Seeing clearly, seeing through, seeing in a special way
( Vi = clearly, specially, into, through + passana = seeing)
It means seeing things as they truely are. Vipassana is the direct and intuitive understanding of the true nature of all mental and physical phenomena.
VIPASSANA
Are we not looking for peace and happiness? Where to find it?
Many of us complain about the world today, but few are willing to make a real contribution. What can we give or contribute to the world?
We can begin by giving and contributing to ourselves. When we find peace and wisdom within, we can become a radiant light for many others who are also looking for peace and happiness.
When we react out of greed, anger and delusion, we are fighting fire with fire, but without reacting, we fight fire with water. When we are unhappy inside, others are also affected by our unhappiness. And when we are happy inside, likewise others are also affected by our happiness.
How does Vipassana meditation help you in finding peace and happiness?
Generally, we have perceptions of ourselves and the world around us. Often, this perception is distorted by greed, anger, doubt, fear and delusion. We are not able to see these hindrances very clearly.
When we practice Vipassana, we are witnessing the arising of these hindrances. Instead of trying to avoid them or push them out of our mind, we see (acknowledge) them by making a mental note of them and then letting them go by bringing our attention back to the meditation practice.
Here, we can begin to find peace and allow the Insights to arise showing us that all these experiences are transient (impermanent).
MINDFULNESS
The practitioner engages in mindfulness of movement in walking meditation. In seated mediation, the practitioner is mindful of the breath. We start by paying attention to inhaling and exhaling. In both forms of meditation, one becomes mindful to any arising mental or physical phenomenon. Ultimately, we engage with anything that arises by noting and labeling them, without attaching any further conceptual thinking.
Vipassana is based on four Foundations of Mindfulness:(Satipatthana)
1. Mindfulness of the Body,
2. Mindfulness of Feelings,
3. Mindfulness of the Mind, and
4. Mindfulness of the Mind Objects.
By noticing the transitory nature of physical and mental phenomena, the meditator becomes aware of the continuous evaluation of these experiences. Thus allowing wisdom to arise and observe the three characteristics of phenomena. i.e. Impermanence, Suffering and Non Self.
When the meditator comprehends Impermanence, Suffering and Non Self; thinking subdues and mere observation stabilizes without evaluating thoughts or experiences.