Vipassana - Insight Knowledge

On the cultivation of insight/wisdom
Post Reply
User avatar
smokey
Posts: 115
Joined: Mon Jun 22, 2009 6:01 pm
Location: Budaševo, Croatia

Vipassana - Insight Knowledge

Post by smokey »

I have a question. Does anyone on this forum have any insight knowledge gained with vipassana? I know that the first insight knowledge is discrimination of mind and body, has anyone gained that knowledge? Please do state and describe your insight knowledge.

With Metta - smokey
User avatar
Ben
Posts: 18438
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 2008 12:49 am
Location: kanamaluka

Re: Vipassana - Insight Knowledge

Post by Ben »

Hi Smokey
What you are asking is an indelicate question. Most practitioners I know, online or in the 'real' world, would hesitate to answer this question directly.
Kind regards

Ben
“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.”
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road

Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725

Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar) • Buddhist Global ReliefUNHCR

e: [email protected]..
User avatar
DNS
Site Admin
Posts: 17169
Joined: Tue Dec 30, 2008 4:15 am
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, Estados Unidos de América
Contact:

Re: Vipassana - Insight Knowledge

Post by DNS »

The Zen master Roshi Kapleau was asked if he was enlightened. He responded, "if I say no, all the beginners will leave and never come back. If I say yes, all of the advanced students will leave and never come back."

A Zen master, but the response could apply to anyone from any tradition.
rowyourboat
Posts: 1952
Joined: Sat Jan 03, 2009 5:29 pm
Location: London, UK

Re: Vipassana - Insight Knowledge

Post by rowyourboat »

Hi Smokey

I know many many people who have gained this insight knowledge! It is the first one and not that difficult to gain insight into. You CAN do it with the help of meditation teacher who teaches insight meditation.

here are some clues:

moments of experiences are discrete, not continuous

every moment of experience contains a material component and a mental component

rupa: patavi,apo,tejo,vayo, nama: phassa, vedana,sanna,cetana, manasikara

the point of this insight is to understand that even a single moment of experience is made up of multiple mental and physical components- there by fracturing reality- actually seeing this, not just knowing

this is the first blow to breaking and dismantalling ignorance or avijja, hence letting go when all the reference points collapse and the drawbacks (adinava), the unsatisfactoriness is seen.

with metta
With Metta

Karuna
Mudita
& Upekkha
User avatar
Kare
Posts: 767
Joined: Sun Feb 01, 2009 10:58 am
Location: Norway
Contact:

Re: Vipassana - Insight Knowledge

Post by Kare »

TheDhamma wrote:The Zen master Roshi Kapleau was asked if he was enlightened. He responded, "if I say no, all the beginners will leave and never come back. If I say yes, all of the advanced students will leave and never come back."

A Zen master, but the response could apply to anyone from any tradition.
:goodpost:
Mettāya,
Kåre
User avatar
smokey
Posts: 115
Joined: Mon Jun 22, 2009 6:01 pm
Location: Budaševo, Croatia

Re: Vipassana - Insight Knowledge

Post by smokey »

Ben wrote:Hi Smokey
What you are asking is an indelicate question. Most practitioners I know, online or in the 'real' world, would hesitate to answer this question directly.
Kind regards

Ben
In that case, I am sorry I asked. I apologize.

Metta - smokey
User avatar
Ben
Posts: 18438
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 2008 12:49 am
Location: kanamaluka

Re: Vipassana - Insight Knowledge

Post by Ben »

No problem.
I'm sorry I couldn't answer!
Metta

Ben
“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.”
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road

Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725

Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar) • Buddhist Global ReliefUNHCR

e: [email protected]..
User avatar
smokey
Posts: 115
Joined: Mon Jun 22, 2009 6:01 pm
Location: Budaševo, Croatia

Re: Vipassana - Insight Knowledge

Post by smokey »

Ben wrote:No problem.
I'm sorry I couldn't answer!
Metta

Ben
No problem. Thank you anyway.

