines grew out of the benefits received by an RSCJ who attended two Vipassana courses in Thailand in January 2000. She thought how beneficial it would be if the government officials of the land would attend such a course. That was after reading the Sayagyi U Ba Khin Journal. The five precepts of sīla would certainly change the attitudes, perspectives and ways of living of those who rule the country and, for that matter, anyone who practises sīla (morality), samādhi (concentration of mind) and paññā (experiential wisdom). The preparations included the daunting tasks of finding a suitable place for the course, fixing the dates, and gathering data from the Vipassana websites on how to organize and manage a ten-day Vipassana course. The Internet facilitated the tapping of Dhamma workers from Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Old students from Germany, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan generously provided funds for the Dhamma hall facilities including cushions and food. There were 21 participants: 18 females and 3 males. Five of the female students were old students. All were university graduates holding positions in different educational and business institutions and non-government organizations (NGOs). All were practising Catholics but open-minded enough to experience another meditation technique in the search for a fuller and more integrated life. The peculiar feature of this course was that there were an equal number of nuns and lay people who attended the course. Both groups found that Vipassana offered them a concrete methodology of ridding themselves of old patterns of reacting to people and events around them. A meditation course based on the teaching of the Buddha enlivening and changing the lives of the Catholic population in the Philippines, including nuns and priests? It has happened and will continue to happen as the seed of Dhamma begins to sprout and grow in thanksgiving to the generosity of old students from Japan, Australia, Germany, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and the Philippines. The participants of the first course have organized themselves into committees for the next course in April 2003. They want to share the benefits they experienced with their family and friends. Their enthusiasm is infectious and heartening. May the Dhamma spread in the Philippines for the benefit of many!