VIPASSANA MEDITATION: PURIFICATION OF THE MIND
What is Vipassana?
Vipassana is a meditation technique that it is said to be the oldest Buddhist meditation practice taught directly by Buddha. This type of meditation has remained in its original form until today and it is a simple but very powerful technique which final result is purification of the mind.
How does this purification work?
According to Buddhism all the suffering/unhappiness comes from two sensations we constantly experience: craving & aversion. Whenever we experience something pleasant we generate craving and clinging. We want it so badly that not having that makes us unhappy. Whenever we experience something unpleasant we generate aversion or hatred, we want to get rid of it and as we can't we suffer. The craving of the pleasant sensation and the aversion of the unpleasant is what makes us be unhappy and makes us suffering. These sensations can be experienced at a physical and at a mental level.
The way Vipassana meditation works is by concentrating on our bodies so we get to experience these sensations at a physical level first and we get to the realisation that pleasant and unpleasant sensations have the same intrinsic characteristic: they arise and pass away.
Due to mind & body being connected, as we continuously experience this at a physical level, the mind also gets to understanding the same phenomena at a deeper level: that pleasant as well as unpleasant sensations or feelings or emotions have the same nature of arising and passing away. If we practice long enough the mind is transformed and this resetting of the mind reduces and eventually stops generating these sensations of craving and aversion. This is how we purify the mind.
How do we practice?
- We will scan the body from the crown of the head to the tip of the toes and back. We focus on each part of the body at a time with complete focus on observing any physical sensation.
- As we do so we aim to do nothing about it, we don’t try to stop it by moving or scratching the body, we simply observe with full awareness.
- At the beginning you will be guided, then you can continue sacanning the body on your own for few minutes.
- If you lose concentration you can return to your breathing and to the area at the entrance of the nostrils for a few breaths and then start scanning the body again.
- You can meditate on the intrinsic nature of mental and physical sensations: If the sensation is pleasant, it will pass away. Why to generate craving? It will pass.
- If the sensation is unpleasant, it will pass away. Why to generate aversion? It is just a waste of time. This will also pass.
- You can finalise with few minutes of love and compassion meditation. Connecting with the love within you, expanding this energy and vibration to those in the room, outside, neighbour, city, etc. Remembering we are all the same, we all want to be happy, we all want to be free from suffering. Repeat in your mind the mantra, May all be in peace, safe, happy. May all be free from suffering. May all be happy.
If you are planning to start a yoga and meditation practice you will be in need of a good yoga mat. Your mat will become that special place where you connect deeply with your real self. I recommend you to get a yoga mat that provides good cushion and a soft and washable surface where you can feel comfortable. You might also want to choose a designs that inspire peace and helps you feel relax. If you want something unique, check out my collection of Eco friendly yoga mats designed in Australia. They feature original artwork hand-painted by myself and printed on the mats. They are high quality and provide great cushion for meditation as well as yoga and pilates.
Wish you a happy journey and a happy life.
Love,
Claudia,