Human Evolution: Clearing out the deadwood - developing the body - tuning the mind - accessing the spirit
The Human Mind
Vipassana-bhavana
Vipassana
is often described as being a
flash
of insight, a sudden intuition of truth.
The description is correct, but in fact there
is a step-by-step method which meditators can use to advance to the
point
that they are capable of such intuition. The method is
Vipassana-Bhavana,
the development of insight, commonly called Vipassana meditation.
The
word passana means "seeing", the
ordinary
sort of vision that we have with open eyes. Vipassana means a special
kind
of vision; observation of the reality within oneself. This is achieved
by taking as the object of attention one's own physical sensations. The
technique is the systematic and dispassionate observance of sensations
within
oneself. The observation unfolds the entire reality of mind and body.
Why
sensation? First because it is by
sensation
that we experience reality directly. Unless something comes into
contact
with the five physical senses, or the mind, it does not exist for us.
These
are the gates through which we encounter the world, the bases for all
experience.
And whenever anything comes into contact with the six sensory bases, a
sensation occurs. The Buddha decribe the process as follows: "If
someone
takes two sticks and rubs one against the other, then from the friction
heat is generated, and a spark is produced. In the same way, as a
result
of a contact to be experienced as pleasant, a pleasant sensation
arises.
As a result of a contact to be experienced as unpleasant, an unpleasant
sensation arises. As a result of a contact to be experienced as
neutral,
a neutral sensation arises".
The
contact of an object with mind or
body
produces
a spark of sensation. This sensation is the link through which we
experience
the world with all its phenomena, physical and mental. In order to
develop
experiential wisdom, we must become aware of what we actually
experience;
that is, we must develop awareness of sensations.
Further,
physical sensations are related
to
the
mind, and like the breath they offer a reflection of the present mental
state. When mental objects--thoughts, hopes, ideas, imaginations,
emotions,
memories, fears,--come into contact with the mind, sensations arise.
Every
thought, every emotion, every mental action, is accompanied by a
corresponding
sensation within the body. Therfore by observing the physical
sensations,
we also observe the mind.
Sensation
is indespensible in order to
explore
truth to the depths. Whatever we encounter in the world will evoke a
sensation
within the body. Sensation is the cross-roads where mind and body meet.
It arises in the body and is felt by the mind. In a dead body, or
inanimate
matter, there can be no sensation, because mind is not present. If we
are
unaware of this experience, our investigation of reality remains
incomplete,
and superficial. Just as to rid a garden of weeds we must be aware of
hidden
roots and their vital function, similarly we must be aware of
sensations,
most of which usually remain hidden to us, if we are to understand our
nature and deal with it properly.
Extracted
from The Art of Living as
taught by
S. N. Goenka and written in English by William Hart. ISBN 81-7414-008-5
Human Evolution: Clearing out the deadwood - developing the body - tuning the mind - accessing the spirit
The Human Mind