Metta - smokey
flyingOx
Posts: 143
Joined: Mon May 04, 2009 4:08 pm

Re: Vipassana - Insight Knowledge

Post by flyingOx »

Kare wrote:
TheDhamma wrote:The Zen master Roshi Kapleau was asked if he was enlightened. He responded, "if I say no, all the beginners will leave and never come back. If I say yes, all of the advanced students will leave and never come back."

A Zen master, but the response could apply to anyone from any tradition.
:goodpost:
And VERY rediculous on BOTH sides, if you ask me. In the Christian tradition, salvation is celebrated and expected to be proclaimed by all who reach it. Since it is something that they all are expected to reach, and because it was not out of something that they did, but rather out of submitting, they automatically see it as something humble. It's too bad that Buddhism didn't evolve that way as well. When you look at the Gotama Buddha and his earliest followers, they didn't have any objection to any kind of proclamation or find it something not worthy of talking about. Actually, they encouraged all who wanted liberation to see for themselves if it is true or not. New comers back in those days were lucky to have leaders willing to be examples by saying it like it was. Now days if a beginner has a question about whether he/she is getting it right are hushed into silence, and the leaders go hide in the dark. That is truly a sad situation if you ask me.
One is encouraged to seek the truth, but be warned if you ever find it, you will be treated as blasphemous.
User avatar
DNS
Site Admin
Posts: 17169
Joined: Tue Dec 30, 2008 4:15 am
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, Estados Unidos de América
Contact:

Re: Vipassana - Insight Knowledge

Post by DNS »

flyingOx wrote: And VERY rediculous on BOTH sides, if you ask me. In the Christian tradition, salvation is celebrated and expected to be proclaimed by all who reach it. Since it is something that they all are expected to reach, and because it was not out of something that they did, but rather out of submitting, they automatically see it as something humble. It's too bad that Buddhism didn't evolve that way as well. When you look at the Gotama Buddha and his earliest followers, they didn't have any objection to any kind of proclamation or find it something not worthy of talking about. Actually, they encouraged all who wanted liberation to see for themselves if it is true or not. New comers back in those days were lucky to have leaders willing to be examples by saying it like it was. Now days if a beginner has a question about whether he/she is getting it right are hushed into silence, and the leaders go hide in the dark. That is truly a sad situation if you ask me.
The answer is right in your post. For the Christians it is humble since they are submitting, not achieving anything. In Buddhism, it is not about submitting, but rather achieving, in Buddhism it is enlightenment. So it could not be humble to announce to the world that one is enlightened. In fact, it would be quite arrogant, because it may not be full enlightenment and even if it were, most would not recognize it, thus, an enlightened one would have not interest in proclaiming it.

The Buddha proclaimed his enlightenment, because the Dhamma had died out and he was 're-discovering' it and had to announce the re-discovery in a way that would be acceptable. I challenge you to find many instances of other monks during the Buddha's time (from the Suttas) who regularly proclaimed their enlightenment.
flyingOx
Posts: 143
Joined: Mon May 04, 2009 4:08 pm

Re: Vipassana - Insight Knowledge

Post by flyingOx »

TheDhamma wrote: The answer is right in your post. For the Christians it is humble since they are submitting, not achieving anything. In Buddhism, it is not about submitting, but rather achieving, in Buddhism it is enlightenment. So it could not be humble to announce to the world that one is enlightened. In fact, it would be quite arrogant, because it may not be full enlightenment and even if it were, most would not recognize it, thus, an enlightened one would have not interest in proclaiming it.

The Buddha proclaimed his enlightenment, because the Dhamma had died out and he was 're-discovering' it and had to announce the re-discovery in a way that would be acceptable. I challenge you to find many instances of other monks during the Buddha's time (from the Suttas) who regularly proclaimed their enlightenment.
I disagree. Enlightenment isn't something that one achieves. It is the recognition of ultimate reality that is already there. The only thing that it could be said that one does to attain it is to wake up. And like you say, if someone hasn't really awakened to the true awakening, then it is obvious that they are not truly enlightened as they have the attitude that they have accomplished something. I can go through the suttas and list them for you, but you would probably just say that they were saying something different than what I was reading into it, so what would be the point? There would be no way of convincing someone who is stubbornly convinced that something is being misinterpreted by someone else who is less knowlegable. If someone comes along and indicates that they are not truly enlightened, then just ignore them and don't follow what they say.

