1996-07_03 Vipassana Retreat, Part 3 of 8 - Q&A 12

Talk: 19960703-Larry_Rosenberg-UNK-vipassana_retreat_part_3_of_8-43307 Start_time: 01:29:53 Display_question: Larry, can you explain the timing of when each meditation ends? Keyword_search: timing, sitting, schedule, watch, limit, boundaries, good, bad, intuitive, fixed, sit, meditation, walking meditation, walking, mind, retreat, control, ex-Soviet Union Question_content: Questioner: Do you want us to split the rooms? Larry: Pardon? Questioner: The rooms? Larry: Yeah, we'll do that. You mean about sitting? Yeah, just one one last something having to do with… Yes. Questioner: <inaudible> Larry: I know I don't. Questioner: <inaudible> Larry: Yeah. Questioner: <inaudible> Larry: I understand, I understand. You get mad at me anyway. If we had the time… it's my fault if you're having a painful sitting and the bell isn't ringing, then it's my fault. If it's a good sitting, I'm a really nice guy. Look, I'll tell you why I'm doing that. Usually we teach with a fixed schedule. This is an unusual group for me, where there are a fair number of people here who are really just beginning. And then there's some of you been practicing for a while, and then there's a lot in between. And so I've been trying to find… it's not mechanical. I'm getting a sense of when, as a group, not there are many individuals this would not touch upon. We're going a little bit beyond our edge, and that's when I ring the bell. On the average, it's been about 25 to 35 minutes. If you like, I'll do it that way. I'll just set a time. Would you prefer that? Questioner: <inaudible> Larry: See, but either way, you can learn. Look, if we do the… both of them have problems, believe me. If we have this fixed, like, one hour, 45 minutes, and then you're loving your sitting, “Oh, so peaceful. Breath is like satin. Ah, I think I'll become a nun.” No, you know, just… Then when the bell rings, you'll hate me because it wasn't long enough, and it got interrupted, and so forth. There are people who come with their watches and need to look at their watch. Often we say, if you're going to do that, leave your watch in your room because watch your mind. See, that would be much more valuable, whether we time it intuitively or have a fixed schedule. What's interesting is what your mind does. You're here to learn about your mind. So you can then switch that. A bad situation is a good situation, and see how you want finitude. You want to know definite limits and boundaries. And if you don't get them, you get anxious. And if you get anxious, then I'm the one who caused it. So of course I'm the bad guy. Break_line: How many people would like for us to be a little more scheduled starting tomorrow? Questioner: What do you mean by scheduled? Larry: We could even post it on the… Questioner: Then what schedule? Larry: See? Okay. Questioner: <inaudible> Larry: No, no. If you want to sit and skip the walking, you can. Questioner: How about the other way around? Larry: You want it? Yeah, sure. This is not the Soviet, ex Soviet Union, or… No, it's fine. But for those of you new, I would like you to learn the sitting and walking. So you might want to think twice about that. But let's say in retreats, typical retreats, there are retreats where it's rigidly controlled. End_time: 01:33:05