My vipassana “lite” retreat in bali: silent-ish, insightful, and surprisingly fun

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After my first amazing Vipassana experience at the Bali Usada Tapa Brata Retreat, I thought, “I need more of this.” Little did I know, my next retreat would flip my entire idea of silent meditation upside down—in the best way.

How i found this unusual retreat

A good friend (and fellow meditator) told me about a Burmese monk, considered top-tier in mindfulness training, who was visiting Bali to lead a Vipassana retreat at Brahma Vihara Arama, a gorgeous monastery perched in North Bali.

Honestly? I was super intrigued.
I had only been meditating for about 7 weeks—basically still a newbie—yet craving to dive deeper.

What is Vipassana, Anyway?
If you’re new to the term, vipassana means “insight.” A classic vipassana retreat usually involves:

Complete noble silence (no talking, no eye contact, no gestures)
Strict routines of walking and sitting meditation
Zero distractions—no reading, no writing, no yoga, no music

You pretty much become a mindful hermit for 10 days. (Or so I thought.)

Related>>> Ziva Meditation

Arriving at brahma vihara arama: first impressions

The monastery felt like something out of a dream—lush gardens, colorful shrines, ocean views glinting in the distance.
The atmosphere was thick with peaceful energy.

Upon check-in, we were handed a book of Sayadaw U Tejaniya’s teachings. (At this point, I figured, okay, pretty standard so far.)

Spoiler: It wasn’t.

Meet sayadaw u tejaniya: The “chill monk” who changed everything

Sayadaw U Tejaniya, a renowned Burmese teacher, is not your stereotypical strict monk:

He started his practice young under Shwe Oo Min Sayadaw.
Took a break to pursue business and “real-world” life.
Returned as a monk in 1996, blending wisdom with real-life practicality.

He’s warm, quick to laugh, and (get this) actually encourages mindful speaking at retreats.
Yep. Talking allowed. Yoga allowed. Reading allowed.

Wait—a vipassana retreat where you can talk??

During our welcome talk, Sayadaw made it clear:

“The goal is not to escape life. It’s to bring mindfulness into real life.”

Instead of rigid silence, he asked only that whatever we did—talking, stretching, walking—we did it mindfully.

✅ Mindful talking allowed.
✅ Yoga and other disciplines allowed.
✅ Reading Dhamma talks expected.
❌ No strict punishments or guilt trips.

Honestly, this made the retreat feel so much more approachable and…well, human.

The daily schedule: Vipassana “lite” at its best

Here’s how our days looked:

4:00 am – Wake-up gong (not negotiable 😅)
6:30 am – Breakfast (simple, delicious vegetarian fare)
9:00 am – Group meditation
11:00 am – Lunch (last meal of the day, in true Buddhist tradition)
3:00 pm & 7:00 pm – Q&A Dhamma talks

The rest of the day? Free for solo meditation, reading, mindful walks—or just…being.

There was no pressure to hit a certain number of sitting hours. It was about quality, not quantity.

Deep insights without pressure

Sayadaw’s teachings focused on:

Observing the mind exactly as it is—no chasing “perfect” meditation.
Recognizing craving, aversion, and illusion as natural parts of the human experience.
Understanding, not fixing—because the mind isn’t a problem to solve.

“We are observing to understand—not to stop things from happening.”

This simple shift changed my entire relationship with meditation.
I stopped struggling to silence my mind—and started listening to it instead.

Final takeaways: Why this was life-changing (And way less stressful)

This retreat wasn’t about ascetic suffering or rigid discipline.
It was about bringing awareness into normal life—laughing, struggling, getting distracted—and lovingly pulling yourself back to the moment.

Was it challenging? Yep.
Was it also hilarious at times? 100%.
Did I learn more about my mind than in strict silent retreats? Absolutely.

I left feeling lighter, wiser, and way more prepared to weave mindfulness into my messy, wonderful daily life.

Planning your own vipassana retreat in bali

If you’re thinking about it, here’s what to know:

Location:

Brahma Vihara Arama Monastery, Unnamed Road, Penglumbaran, Susut, Bangli Regency, Bali 80661

Contact:

WhatsApp: +62 812-3886-734

Tip: Pack layers—it can get surprisingly cool in North Bali mornings.

Have you tried a vipassana retreat in bali?

I’d love to hear your story.
Did you experience a “traditional” silent retreat—or something a little different like mine?
Drop a comment below and share your experience. 🧘‍♀️✨

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