Vipassana Meditation (Part -3) - The essence of Vipassana Meditation...

Vipassana focuses more on practice than rituals. So the first day itself starts with focus on breathing just in the nose, and not the whole body or abdomen. Becoming aware of the breath that is taken through the nostrils. This technique of focusing on a small area enhances our attention and accuracy to get in touch with our sensations. First it will be the entire nose, then narrowed it down to the entrance of the nose along with the triangular area above the upper lip. By this time the meditator is supposed to experience different kinds of sensations like cold, hot, itching, pain, numbness etc... around particular small area in depth.
Once you reach this point the next step is to become aware of every part of the body starting from the head to toe. It is done in bits and pieces to gain depth and accuracy. Knowing the body and becoming aware of every sensation and emotion that happens in this magnanimous creation is important as per the Vipassana tradition to live a balanced life. The more subtle you are able to get in touch with your feelings and sensations, the better you can understand the reality of life.
Vipassana basically operates on three key Buddhist principles those remain directives in human life.
1. Acceptance
2. Impermanence
3. Equanimity
First step is accepting the reality as it is. Coming to the realization that life is not just happiness alone. But it is a mixture of sorrows and happiness. It is like darkness and light. When there is darkness, the presence of light is understood. These are the polarities which life operates on. Similarly, when there is sorrow, there has to be happiness. Look at the nature, it is made of hills and valleys. When there is a hill, a valley is naturally followed. That is the simple reality of life. So the foundation of ones understanding should be acceptance of understanding the naked realities of life as it is.
Secondly, This too will pass away! Nothing is permanent. Not even the moment itself. Everything is changing. Change is the only constant in life. Every moment has a nature of arising and passing. Nothing stands firm or eternal, not even our happiness and sorrows. We start living with the foolish understanding that we are eternal. But the once you realize the principle of impermanence, you realize the futility of the belief that we hold in life.
Thirdly, life has a nature of arising and passing, it is important to keep a balance of both the situations without getting attached to either arising or passing. You be an observer, no subjective involvement. Thus maintaining equanimity in life will help you to eliminate impurities of life. According to Buddha, desire is the cause of every misery and suffering. To eliminate misery and suffering the technique Buddha propose to the world is Be an Observer.
The whole of Vipassana is about enabling human beings to reach a level of self-realization or enlightenment whereby one operates and lives life with the above principles abiding to the law of nature. Living in the moment is the key where happiness and misery are part and parcel of human existence.
Vipassana is not a quick fix solution to the problems of life, rather it makes you more and more aware of the realities of life abiding with the law of nature or universal truth (dhamma).
During the ten days of rigorous vipassana will embed the seeds in you to lead a life of awareness. It is upto you to take it or leave it. You need to continuously practice it to reach the stage of perfection in this tradition. So just doing ten days will not take you anywhere. It is just a class room session, but the real practice comes as you devout your time on a daily basis for it. Then the benefits of Vipassana will pop up in your daily life.
Well. that is more well as about the whole ten days course. However, i will be giving my own observations about it in the part -4
To be continued...
Joji Valli
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