Is "Vipassana Meditation" A Correct Term?

[Jhana4]

First things first, it is my belief that once a term takes off, there is no getting it back. If you try, you just end up looking like a frustrated jerk. Terms, right or wrong have a life of their own. I think this is the case with the term "Vipassana Meditation" in the West.

Most Westerners are familiar with the term from going on retreats where they follow videos of S.N. Goenka. To them "Vipassana" refers to the technique Goenka calls "sweeping" ( what is the proper name? ).

Western meditation book authors and teachers also use the term "Vipassana Meditation", though they are slightly more on target as they use it to refer to Theravada Buddhist meditation techniques in general.

I know that "vipassana" is an ancient Pali word for "insight into the true nature of something" and that "meditation" in an English word that doesn't mean the same thing as "bhavana" which means "to draw out, to develop".

Do Theravada monks refer to Theravada Buddhist meditation techniques as "vipassana bhavana"? If not, what do they call it?

[Bhikkhu Pesala]

Do Theravada monks refer to Theravada Buddhist meditation techniques as "vipassana bhavana"?

Yes, they do. Ānāpāna: Samatha or Vipassanā?

We can also call it Satipaṭṭhāna meditation — mindfulness meditation. Insight may or may not arise when we practise meditation — it depends on how diligent we are. However, if the aim is to gain insight and not just to gain tranquillity or mystic powers, then we can rightly call it Vipassanā meditation.

[Ben]

Greetings Jhana4
Vipassana meditation relates to a number of Kamanthana exercises that help to cultivate that special wisdom known as vipassana. Ledi Sayadaw also refers to vipassana meditation as 'insight exercises'. You may wish to read my post here: viewtopic.php?f=35&t=7234#p114880
on vipassana and 'sweeping'.

Ben

[retrofuturist]

Greetings,

We can also call it Satipaṭṭhāna meditation — mindfulness meditation. Insight may or may not arise when we practise meditation — it depends on how diligent we are. However, if the aim is to gain insight and not just to gain tranquillity or mystic powers, then we can rightly call it Vipassanā meditation.

My preference is to regard it as satipaṭṭhāna, but I agree with venerale Pesala's logic.

Metta,
Retro.

[meindzai]

All meditation involves cultivating both vipassana and samatha, so in that sense "vipassana meditation" is to me a little bit misleading, but I just take it as "using techniques that emphasize the development of vipassana."

And we have to accept that "meditation" has become a replacement for "bhavana" which is understandable but can unfortunately lead to a de-emphasis on the fact that in meditation we are supposed to be "cultivating" something, whether it be insight, samatha, metta, etc.

-M

[Ben]

Hi M,

All meditation involves cultivating both vipassana and samatha, so in that sense "vipassana meditation" is to me a little bit misleading, but I just take it as "using techniques that emphasize the development of vipassana."

And we have to accept that "meditation" has become a replacement for "bhavana" which is understandable but can unfortunately lead to a de-emphasis on the fact that in meditation we are supposed to be "cultivating" something, whether it be insight, samatha, metta, etc.

-M

In my experience, the term is used as a form of shorthand, even if some of those students using the term aren't aware of it. Within the context of a ten-day course, over 1/3 of the time is devoted to developing samatha. One requires both samatha and vipassana, and even if one's primary focus is samatha or vipassana, one can't develop one without some development of the other.
kind regards

Ben

[rowyourboat]

In terms of insight, when can we say we are 'seeing deeply' (vi-passa)?

With metta

Matheesha

[mlswe]

i have heard that one of the reasons the dhamma will be fading and ultimately lost is because misuse of the pali, this seem intuitevly very reasonable. Can we therefore be true practitioners without ardently and skillfully and to the best of our ability correct terms where they are obviously missapplied? Keeping the dhamma alive for the welfare of ourselves, the welfare of others, the welfare of the whole world is the ultimate compassion, no?

[rowyourboat]

i have heard that one of the reasons the dhamma will be fading and ultimately lost is because misuse of the pali, this seem intuitevly very reasonable. Can we therefore be true practitioners without ardently and skillfully and to the best of our ability correct terms where they are obviously missapplied? Keeping the dhamma alive for the welfare of ourselves, the welfare of others, the welfare of the whole world is the ultimate compassion, no?

Hi miswe,

I wondered if you were commenting on my question?

With metta

Matheesha

[mlswe]

no, more something i had pondered and the vipassana meditation term was the term that started this pondering. It was thoughts i wanted to "get out there" among fellow practitioners and the thread seemed fitting at the time, perhaps in hindsight a better topic of its own, if hijacking and distracting let me know and ill remove and start a topic.

[rowyourboat]

IMO we can say we are 'vipassana-ing' when we are seeing one of the three characteristics predominantly and when this is the goal/main focus of our practice.

With metta

Matheesha

[Peace]

I follow satipathana meditation. The description is pretty clear in the Pali canon: first breathing, then body in the body, feelings in the feelings, etc. I do not think this follows under the postings I've read for vipassana meditation. Please be mindful, we're each lamps unto ourselves. Search and investigate on your own--don't be too swayed by someone else's input. If it works for you--go for it! If not, continue strive and investigate.

Peace

[Alex123]

Do Theravada monks refer to Theravada Buddhist meditation techniques as "vipassana bhavana"? If not, what do they call it?

They may. But it is not really a technique. You can't practice insight. Insight is what occurs as development of deep understanding. Other words that can be used are: kammaṭṭhāna, paṭipadā, bhāvanā.

Sometimes the Buddha used this word Dhammānudhammapaṭipanna (practicing the Dhamma in accordance with the Dhamma)
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html


Sometimes as Appropriate attention (yoniso manasikāro)
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html

[pilgrim]

I would say it's a conventional term in common usage today, but inaccurate as "vipassana" is used as an adjective giving the impression that it is a technique using an existing skill, when actually it is the objective of the practice.