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Vipassana Meditation |
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The Technique |
Vipassana, which means to see things as they really are, is one of
India's most ancient techniques of meditation. It was rediscovered
by Gotama Buddha more than 2500 years ago and was taught by him as
a universal remedy for universal ills, i.e., an Art Of Living.
This non-sectarian technique aims for the total eradication of
mental impurities and the resultant highest happiness of full
liberation. Healing, not merely the curing of diseases, but the
essential healing of human suffering, is its purpose.
Vipassana is a way of self-transformation through self-observation.
It focuses on the deep interconnection between mind and body, which
can be experienced directly by disciplined attention to the
physical sensations that form the life of the body, and that
continuously interconnect and condition the life of the mind. It
is this observation-based, self-exploratory journey to the common
root of mind and body that dissolves mental impurity, resulting in
a balanced mind full of love and compassion.
The scientific laws that operate one's thoughts, feelings,
judgements and sensations become clear. Through direct experience,
the nature of how one grows or regresses, how one produces
suffering or frees oneself from suffering is understood. Life
becomes characterized by increased awareness, non-delusion,
self-control and peace.
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The Tradition |
Since the time of Buddha, Vipassana has been handed down, to the
present day, by an unbroken chain of teachers. Although Indian by
descent, the current teacher in this chain, Mr. S.N. Goenka,
was born and raised in Burma (Myanmar). While living there he had
the good fortune to learn Vipassana from his teacher, Sayagyi U Ba
Khin who was at the time a high Government official. After
receiving training from his teacher for fourteen years, Mr.
Goenka settled in India and began teaching Vipassana in 1969.
Since then he has taught tens of thousands of people of all races
and all religions in both the East and West. In 1982 he began to
appoint assistant teachers to help him to meet the growing demand
for Vipassana courses.
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The Course |
The technique is taught at ten-day residential courses during which
participants follow a prescribed Code of Discipline,
learn the basics of the method, and practice sufficiently to
experience its beneficial results.
The course requires hard, serious work. There are three steps to
the training. The first step is, for the period of the course, to
abstain from killing, stealing, sexual activity, speaking falsely,
and intoxicants. This simple code of moral conduct serves to calm
the mind, which otherwise would be too agitated to perform the task
of self-observation.
The next step is to develop some mastery over the mind by learning
to fix one's attention on the natural reality of the ever changing
flow of breath as it enters and leaves the nostrils.
By the fourth day the mind is calmer and more focused, better able
to undertake the practice of Vipassana itself: observing
sensations throughout the body, understanding their nature, and
developing equanimity by learning not to react to them.
Finally, on the last full day participants learn the meditation of
loving kindness or goodwill towards all, in which the purity
developed during the course is shared with all beings.
A short video (5.7 MB) about the observation of breath and bodily sensations in
this technique can be viewed with the free QuickTime movie player.
The entire practice is actually a mental training. Just as we use
physical exercises to improve our bodily health, Vipassana can be
used to develop a healthy mind.
Because it has been found to be genuinely helpful, great emphasis
is put on preserving the technique in its original, authentic form.
It is not taught commercially, but instead is offered freely. No
person involved in its teaching receives any material remuneration.
There are no charges for the courses - not even to cover the cost
of food and accommodation. All expenses are met by donations from
people who, having completed a course and experienced the benefits
of Vipassana, wish to give others the opportunity to benefit from
it also.
Of course, the results come gradually through continued practice.
It is unrealistic to expect all problems to be solved in ten days.
Within that time, however, the essentials of Vipassana can be
learned so that it can be applied in daily life. The more the
technique is practiced, the greater the freedom from misery, and
the closer the approach to the ultimate goal of full liberation.
Even ten days can provide results which are vivid and obviously
beneficial in everyday life.
All sincere people are welcome to join a Vipassana course to see
for themselves how the technique works and to measure the benefits. Vipassana Courses are even being conducted in prisons,
with great success and wonderful benefits for the inmates who
participate. All those who try it will find Vipassana to be an
invaluable tool with which to achieve and share real happiness
with others.
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