The Art of Living
Vipassana-bhavana
Vipassana is often
described as being a flash of insight, a
sudden intuition of truth.
The description is correct, but in fact
there is a step-by-step method which
meditators can use to advance to the
point that they are capable of such
intuition. The method is
Vipassana-Bhavana, the development of
insight, commonly called Vipassana
meditation.
The word passana
means "seeing", the ordinary sort of
vision that we have with open eyes.
Vipassana means a special kind of
vision; observation of the reality
within oneself. This is achieved by
taking as the object of attention one's
own physical sensations. The technique
is the systematic and dispassionate
observance of sensations within oneself.
The observation unfolds the entire
reality of mind and body.
Why sensation?
First because it is by sensation that we
experience reality directly. Unless
something comes into contact with the
five physical senses, or the mind, it
does not exist for us. These are the
gates through which we encounter the
world, the bases for all experience. And
whenever anything comes into contact
with the six sensory bases, a sensation
occurs. The Buddha describes the process
as follows: "If someone takes two sticks
and rubs one against the other, then
from the friction heat is generated, and
a spark is produced. In the same way, as
a result of a contact to be experienced
as pleasant, a pleasant sensation
arises. As a result of a contact to be
experienced as unpleasant, an unpleasant
sensation arises. As a result of a
contact to be experienced as neutral, a
neutral sensation arises".
The contact of an
object with mind or body produces a
spark of sensation. This sensation is
the link through which we experience the
world with all its phenomena, physical
and mental. In order to develop
experiential wisdom, we must become
aware of what we actually experience;
that is, we must develop awareness of
sensations.
Further, physical
sensations are related to the mind, and
like the breath they offer a reflection
of the present mental state. When mental
objects--thoughts, hopes, ideas,
imaginations, emotions, memories,
fears,--come into contact with the mind,
sensations arise. Every thought, every
emotion, every mental action, is
accompanied by a corresponding sensation
within the body. Therefore by observing
the physical sensations, we also observe
the mind.
Sensation is
indispensable in order to explore truth
to the depths. Whatever we encounter in
the world will evoke a sensation within
the body. Sensation is the cross-roads
where mind and body meet. It arises in
the body and is felt by the mind. In a
dead body, or inanimate matter, there
can be no sensation, because mind is not
present. If we are unaware of this
experience, our investigation of reality
remains incomplete, and superficial.
Just as to rid a garden of weeds we must
be aware of hidden roots and their vital
function, similarly we must be aware of
sensations, most of which usually remain
hidden to us, if we are to understand
our nature and deal with it properly.
Extracted from The
Art of Living as taught by S. N. Goenka
and written in English by William Hart.
ISBN 81-7414-008-5
Mind
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