Dhamma Pubbananda Vipassana Meditation Center — Local services in Claymont

I approach commitments with authenticity and follow my instincts, embracing challenges that expand my thinking. Vipassana presented a contrasting approach that felt like mild indoctrination to a vulnerable crowd. As a creative free flow thinker, meditation is my way of relaxing into self-acceptance, not changing who I am. I don't think of meditation as purifying the mind in any sense. My mind is my mind and I was pretty happy with my meditation experience before visiting this center.

The center emphasized diligent breath-focused meditation and body scans. However, I prefer meditation as a natural flow, not rigid practice. I don't recommend this approach for those who may struggle or force themselves and feel guilty for not achieving what they think they should. There is value in the techniques and I think they have a time and a place, and I'm not surprised many people have good experiences. But this course is not universal. It will not be right for everyone and it may not be what you need right now. But the challenge might be good for you as well. I can't say what your experience might be.

Interaction with instructors lacked tailored guidance for struggling students. An instructor's calm wisdom and confidence should guide, not just old videos. Validation and reassurance are vital to ease anxiety and self-judgment. Vipassana courses could evolve into an empowering experience for all if the instructors had a better understanding of the utility of the techniques and common hurdles people run into when performing them.

Meditation isn't one-size-fits-all; it should empower individual growth. I hope the center's approach becomes more inclusive and encouraging for those who struggle. It shouldn't only focus on the healthy and fit, those who are ready to 'purify their minds'. It should be approachable to everyone so that there is no fear or stigma.

Disclaimer: I actually enjoyed 50% of my experience, but the other 50% I found myself questioning things and not agreeing with certain parts of the instruction. I definitely suppressed a lot of pain. I also had a traumatic ending to my stay that has hampered my health for well over a year now. Still haven't recovered to the man I was before visiting the center.

Just so you know, this vipassana course can be described as performing a surgical operation on your mind. If you enjoy meditation, that may not feel in line with what you want. I truly believe meditation is something where our present experience should be validated, because it is a process, not a destination, to enjoy life as it is.

Best wishes to all who attend here. I think it can be a wonderful experience for all, I just think this location could use some maturing in approach. Better to go in knowing...

Had an incredible experience. Mix of breathing focus, body scanning, and loving-kindness meditation. Free to first timers, their intensive 10-day retreat opened my eyes to the world and benefits of Goenka vipassana. I'm not a religious person, I consider myself an atheist. This is a very secular approach to meditation, though you learn from the hindu tradition. Very facilitating staff. I felt deeply, while outwardly it looked like nothing was happening at all. It was a real trip. I've experimented with many psychedelics, but this trip took the cake in terms of gained enlightenment.

Very large campus in the middle of what seems like a suburb. However, when you're there, you feel a million miles away from them. Though at the same time, it's interesting to see people driving/milling about on their daily routine on the other side of the fence, while you're knee deep in a brilliant meditative experience. Book months in advance. Separated women/men retreat. Deeply personal experience. No: talking, eye contact, meat, exercise, sex, substances or touch allowed for the duration of the retreat.

I quit smoking cigarettes just before the retreat, and I'm still going strong (6 months later), and I'm also clean and sober since shortly after. If you're thinking about kicking bad habits, this is a great way to start. The cravings were not there for me, though they came back in triggers after the retreat. However, I have to attribute the boost in willpower and the eventual kicking of these habits to the discipline gained from sitting the full 10 days.

Also, although it's not the point of this journey, the vegetarian food was INCREDIBLE! I had no idea eating vegetarian could be so accessible. All the food was donated by a farm down the street and prepared by volunteers. I'm definitely going back to volunteer, myself. They are expanding and can use all the help/donations they can get, and they deserve it. I feel like it's the least I could do for this life-changing experience.

I recommend this to anyone, though it is very psychologically taxing. Those who experience anxiety/panic attacks or suffer other psych disorders should definitely check in with a therapist before the retreat. I struggle with anxiety, I could see this being too much for me during earlier...

I did a ten-day retreat there last year. It was my first silent/meditation retreat ever.

On the plus side: the facilities are nice and clean, with private rooms and bathrooms, a garden, lots of meditation pillows, etc. The staff was friendly (in a silent manner, obviously) and the food was good. The schedule was, of course, very demanding, but not undoable.

On the negative side: These people insist that their beliefs are "non-dogmatic" and "scientific". After watching 10 hours of mandatory Goenka (whom you have to call the Teacher, Capital T), I can tell your that Vipassana is just as dogmatic, and just as non-scientific, as any spiritual belief. I was raised in a Catholic environment (yuck) and this was no different: you get a whole lot of millenia-old simplistic stories that cannot help you in any real way.

The teacher on site, Barry, was pretty obnoxious and full of himself. He yelled at me on the first evening for not sitting straight during Goenka's videotaped Discourse (talk about non-dogmatic). I'm not a native English speaker, I was sitting at the very back of the hall, I was leaning forward to hear better, and that m*ron thought it would be smart to yell me. I would happily have changed my posture if he had asked nicely (I mean: like a normal human being). Funnily enough, the whole thing happened right when His Holy Excellency Goenka was warning us that "anger and lashing out will always come back to kick you in the butt". Here's to Barry getting a nice big boot up his. There is something dangerous about what these people tell you. I was on antidepressants at the time, I disclosed the fact because they asked me to, and I got an earful (from dear, sweet Barry) about how I was clearly addicted to my meds and my depression. I'm not saying that this is not, maybe, an interesting perspective... I'm saying that these people are NOT doctors and should really refrain from discussing people's medical issues in such crass, blunt and offensive terms.

All in all: there are probably better ways to learn meditation than listening to 30yo recordings and being told that there's only one correct way to do it. I am very sad that a young woman killed herself after visiting that center, but I am...