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The Vipassana technique, meaning seeing things as they really are, is one of the most ancient meditation techniques of India. It was rediscovered by Gautama Buddha over 2,500 years ago and taught by him as a universal remedy for universal ills, an Art of Living . This non-sectarian technique aims for the complete eradication of mental defilements and produces the supreme bliss of complete liberation.
Vipassana is a way of transforming oneself through self-observation. By focusing on the deep connection between mind and body. This can be experienced directly by paying serious attention to the feelings of the body, which form the life of this body, which is constantly connected and forms the life of the mind. It is this journey based on observation, self-investigation, that leads to the roots of mind and body, which dissolves mental defilements. Resulting in a balanced mind, full of love and compassion.
The scientific laws governing one's thoughts, mental feelings, and bodily sensations become clear. Through direct experience, the nature of how one progresses or declines, how one creates or frees oneself from suffering, becomes understood. Life becomes characterized by heightened awareness, non-delusion, self-control, and peace.
Tradition
Since the time of the Buddha, Vipassana has been passed down to the present day, by an unbroken chain of teachers. Although of Indian descent, the current teacher in the chain, Mr. S.N. Goenka , was born and raised in Burma (Myanmar). While there, he had the good fortune to learn Vipassana from his teacher, Sayagyi U Ba Khin, who was then a high-ranking government official. After fourteen years of training with his teacher, Mr. Goenka settled in India and began teaching Vipassana in 1969. Since then, he has taught thousands of people of all races and religions, from both East and West. In 1982, he began appointing assistant teachers to help him meet the growing demand for Vipassana courses.
Course
This technique is taught in a 10-day course, during which participants follow the prescribed Rules of Discipline , learn the basics of the method, and practice sufficiently to experience beneficial results.
The course requires hard and serious work. There are three stages of training: first, abstaining from killing, stealing, sexual activity, lying and intoxicants during the course. These simple moral rules serve to calm the mind, which would otherwise be too restless to perform the task of self-observation. The next stage is to develop mastery over the mind by learning to focus on the natural reality of the ever-changing flow of breath as it enters and exits through the nostrils. By the fourth day the mind is calmer and more centered, able to better attempt the Vipassana practice of observing sensations throughout the body, understanding their true nature and developing equanimity by learning not to react to them. Finally, on the last full day, participants learn the meditation on loving-kindness or goodwill towards all. In which the purity developed during the course is shared with all beings.
The whole practice is actually a mental practice. Just as we use physical exercise to make the body healthy, Vipassana can be used to develop a healthy mind.
