| • Science | • People | • Locations | • Timeline |
In a broader sense, vipassanā has been used as one of two poles for the categorization of types of Buddhist meditation, the other being samatha, pacifying or calming meditation. Samatha is understood in general to be a preparation for vipassana, helping clear the mind in order to develop insight. This dichotomy is also sometimes discussed as "stopping and seeing."
Vipassanā is a Pali word from the Sanskrit prefix "vi-" and verbal root √dr s. It is often translated as "insight" or "clear-seeing," though, the "in-" prefix may be misleading; "vi" in Indo-Aryan languages is cognate to our "dis." The "vi" in vipassanā may then mean to see apart, or discern. Alternatively, the "vi" can function as an intensive, and thus vipassanā may mean to see deeply. In any case, this is used metaphorically for a particularly powerful mental self-perception.
A synonym for "Vipassanā" is paccakkha (Pāli; Sanskrit: pratyak ṣa), "before the eyes," which refers to direct experiential perception. Thus, the type of seeing denoted by "vipassanā" is that of direct perception, as opposed to knowledge derived from reasoning or argument.
Vipassanā meditation consists of an energetic observation of physical objects and mental representations (nama and rupa) and thought-processes in their aspects of impermanence, unsatifactoriness and lack of an inherent, independent essence or self.
To see through the mode of impermanence means to examine things as to whether they are permanent. To see though the mode of unsatisfactoriness means to examine things as to whether they are satisfactory or are imbued with stress or suffering. To see through the mode of non-self means to examine things as to whether they have an permanent identity or self, or an essential nature.
In Vipassanā meditation, the meditation object is one's own consciousness, although it can be further refined to be one's consciousness while observing, say, the breath, as in meditation. In this context, the modes of seeing refers to focusing on those aspects of consciousness which appear to have (or not have) these characteristics.
Vipassanā as taught by S. N. Goenka in the tradition of Sayagyi U Ba Khin is primarily a meditation on the physical sensations of the body. The meditator develops equanimity through observing sensation without craving or aversion, thus developing an understanding of its true nature.
Today, the term "Vipassanā" also refers to the meditation technique used by many branches of modern Theravada Buddhism, for example in modern Sri Lanka, Burma, Laos and ThailandThe Kingdom of Thailand is a country in southeast Asia, bordering Laos and Cambodia to the east, the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia to the south, and the Andaman Sea and Myanmar to the west. Thailand is also known as Siam which was the country's official n, and to a specific branch of Buddhism popularized by the Indian businessman S.N. GoenkaGoenka is a teacher of Vipassana meditation in the tradition of the late Sayagyi U Ba Khin of Burma ( Myanmar). Although Indian by descent, Mr. Goenka was born and raised in Burma. While living in Burma he had the good fortune to come into contact with U and his mentor U Ba Khin as a nonsectarian form of Buddhism, and also by Americans Joseph Goldstein, Sharon Saltzberg and Jack Kornfield (who were inspired by the monks Mahasi SayadawMahasi Sayadaw ( 1904- 1982) was a famous Burmese Buddhist monk and meditation master who had a significant impact on the teaching of Satipatthana Vipassana meditation in the West and throughout Asia. His style of meditation involved quietly noting the ri and Ajahn ChahVenerable Ajahn Chah Subhatto Bodhinyanathera (alternatively Achaan Chah occasionally with honorific titles Luang Por and Phra ( 1918, Thailand 1992), was one of the greatest meditation masters of the twentieth century. Known for his informal and direct s) under the rubric "insight meditation."
In ThailandThe Kingdom of Thailand is a country in southeast Asia, bordering Laos and Cambodia to the east, the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia to the south, and the Andaman Sea and Myanmar to the west. Thailand is also known as Siam which was the country's official n, locals and visitors can have vipassanā training free of charge including accommodation and meals in many temples around the country as well as some modern-day training centers run by veteran vipassanā instructors. One of those that can accommodate English-speaking vipassanā practitioners of any religion is http://www.vipassanachiangmai.com Chiangmai Vipassana Foundation Training Center located in the northern part of the country.
All over the world, there are meditation centers offering 10-day-meditation courses in the tradition of U Ba Khin and S.N. Goenka in many local languages as well as English. These courses are open to anyone. 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 have completed a course. Find the international course schedule and links to the centers here: http://www.dhamma.org/