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Vipassana or Anapanasati?
Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 12:42 am
by Collective
Does anyone have a summary of the differences between Vipassana and Anapanasati?
Thank
you
Re: Vipassana or Anapanasati?
Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 12:52 am
by mikenz66
Hi Collective,
This is a huge topic, which we've discussed at various times:
http://dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=3584" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=3539" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1997" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=3019" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Here's my take on it (based on teachers I respect):
http://www.dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.ph ... t=0#p43682" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
What is the connection with meditation? Here I quoted U Pandita:
http://dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1311#p18145" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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
Re: Vipassana or Anapanasati?
Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 6:49 am
by Bhikkhu Pesala
Re: Vipassana or Anapanasati?
Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 9:41 am
by baratgab
Collective wrote: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
Re: Vipassana or Anapanasati?
Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 10:25 am
by puthujjana
Re: Vipassana or Anapanasati?
Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 8:11 pm
by Collective
Thank you all very much
Re: Vipassana or Anapanasati?
Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2010 12:46 am
by 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?
Re: Vipassana or Anapanasati?
Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2010 12:48 am
by bodom
Collective wrote: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?
Re: Vipassana or Anapanasati?
Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2010 1:03 am
by Modus.Ponens
Collective wrote: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.
Re: Vipassana or Anapanasati?
Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2010 1:09 am
by retrofuturist
Greetings Collective,
Collective wrote: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.
Re: Vipassana or Anapanasati?
Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2010 9:33 am
by Collective
bodom wrote:Collective wrote: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
Re: Vipassana or Anapanasati?
Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2010 9:33 am
by Collective
Modus.Ponens wrote:Collective wrote: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
Re: Vipassana or Anapanasati?
Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2010 9:35 am
by Collective
retrofuturist wrote:Greetings Collective,
Collective wrote:Lately though I've been reading 'eyes closed'.
That's a pretty impressive achievement....
Good one
retrofuturist wrote:
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.
Re: Vipassana or Anapanasati?
Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2010 10:26 am
by 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.
Re: Vipassana or Anapanasati?
Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2010 4:40 pm
by 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