Vipassana Meditation

Vipassana Meditation is one of India"s most ancient techniques of meditation. It is a way of self-transformation through self-observation and introspection. It focuses on the deep interconnection between mind and body, which can be experienced directly by disciplined attention to the physical sensations. This indeed supports that continuous interconnection of mind and body while improving the condition of the life of the mind.

Vipassana meditation is the meditative way of self-transformation amidst the path of self-observation. It focuses on the deep interconnection between mind and body. This interconnection is experienced directly by disciplined attention to the physical sensations that form the life of the body.

Vipassana or Vipashyana in Sanskrit means "insight into the impermanent nature". The word Vipassana has two parts like "Vi" and "Passana". The expression "Passana" means "seeing" or "perceiving". However, the prefix "vi" has several meanings, one of which is "through". Hence, the complete meaning of Vi-Passana is therefore "insight".

Vipassana Meditation also coined as the Insight Meditation. Knowing the true self through an intense and acute insight is indeed the root of this meditation process. The concept of this meditation was rediscovered by Gautama Buddha around 2500 years ago. Buddha said that there are causes for the sufferings and the cause of sufferings can only be eradicated when one succeeds in seeing one"s own nature. He identified the two factors – desire and ignorance, as the roots of suffering and also felt that if these factors are eliminated then only the mind will be able to be in touch with something permanent beyond the changing world.

While the practice of Vipassana meditation in Buddhism differs from school to school, the underlying principle remains always the same. It is the idea of investigating the phenomena as they manifest in the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, which are highlighted in the Satipatthana Sutta, namely kaya (body or breath), vedana (feeling or sensation), citta (mind) and dhamma (mind objects).

The practice of Vipassana meditation is centred on the present moment, concerned with staying in the now to the most possible extreme degree. It consists of observing body (rupa) and mind (nama) with bare attention. In a broader sense, Vipassana has been used as one of two poles for the classification of types of Buddhist meditation, the other being Samatha (Pali and Sanskrit). Samatha is a focusing, assuaging and calming meditation, similar to many traditions of the world, particularly yoga. It is used as a preparation for Vipassana, conciliating the mind and strengthening the connection in order to allow the work of insight. In Buddhist practice it is said that, while Samatha can soothe the mind, only insight can disclose how the mind was disturbed to start with, which leads to prajna (knowledge) and jnana (wisdom) and thus understanding, preventing it from being disturbed again. The term is also used to refer to the Buddhist Vipassana movement, which employs Vipassana and anapana meditation as its primary techniques and lays emphasis on the teachings of the Satipatthana Sutta. Vedana (sensation or feeling) is the initial subject of investigation.

Vipassana meditation is thus the observation-based, self-exploratory journey to the common root of mind and body that dissolves mental impurity. This results in a balanced mind full of love and compassion.

Vipassana meditation is scientific and is based on the scientific laws that operate one"s thoughts, feelings, judgments and sensations. It is the knowledge of understanding the self, the knowledge of self and indeed the observation of self through direct experience. Through Vipassana meditation life becomes characterized by increased awareness, non-delusion, self-control and indeed peace. Vipassana Meditation as the concept goes is the idea of perceiving the inner self. The secret of happiness thus lies in the ability of seeing one"s self clearly.

The technique of vipassana meditation calms the mind and also instills simple moral conduct. These can be broadly categorised into three basic parts. These parts aid in the overall spiritual development of the yogis.

The three parts are:

•Watching the belly
•Watching the coolness in the nostrils
•Watching the breathing like a river

Watching the Belly: Belly plays an important part in meditation and in Vipassana meditation, watching the belly is indeed an important technique. Belly part is reckoned as the location of the hara centre. Just behind and below the navel or the belly button lies the hara, which is the point of consciousness and is considered as the center of the subtle body. By focusing the attention on the hara centre, one can easily attain a meditative state of mind. As one meditates upon hara, his thinking process automatically slows down. This is the state of "choice less awareness". The `belly watching` form of Vipassana meditation involves the idea of focusing the attention on the breathing process, felt around the belly. The movement of the belly and watching it carefully can aid in attaining a meditative state. It is first advised to sit quietly at a comfortable and peaceful place. With closed eyes one should take few deep breaths. Now the focus and attention should be shifted on the area around the belly. It is important here to watch the movement of the belly how it goes up and down along with the breath. The whole attention should be shifted towards the belly movement.

As one keeps watching the belly movement within no time he feels that his thoughts have gradually started disappearing from his mind and a state of increased awareness is felt. Daily practice of this meditation supports in recognizing the presence of a hara centre. It feels as if a sort of ball of consciousness around the belly. This feeling further increases the awareness of the inner self which is the indeed main aspect of the Vipassana Meditation.

Watching the coolness in the nostrils: Careful watching of the coolness in the nostril is the second technique of Vipassana meditation. The technique involves focusing the attention on the coolness during breathing. Breathing is a continuous process which goes on. Along with the breathing, the soothing coolness of the nostrils supports in emanating itself. If one focuses the attention on the coolness then the meditative state is achieved. This technique of Vipassana meditation can be followed while sitting in a comfortable and peaceful place. With eyes closed the deep breathings are to be exercised. The concentration then needs to be shifted on the comforting sensation of slight coolness that one feels whenever breath goes in. Repeatedly engaging the mind in feeling this coolness relaxes the mind.

