Few people would relish spending ten days meditating in complete silence, not to mention no eating after midday, no alcohol, no contact with the outside world and no sex.
Not musician Robin Grey. He has completed three 10-day Vipassana meditation courses. "I'd previously suffered from migraines, depression and panic attacks, and read that meditation was good for tackling psychosomatic problems," he says.
Vipassana, meaning 'seeing things as they really are,' is one of India's most ancient meditation techniques. Though originally developed by Gautama Buddha, it is now practiced widely by people of many faiths and beliefs.
Robin attended his courses, taught by S N Goenka, in Hereford with 70 other people. Each one is free, though donations are welcome.
Despite the rigorous schedule and rules - up at 4am, meditation for 10
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Weird and wonderful
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elaine hake on the rigorous but purifying ancient technique of Vipassana meditation
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hours a day – he persevered. "I did want to leave," he admits. "But I'm glad I didn't. Afterwards, I was happier, more patient and I could focus for longer periods, and could sing more tunefully."
According to Mr Goenka, you have to confront tension ("mental defilement") to beat it. Whenever a defilement, such as anger or fear, occurs, the breath loses its normal rhythm. A central aspect of Vipassana, therefore, is learning to observe - but not regulate - respiration. This focuses and calms the mind, ridding it of tension.
Robin now meditates for two hours a day, as I learnt when we first met. We were chatting at a party when he broke off to nip home for a purifying hour of meditation.
I, meanwhile, danced in a garage until 2am. 
FIRST POSTED OCTOBER 16, 2006
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