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?
Is "Vipassana Meditation" A Correct Term?
Is "Vipassana Meditation" A Correct Term?
In reading the scriptures, there are two kinds of mistakes:
One mistake is to cling to the literal text and miss the inner principles.
The second mistake is to recognize the principles but not apply them to your own mind, so that you waste time and just make them into causes of entanglement.
One mistake is to cling to the literal text and miss the inner principles.
The second mistake is to recognize the principles but not apply them to your own mind, so that you waste time and just make them into causes of entanglement.
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Re: Is "Vipassana Meditation" A Correct Term?
Yes, they do. Ānāpāna: Samatha or Vipassanā?Jhana4 wrote:Do Theravada monks refer to Theravada Buddhist meditation techniques as "vipassana bhavana"?
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.
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Re: Is "Vipassana Meditation" A Correct Term?
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: http://www.dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.ph ... 34#p114880" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
on vipassana and 'sweeping'.
Ben
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: http://www.dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.ph ... 34#p114880" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
on vipassana and 'sweeping'.
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
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- 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
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Re: Is "Vipassana Meditation" A Correct Term?
Greetings,
Metta,
Retro.
My preference is to regard it as satipaṭṭhāna, but I agree with venerale Pesala's logic.Bhikkhu Pesala wrote: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.
Metta,
Retro.
"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
Re: Is "Vipassana Meditation" A Correct Term?
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
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
Re: Is "Vipassana Meditation" A Correct Term?
Hi M,
kind regards
Ben
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.meindzai wrote: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
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 Relief • UNHCR
e: [email protected]..
- 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 Relief • UNHCR
e: [email protected]..
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Re: Is "Vipassana Meditation" A Correct Term?
In terms of insight, when can we say we are 'seeing deeply' (vi-passa)?
With metta
Matheesha
With metta
Matheesha
With Metta
Karuna
Mudita
& Upekkha
Karuna
Mudita
& Upekkha
Re: Is "Vipassana Meditation" A Correct Term?
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?
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Re: Is "Vipassana Meditation" A Correct Term?
Hi miswe,mlswe wrote: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?
I wondered if you were commenting on my question?
With metta
Matheesha
With Metta
Karuna
Mudita
& Upekkha
Karuna
Mudita
& Upekkha
Re: Is "Vipassana Meditation" A Correct Term?
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.
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Re: Is "Vipassana Meditation" A Correct Term?
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
With metta
Matheesha
With Metta
Karuna
Mudita
& Upekkha
Karuna
Mudita
& Upekkha
Re: Is "Vipassana Meditation" A Correct Term?
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
Peace
Re: Is "Vipassana Meditation" A Correct Term?
Jhana4 wrote: 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" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Sometimes as Appropriate attention (yoniso manasikāro)
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Re: Is "Vipassana Meditation" A Correct Term?
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.