Vipassana or Anapanasati?

[Collective]

Does anyone have a summary of the differences between Vipassana and Anapanasati?

Thank you

[mikenz66]

Hi Collective,

This is a huge topic, which we've discussed at various times:
viewtopic.php?f=17&t=3584
viewtopic.php?f=17&t=3539
viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1997
viewtopic.php?f=17&t=3019

Here's my take on it (based on teachers I respect):

http://www.dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.ph ... t=0#p43682
What is the connection with meditation? Here I quoted U Pandita:
viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1311#p18145

Ānāpānasati can take two directions. If the meditator strives to be mindful of the form or manner of the in-breath and the out-breath, then it is samatha meditation and leads to one pointed of mind. On the other hand, if the meditator notes the sensation of the in-breath and out-breath as it moves and touches, then it is vipassanā meditation. The element of wind or motion (vayo-dhātu) is rūpa or matter, while the awareness or consciousness of the sensation is nāma or mind.


I.e. insight involves examining paramattha dhammas, not concepts. However, as U Pandida indicates, concepts are useful for samatha.

Metta
Mike

[Bhikkhu Pesala]

See A Manual of Respiration

[baratgab]

Does anyone have a summary of the differences between Vipassana and Anapanasati?

Thank you

I guess my recommendations are starting to be rather one-sided (from "dry vipassana" perspective), but I just listened to a talk from Ajahn Brahmali on this subject, and I found it quite good. If you are interested in an easily understandable, but comprehensive and insightful talk regarding the role and relation of these aspects of meditation, you might want to check it out; it's just 50 minutes long:

Samatha and Vipassana

[puthujjana]

"A yogi can practice both insight meditation and concentration meditation (vipassanã and samatha bhavanã) well within ãnãpãnasati bhavanã (mindfulness of the in-breath and the out-breath)..."

http://nissaranawanaya.wordpress.com/how-to-meditate/

http://vipassana.com/meditation/dhammajiva/index.php

[Collective]

Thank you all very much

[Collective]

Should eyes be open or closed?

I thought nothing of this as most of what I read and/or heard said eyes open.

Lately though I've been reading 'eyes closed'. Which is it?

[bodom]

Should eyes be open or closed?

I thought nothing of this as most of what I read and/or heard said eyes open.

Lately though I've been reading 'eyes closed'. Which is it?

Which do you prefer?

[Modus.Ponens]

Should eyes be open or closed?

I thought nothing of this as most of what I read and/or heard said eyes open.

Lately though I've been reading 'eyes closed'. Which is it?

I find that open eyes can be distractive. The image starts to blur, I don't know where to focus my eyes... With my eyes closed I don't have these problems.

[retrofuturist]

Greetings Collective,

Lately though I've been reading 'eyes closed'.

That's a pretty impressive achievement....

Seriously though, my experience has been like Modus.Ponens's. In fact, the eyes just want to close on their own and it becomes more comfortable to keep them closed.

Metta,
Retro.

[Collective]

Should eyes be open or closed?

I thought nothing of this as most of what I read and/or heard said eyes open.

Lately though I've been reading 'eyes closed'. Which is it?

Which do you prefer?

Definitely eyes closed. Easier to focus

[Collective]

Should eyes be open or closed?

I thought nothing of this as most of what I read and/or heard said eyes open.

Lately though I've been reading 'eyes closed'. Which is it?

I find that open eyes can be distractive. The image starts to blur, I don't know where to focus my eyes... With my eyes closed I don't have these problems.

Exactly how I feel

[Collective]

Greetings Collective,

Lately though I've been reading 'eyes closed'.

That's a pretty impressive achievement....

Good one

Seriously though, my experience has been like Modus.Ponens's. In fact, the eyes just want to close on their own and it becomes more comfortable to keep them closed.

Metta,
Retro.

I think my next session will be eyes closed too. Comes as a bit of relief as well as there's less distractions.

[PeterB]

Collective, there comes a point where we can start confusing ourselves. We can ask for advice about the broad-brush approaches to different practices. But eventually it comes down to trial and error and what works for us. And that might differ from person to person. It is understandible that we should want all our ducks lined up before we start, but doesnt actually work that way.

[Collective]

Just sat for 20 minutes, eyes closed, and it was different.

After I'd settled, I got mental images, probably just the mind playing tricks. Iwasn't tired, like dozing off, but I was relaxed. I couldn't make out anything definite, just a lot of fuzzy images. I also felt nauseous at one point, and I also got the subtle feeling of spinning? I think at one point I also expereinced a slight pressure in my chest which disconcerted me for a brief while - but I son got back to the breath.

It was all in all though, an enjoyable expereince, different from open eyes meditation. Different in the ways described above.

Thank you

[Kenshou]

That all sounds pretty typical, Collective. When your eyes are closed, many bodily sensations can seem much more intense than usual, sometimes quite odd. The longer and more you sit, the more unfamiliar and disconcerting feelings tend to evaporate as the mind stills. And still other feelings more intense but pleasant can arise.

Just keep watching that breath!

[Collective]

That all sounds pretty typical, Collective. When your eyes are closed, many bodily sensations can seem much more intense than usual, sometimes quite odd. The longer and more you sit, the more unfamiliar and disconcerting feelings tend to evaporate as the mind stills. And still other feelings more intense but pleasant can arise.

Just keep watching that breath!

Will do

And thank you