According to Buddhism, there are
two burdens namely Gandha dhura; burden of study, task of learning and Vipassana
dhura: the burden of insight development, task of meditation practice. In
Buddhism there are two kinds of meditation; the first is Samatha or
calmness meditation. Calmness meditation is the way to calm down the
mind, it aims at developing concentration. By concentration we mean the
unwavering state of mind in which attention is fixed on a single object.
In the state of concentration, the mind is feed from five hindrances namely,
sensuous desire, ill will, sloth and torpor, restlessness and anxiety and
doubt. The elimination of the nindrances set the mind in concentration and
this in turn enables one to develop wisdom. As the Buddha said; When
wisdom is supported by concentration,
Its fruit and advantage become great.
The
second is Vipassana. Its pratice is concerned with Strengthening and
sharpening mindfulness so much that it helps one to develop wisdom, which
sees things as they really are. Having realized the truth, one achieves
liberation and attains Nirvana.
Unlike calmness meditation, which is practiced in solitude, Vipassana meditation
can be practiced in daily life, while one is talking, teaching, walking
or working. The Buddha explained the method in detail as follows; A
monk, when walking, knows that he is Walking,
when standing, knows that he is Standing,
when sitting, knows that he is Sitting,
when lying down, knows that he is Lying.
In whatever way his body is disposed, he knows that is how it is.
The
meaning of Vipassana Vipassna is a Pali word which means seeing
clearly, seeing specially or seeing through (Vi : clearly, specially, into,
through + passana : seeing). Vipassana means introspection, intuitive
wisdom, intuitive knowledge. Vipassana is often translated as Insight.
It is the method of practice discovered by the Lord Buddha, which led to
his enlightenment over 2,500 years ago. (Perhaps explain the Pali language)
Seeing what clearly? Insight
into what?
Vipassan means
seeing through the true nature of reality or Insight into the true nature
of reality.It means seeing things as they truly are. Vipassana is the
direct and intuitive understanding of the true nature of all mental and
physical phenomena. What does " Insight " really mean. Buddhadasa Bhikkhu
said " the expression insight into the true nature of things " refers to
seeing transience, unsatisfactoriness and non-selfhood, seeing that nothing
is worth getting, nothing is worth being, seeing that no object whatsoever
should be grasped at and clung to as being a self of as belonging to self,
as being good or bad, attractive or repulsive.
Vipassana
is intuitive knowledge or Insight into the true nature of nama (mind: consciousness,
mentality) and rupa (body: materiality, physical form) which make up the
Five Aggregates of Existence (Panca Khandha: Rupa (body, physical form),
Vedana (feeling), Sanna (memory, perception), Sankhara (mental formations,
volition), Vinnana (consciousness).
Vipassana
is the realization that all mental and physical phenomena are Impermanent
(Anicca), Suffering, (Dukkha) and Non-self (Anatta). These three characteristics
of all phenomena (Tilakkhana) are the marks of Insight wisdom and are the
main objects of Vipassana Meditation.
Vipassana
is the direct realization of the true nature of nama and rupa. All conditions
whether internal or external, mental or material are Impermanent, Suffering
and Non-self (Anicca, Dukkam, Anatta).
The
objects of " Vipassana " meditation are the position of the body at the
present moment, plus all sensations, emotions and thoughts which arise as
a result of the contact between body and mind and the environment, or the
internal interaction between sensations and mental processes at the point
when they occur.
In " Vipassana
" the aim is freedom. Freedom from the burden of suffering. It is gained
through Insight wisdom. As mindfulness and concentration develop in a state
of optimum balance and if there is enough energy and Sampajanna or clear
comprehension, then Insight wisdom can arise.
In
" Vipassana " meditation, concentration and energy levels are brought up
by the practice of walking meditation and also by mindfulness of the postures
and positions of the body at all times, this is termed in Pali " Iriyapatha
".
In " Insight " meditation
the aim is neither to forceably exclude sensations or thoughts, nor to repress
them but to see clearly how they arise, have being and pass away. A certain
level of concentration and energy is necessary to keep them in our sphere
of attention. Without this level of concentration our minds jump all over
the place, never attending fully to any one object. This is often described
as a " monkey mind " . We need to give the " monkey " a definitive task
to do so that his attention span increases and control improves. It is very
difficult to stop your mind " jumping around " simply by and effort of will.
The method used in " Insight " " Vipassana " meditation, of slowing down
movements and making simple mental acknowledgements, is very effective tool
to enable us to gain " stability, unshakeability and equilibrium."
In " Vipassana " the meditator
clearly perceives all that occurs in the present moment in " this fathom
long body ". Because he or she is not attached to anything, it is possible
to be aware of the deepest tendencies within. It is possible to be clearly
aware of the very root of attachment and aversion to whatever occurs and
through clear seeing eradicated these tendencies at the point where they
originate. In Buddhism this it termed the " eradication of defilement ".
And enlightened being is one who has eradicated all defilement. He is freed
from their controlling influence. Through unbiased and non-prejudiced, clear
awareness it is possible to see the process by which we become entangled
in attachment. This " seeing " has the meaning of being aware, or of understanding.
It is mental in that there is bare awareness but it is not limited to the
narrow confines of thought. It is experiential in that feelings arise and
are or ignored, but it is not absorption into sensations, however rarified
they may be. Through clear comprehension based on mindfulness and concentration,
it is possible for attachments and aversions to untangle themselves. The
deepest tendencies of the mind are seen for what they really are, and so
they lose their power to control.
Vipassana
is based on the Satipatthana, the four foundations of mindfulness: 1. The mindfulness of the body 2.
The mindfulness of the feelings 3. The
mindfulness of the mind 4. The mindfulness
of the mind-objects.
The meditators who develops Insight Knowledge
(Vipassana Nana) will realize that everything inside oneself and in the
world outside of oneself is constantly changing, uncertain or Impermanent,
is stressful, dissatisfactory or Suffering; and is uncontrollable, devoid
of substance, not belonging to oneself, or Non-Self. These Three characteristics
are the True nature of all phenomena.