Satipatthana Vipassana Meditation in Daily Life

On the cultivation of insight/wisdom
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Bhikkhu Pesala
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Satipatthana Vipassana Meditation in Daily Life

Post by Bhikkhu Pesala »

It is often asked is how to practise insight meditation in daily life — outside of the intensive and very supportive retreat environment. In response to a private message, I will answer the questions here for the benefit of all.

Vipassanā means insight, while Satipaṭṭhāna means to set up and establish mindfulness. Since insight won't arise until one successfully establishes mindfulness and deep concentration, it is more accurate to talk about practising mindfulness meditation (Satipaṭṭhāna) than practising insight meditation (Vipassanā).

The essential feature of insight meditation is that it relies on gaining knowledge of ultimate realities. Much of what we do in daily life relies on skill in handling concepts, not on understanding ultimate realities. There is a conflict of interests — to do a job of work, much of your time will be spent dealing with concepts. Even writing a post on a Dhamma forum is all about dealing with concepts (i.e. words and ideas), not realities. Unless your job of work involves some repetitive practical skill, it may be difficult to practise the kind of mindfulness that can understand and penetrate realities.

Nevertheless, there are many things that we must do every day that do lend themselves to practising mindfulness of the right kind — the bare awareness that can lead to knowledge of phenomena as mental and physical processes. Those daily chores, and commuting to and from work, can often be a good opportunity to cultivate mindfulness of realities.

A lay meditator especially, must learn to make the mind very flexible, very adaptable, and quickly switch attention between handling concepts and knowing realities.

Other meditation techniques, such as the divine abidings, will make social interaction much less abrasive, and keep the mind soft and pliable, yet also tough and resilient. When interacting with other beings, whether humans or animals, bare awareness may not be the appropriate method.
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bodom
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Re: Satipatthana Vipassana Meditation in Daily Life

Post by bodom »

Thank you Bhante.

:anjali:
Liberation is the inevitable fruit of the path and is bound to blossom forth when there is steady and persistent practice. The only requirements for reaching the final goal are two: to start and to continue. If these requirements are met there is no doubt the goal will be attained. This is the Dhamma, the undeviating law.

- BB
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Cittasanto
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Re: Satipatthana Vipassana Meditation in Daily Life

Post by Cittasanto »

:anjali:

Image
Blog, Suttas, Aj Chah, Facebook.

He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that. His reasons may be good, and no one may have been able to refute them.
But if he is equally unable to refute the reasons on the opposite side, if he does not so much as know what they are, he has no ground for preferring either opinion …
...
He must be able to hear them from persons who actually believe them … he must know them in their most plausible and persuasive form.
John Stuart Mill
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Virgo
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Re: Satipatthana Vipassana Meditation in Daily Life

Post by Virgo »

Good post Bhante.

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Lombardi4
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Re: Satipatthana Vipassana Meditation in Daily Life

Post by Lombardi4 »

Thank you, Bhante. :anjali:
Sanghamitta
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Re: Satipatthana Vipassana Meditation in Daily Life

Post by Sanghamitta »

Bhikkhu Pesala wrote:It is often asked is how to practise insight meditation in daily life — outside of the intensive and very supportive retreat environment. In response to a private message, I will answer the questions here for the benefit of all.

Vipassanā means insight, while Satipaṭṭhāna means to set up and establish mindfulness. Since insight won't arise until one successfully establishes mindfulness and deep concentration, it is more accurate to talk about practising mindfulness meditation (Satipaṭṭhāna) than practising insight meditation (Vipassanā).

The essential feature of insight meditation is that it relies on gaining knowledge of ultimate realities. Much of what we do in daily life relies on skill in handling concepts, not on understanding ultimate realities. There is a conflict of interests — to do a job of work, much of your time will be spent dealing with concepts. Even writing a post on a Dhamma forum is all about dealing with concepts (i.e. words and ideas), not realities. Unless your job of work involves some repetitive practical skill, it may be difficult to practise the kind of mindfulness that can understand and penetrate realities.

Nevertheless, there are many things that we must do every day that do lend themselves to practising mindfulness of the right kind — the bare awareness that can lead to knowledge of phenomena as mental and physical processes. Those daily chores, and commuting to and from work, can often be a good opportunity to cultivate mindfulness of realities.

A lay meditator especially, must learn to make the mind very flexible, very adaptable, and quickly switch attention between handling concepts and knowing realities.

Other meditation techniques, such as the divine abidings, will make social interaction much less abrasive, and keep the mind soft and pliable, yet also tough and resilient. When interacting with other beings, whether humans or animals, bare awareness may not be the appropriate method.
Bump.

:anjali:
The going for refuge is the door of entrance to the teachings of the Buddha.

Bhikku Bodhi.
PeterB
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Re: Satipatthana Vipassana Meditation in Daily Life

Post by PeterB »

Bumpity bump.

:thumbsup:
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samadhi_steve
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Re: Satipatthana Vipassana Meditation in Daily Life

Post by samadhi_steve »

:namaste:
Buddho is something cool and calm. It's the path for giving rise to peace and contentment — the only path that will release us from the suffering and stress in this world.
Hoo
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Re: Satipatthana Vipassana Meditation in Daily Life

Post by Hoo »

:smile: Thank you Bhante! Your post is very helpful.

Hoo
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jcsuperstar
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Re: Satipatthana Vipassana Meditation in Daily Life

Post by jcsuperstar »

still liking this :anjali:
สัพเพ สัตตา สุขีตา โหนตุ

the mountain may be heavy in and of itself, but if you're not trying to carry it it's not heavy to you- Ajaan Suwat
lonewolf
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Re: Satipatthana Vipassana Meditation in Daily Life

Post by lonewolf »

Thank you Bhante.

Bumping this, as this is very beneficial.
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