Paper for Mahabodhi, Varanasi to Bimlendra

VIPASSANA; WHAT TO SEE, WHEN TO SEE, HOW TO SEE

Buddhism advocates leading the life of high moral ethics with righteousness. For this there is several meditation techniques are suggested in Tipitakas. Vipassana is also known as one of the best meditation technique that purifies our consciousness and helps us to lead a pious life full of high moral ethics. Some Buddhist scholars who are fond of Vipassana also claim that it is the Vipassana that can make us understand the actual meaning of Buddhist seminal teachings.

As everybody aware that the mind is the forerunner among all of our limbs and whatever we perceives or act depend upon the status of our mind. If our mind is polluted with the three defilements (Attachment, Greed and delusion), suffering is bound to follow; it is supported in Dhammapada in Yamakavaga verse no. 1 and 2 as below:

मनोपुब्बङ्गमा धम्मा, मनोसेट्ठा मनोमया। मनसा चे पदुटे्ठन, भासति� वा करोति� वा।��ो नं दुक्खमन्वेति�, चक् कंव वह�ो पदं॥

Similarly if our mind is free from delusion and filled with joy and pleasure (represented by four Brahmaviharas namely, Friendliness, Joy, compassion and indifference) then we perceive and act with pleasant mind and as a result of this, the happiness follows as the shadow of the person. It is also supported in the succeeding verse as follow:-

मनोपुब्बङ्गमा धम्मा, मनोसेट्ठा मनोमया।मनसा चे पसन् नेन, भासति� वा करोति� वा।��ो नं सुखमन्वेति�, छायाव अनपायियनी॥

Now the question is not only to know how to be free from defilements and adorned with the Brahmaviharas but also that after being free from defilements and adorned with Brahmaviharas, what to do. In other words what should be our goal? The answer to this very question is also given in Dhammapada as in verse no 183 while deliberating upon the crux of the Buddhist teaching in simplest words as follow:-

सब्बपापस्स अकरणं, कुसलस्स उपसम्पदा।सचिचत्तपरिरयोदपनं, ए�ं बुद्धान सासनं॥

The above verse provides the seminal teachings regarding Vipassana, the king of all meditation. The verse itself has four parts. The first part i.e. सब्बपापस्स अकरणं describes the first of three parts of Vipassana, the second part कुसलस्स उपसम्पदा denotes the second of three parts of Vipassana and the third

सचिचत्तपरिरयोदपनं let us know about the third and final part of Vipassana. Let’s have a look upon the three

parts of Vipassana. These are:-

i. The preparation or the exercises need to complete before doing Vipassana i.e pre-Vipassana exercises.

ii. The conditioned exercises needed to be undertaken i.e. Anapaa etc.iii. The Vipassana itself

Now to understand the Vipassana meditation fully, we have to understand the teachings associated with Vipassana as envisaged in the above verse number 183.

The Eightfold path

The primal and formal aim of every practitioner of Vipassana meditation is to realise and follow the eightfold path. The eightfold path as we all very well know is divided into three sub categories namely, Morality, meditation and wisdom. Under morality the trio of Right speech (vaca), right action (kammanta) and right livelihood (Ajiva) are covered. In the category of Meditation, right effort (vayama), right mindfulness (sati) and right concentration (samadhi) are grouped. Lastly under the category of wisdom, right view (ditthi) and right intention (sankappa, aspiration) are packed.