Vipassana
Vipassana is a Pali word which means “seeing clearly”, “seeing into” or “seeing through” (“Vi”: clearly, specially, into, through; “Passana”: seeing), in other words, it is about developing inner knowing or vision or intuitive wisdom or knowledge. Vipassana is often translated as “insight”, in the sense of ‘Insight into the True Nature of Reality’, or seeing things as they truly are.
Vipassana is often translated as “insight”, in the sense of ‘Insight into the True Nature of Reality’, or seeing things as they truly are. While it leads to a clear view of our (human) nature, it gives us insight into the reality of our body and mind. This wisdom gives us a tool to avoid being drawn into events (emotions, feelings, interpersonal relationships, thoughts, etc.), thus leading the mind to release from suffering.
Vipassana— or insight meditation is a method using moment-to-moment mindfulness to be aware and present in every instance with everything that arises in our body and mind.
The practice of Vipassana meditation is based on the teachings passed down by the Buddha over 2500 years ago.
SATIPATTHANA VIPASSANA KAMMATTHANA
Satipatthana Vipassana Kammathana, the technique we are practicing and teaching, is based on the Four Foundations of Mindfulness. Meditators will learn how to apply mindfulness on the body, feelings, mind and mind objects through simple and structured exercises. All arising phenomena are labeled mentally.
The meditation technique taught in our courses is passed on in the same way as it has traditionally been practiced at the temple Wat Phradhatu Sri Chomtong Voravihara, in Chom Thong (province of Chiang Mai), under the guidance of the Most Venerable Phra Prom Mongkol Vi (Ven. Phra Ajarn Tong Sirimangalo). It is an intensive form of the Mahasi Sayadaw technique which includes both walking meditation and sitting meditation.
WHY DO WE PRACTICE VIPASSANA MEDITATION?
The practice of Vipassana meditation has a number of psychological, physical and spiritual benefits, such as a better understanding of oneself or the removal of habitual patterns of behaviour, thought and perception — such as self-criticism, anger, obsessive thinking, worry, anxiety, depression, doubts, feeling of hopelessness and sadness. In general it helps to reduce stress and to increase the ability to handle difficult situations.
The five aims to the practice of Vipassana meditation are:
1. To purify the heart and mind of beings,
2. To overcome sorrows and sadness,
3. To free oneself from pain and suffering,
4. To discover the true path in life,
5. To realize the end of suffering (Nirvana).
Thus, we train to free our mind from impurities and disturbances like greed, anger, laziness, worry, doubt and restlessness and aim at cultivating awareness, concentration, wisdom, confidence, energy and effort.