The Essence of Vipassana Meditation Technique

This is a tribute to Buddha, Venerable Sayagyi U Ba Khin, Revered SN Goenka and the chain of teachers.

The Path of Vipassana Opened for World with the opening of the First International Vipassana Centre at Vipassana Igatpuri, India

Centers around world - http://www.vridhamma.org/centers-aroundworld

Centers in India - http://www.vridhamma.org/centers

So, what should we do so that our mind is peaceful and does not crave every second for new objects?

It is in a continuous state of creating a chain of dis-satisfaction, dis-trust and unhappiness. Indeed, there is a way to end the misery of the mind.  

Buddha, found the lost path of freedom, happiness and enlightenment. He was a spiritual scientist nobody could possibly beat in the spiritual world.

In this eternal world, many Buddhas have taken birth to rediscover the path of enlightenment which gets lost due to complexities of maintaining the pure Dhamma and the ever presence of evil.

When in penance, it soon occurred to Buddha that we are but slaves of our desires and thus get re-born again and again due to our unfulfilled desires that keep bringing us to this world in a continuous rotation of life cycles.

The rotating wheel of birth and death is the resultant life cycle of our infinite cravings. The cravings accelerate this wheel with a force that is unequalled and unparalleled in extremity, thus continuously giving fuel to a never ending chain of rebirths or reincarnations. 

So how do you think can we stop our desires?

One way could be to check the sensory organs because that’s how we come to know about our cravings.

 Do you think by killing the sources of the cravings and the external objects, people and circumstances you can kill your endless yearnings. For you think that these external factors are responsible for continuously churning out cravings, anger, passion and desires in you.

Destroying the senses (the main sensory organs are - Eyes, Ears, Skin and Tongue) do you feel you can attain freedom from desires?

It is very vital to understand that the source of commotion is inside you and not the external factors; you cannot stop cravings by curbing external stimuli because the origin of lust, greed, anger, hatred and numerous other defilements are within us.

By controlling self you can control defilements and put a stop to the chain of desires that is responsible for continuously regenerating fruits of the actions and the infinite cycle of re-births.

In Pali craving is referred as “Trishna”. Following is a Pali verse from Buddha’s teachings and a very deep connotation of the impermanence of all worldly things.

Anicca vata sankhara, uppadavaya-dhammino.
Uppajjitva nirujjhanti, tesam vupasamo sukho.
  
Impermanent truly are compounded things, by nature arising and passing away.
If they arise and are extinguished, their eradication brings happiness.

Sayagyi U Ba Khin was a brilliant scholar and administrator who was born in Rangoon, the capital of Burma, in a poor family. He was the younger of two children in a household of Burmese family which had moderate livelihood for survival. At that time, Burma was ruled by British until after the Second World War. Job advancements and opportunities were only available to people who knew English.

Sayagyi U Ba Khin was a gifted student who had a capacity to memorize his lessons to heart, and could remember English grammar book from cover to cover. Due to dire circumstances, he had o abandon his studies and look for a livelihood. During his tenure as clerk he encountered his teacher and from him took the lessons of Vipassana to spread for the benefit of humanity.

Revered Guruji SN Goenka was taught Vipassana, the theory and practical aspects of Dhamma by Sayagyi U Ba Khin. He continued to teach Vipassana to the students from every part of the world till his demise. He helped create Vipassana centers and courses throughout the world to propagate the seeds of Vipassana through his “Metta”(Loving Kindness).

Vipassana is just not another ritual, custom or a religion. It challenges our mind to reason and certainly is beyond any delusion if properly understood. Its core is very much scientific, the foundation is spirituality and there is no scope of any blind faith and devotion. It is also important to understand that it is not meant for any intellectual debates and entertainment, it is a way and philosophy to discover yourself. The technique is very authentic, genuine and very practical with no display of egos and no scope of endless philosophical preachings.

To a person who has some exposure in science, cause and effect theory, the principles can be understood very lucidly and logically. But if there are layers and layers of dogmas, beliefs and perceptions that act like barriers, it becomes difficult to absorb the depth of the preachings and the essence of Vipassana technique. Vipassana meditation is very unique and differs from other methods. It is an operation of mind where all deeply rooted defilements are erased by an operation of a sharp focused mind.

Vipassana meditation treat is not a cure or a remedy of chronic ailments although most of the illnesses that are psychomatic in nature do get eradicated. It is also not a place of rejuvenating and holidaying. One has to take vows to work hard and diligently to erase deeply rooted “Sankharas”. It does not teach us to run away from responsibilities and difficulties in our life. On the contrary, it teaches us to handle the situation better and take on the challenges of life. Vipassana is an art of living.