But why listen to me, anyway? I have already admitted to being nuts.
One is encouraged to seek the truth, but be warned if you ever find it, you will be treated as blasphemous.
User avatar
Macavity
Posts: 110
Joined: Thu Jul 09, 2009 11:36 am
Location: Thailand

Re: Vipassana - Insight Knowledge

Post by Macavity »

flyingOx wrote:In the Christian tradition, salvation is celebrated and expected to be proclaimed by all who reach it. Since it is something that they all are expected to reach, and because it was not out of something that they did, but rather out of submitting, they automatically see it as something humble.
Depending on the church, this salvation is achieved either by baptism or by baptism plus some kind of inner conversion experience. This would be more closely analogous to a Buddhist's going for refuge, not to realizing enlightenment. Buddhists don't have any problem with talking about their going for refuge.

A better analogy than the one you proposed would be between Buddhist enlightenment and Christian sainthood. It isn't usual for Christians to go about declaring themselves to be saints. In the Catholic Church, for example, such a declaration has to be made by others after one is dead.
When you look at the Gotama Buddha and his earliest followers, they didn't have any objection to any kind of proclamation or find it something not worthy of talking about.
In fact some limitations on what could be said were established by the Buddha himself in the rules for monks and nuns.
flyingOx
Posts: 143
Joined: Mon May 04, 2009 4:08 pm

Re: Vipassana - Insight Knowledge

Post by flyingOx »

Macavity wrote: Depending on the church, this salvation is achieved either by baptism or by baptism plus some kind of inner conversion experience. This would be more closely analogous to a Buddhist's going for refuge, not to realizing enlightenment. Buddhists don't have any problem with talking about their going for refuge.

A better analogy than the one you proposed would be between Buddhist enlightenment and Christian sainthood. It isn't usual for Christians to go about declaring themselves to be saints. In the Catholic Church, for example, such a declaration has to be made by others after one is dead.

In fact some limitations on what could be said were established by the Buddha himself in the rules for monks and nuns.
I suppose you are right. If someone is proclaiming some kind of position within a certain religion, then yes, it is best left up to some committee. Although you say that enlightenment is not like salvation, then I guess you are also correct, but I don't see enlightenment as being like given the title of a saint, either, it is probably more like being filled with the holy spirit. Christians say that in order to walk in the spirit, one's self has to be crucified like Christ, or to give up one's own mind for the mind of Christ. This also is something that many Christians celebrate with speaking in angelic toungues and dancing. However, I do not believe that one even has to be a Buddhist in order to experience enlightenment, and as long as someone isn't purposefully trying to deceive others, then why make a big deal about it either way. Even if someone reaches a state that isn't full enlightenment, it is still probably better than the state that they were previously in, and if they are on their way to becoming enlightened, then everything will eventually work its way out, anyway, because they will begin to feel like something is missing and continue looking towards the real awakening.

I seriously think that too many people take things way too seriously and run people off because of it.
One is encouraged to seek the truth, but be warned if you ever find it, you will be treated as blasphemous.
Sanghamitta
Posts: 1614
Joined: Wed Jul 29, 2009 9:21 am
Location: By the River Thames near London.

Re: Vipassana - Insight Knowledge

Post by Sanghamitta »

Going back to the actual topic. I think smokey its a good idea to have a relationship with a non-cyber teacher to discuss these issues. This does not imply a " guru" type relationship, just cultivating a relationship with someone who is experienced in these matters. It may be a monk or lay person.

:anjali:
The going for refuge is the door of entrance to the teachings of the Buddha.

Bhikku Bodhi.
User avatar
smokey
Posts: 115
Joined: Mon Jun 22, 2009 6:01 pm
Location: Budaševo, Croatia

Re: Vipassana - Insight Knowledge

Post by smokey »

Sanghamitta wrote:Going back to the actual topic. I think smokey its a good idea to have a relationship with a non-cyber teacher to discuss these issues. This does not imply a " guru" type relationship, just cultivating a relationship with someone who is experienced in these matters. It may be a monk or lay person.

:anjali:
Thank you for the advice.
Post Reply