Watching the breathing process: This is the third technique of Vipassana meditation. The central idea of Vipassana meditation is to focus on the breath itself. Quite ideally therefore watching the breath is indeed the most basic form of Vipassana meditation. Watching the breath as it comes inside the body and then watching it as it goes outside is the fundamental idea of this third technique of Vipassana meditation. This third technique of Vipassana meditation involves two requirements like a comfortable sitting position and indeed a peaceful place. After this the first step is to sit silently in a comfortable position with closed eyes, whilst shifting the entire focus to the flow of the breath as it travels inside your body and comes out. Following the breath in its entire route of inhalation and exhalation is thus the crux of breath watching. In this technique the focus is in watching the breath while remaining completely detached. Watching the breath like a river is important to gain the maximum benefit of vipassana meditation.

Vipassana meditation entwined with its techniques is one of India`s ancient meditation processes, rediscovered by Gautama Buddha somewhat 2500 years ago. Vipassana meditation is indeed the simple and sensible way to achieve tangible and lasting peace of mind and happiness whilst seeing things as they really are.

The benefits of vipassana meditation are manifold. It eradicates frustration and disharmony from one`s routine life. Vipassana meditation helps one to be liberated from suffering and its deep-seated causes while transferring one to highest spiritual goal through a gradual approach. The liberation from fear helps Vipassana practitioners achieve high levels of achievements in all spheres of human activity. There are various stages in Vipassana meditation, after which one can accomplish the sublime height.

In the Tipitaka the benefits of meditation are further stated :
• Vipassana helps one to understand the truth, both theoretically and practically, on a rather deeper level.

• It makes the mind strong while offering it stronger motivation, effort, patience, better concentration and contentment than before. One of the greatest benefits of Vipassana meditation is it prepares the mind to sacrifice much more for the greater good of all.

• Regular practice of vipassana meditation allows one to realise and explain the truth much better and indeed in greater exactitude than before. It is through vipassana meditation one becomes able to explain theory, practice and fruition.

• Another important benefit of vipassana meditation is it improves recollection and memory whilst allowing one to memorize things well. Vipassana meditation is a complete wholesomeness which supports in creating goodness every moment.

• Vipassana meditation to a large extent is centred on the teachings of Buddha. Hence, vipassana meditation is largely helps on the cultivation of morality, concentration and wisdom.

• Vipassana helps in bringing people to know themselves, to understand their inner self and also supports in gaining the knowledge how to maintain themselves on every occasion.

• Most importantly vipassana meditation allows one to escape sorrow, lamentation and despair of all kinds while offering the mankind the wisdom to overcome both physical and mental sufferings.

After an arduous vipassana meditation session, it is known to manifest painful effects upon the practitioner. One begins to sense forceful vibrations, like a flow of energy playing around everywhere. A flow of light, as if scintillating and quivering pours down upon one. This light in Vipassana meditation brings in an impression of loss of physical weight, a floating sensation. At this point, one is usually advised to take in the luminosity of space, oblivious to everything around.

Both the realms of light and darkness in Vipassana meditation are of a higher dimension, converging at a single point, which is the Earth. This is basic the reason one experiences both the Divine and the demonic forces on the Earth. Forces from both hemispheres are incarnated as human beings. The term `higher dimensions` in Vipassana refers to parallel worlds, from the lower Earth-bound astral worlds of `dark` forces to the much higher worlds of light beings. These forms or forces are not intelligible to the human eye, as they vibrate at dissimilar wavelengths. Matter is nothing but vibrations of energy, encompassing higher `invisible` cosmic energies, known only to a few earthly beings. Many of these invisible beings, though not all, are angelic with an air of Divine harmony.

People with an entirely mercenary bent of mind can only envisage what they see with their eyes. The human mind is capable of destroying its environment to satisfy its egotistical needs, building a cruel war industry and digging into unethical politics. This leads to a projection of a future world based on downright destruction. As stated by Vipassana meditation, people who commit such deeds, definitely belong to the dark forces, which initially listen to the commands of the `man` trying to control them. But at some point of time the same man turns victim to his own works, coming under their control instead. A stupendous light in Vipassana meditation will never, in such instances, come to an individual; he needs to strive towards that goal to perceive transcendence.

In order to realise perfection in Vipassana meditation through a vision of light, certain basic truths must be imbibed in order to avoid the dark pitfalls. God is Absolute. In effect, there are no devils or evil forces that could ever contend with the Absolute. God is intelligibly beyond all negative and positive aspects, such as one perceives in the symbolism of Shiva. The light that is emitted suddenly and unexplained in Vipassana meditation aids one to be in the righteous path to a better understanding of the soul.

The Absolute is beyond any form of duality as he is omnipresent and omnipotent, the Divine reality. One`s goal towards the creation of a harmonious world is to become Divine themselves and to perceive a higher consciousness in all relative situations. One of the greatest benefits of the vipassana meditation is the light which is emitted makes one understand both the good and the bad experiences, realising one`s true spiritual nature beyond them.