This book is written by a lay practitioner of Vipassana (Vipashyana) Meditation who sought in it, and to a degree, found an inexhaustible storehouse of peace and tranquillity, an instrument of self analysis, an art of unruffled living, and above all, a spiritual practice devoid of all unscientific beliefs and rituals, dogmas and superstition.
The aim is merely to present to the aspiring seekers enough information about this beautiful technique of meditation which has stood the test of twenty five centuries, taken many of its practitioners to great spiritual heights and changed millions of lives for the better. Right from the moment one gets down to it, a feeling of calm and inner peace, compassion and willingness to share one's merits, starts dawning. The aim is certainly not to compare this technique with others, except to say that vipashyana is simple, scientific and absolutely free from any religiosity. All can practise it and obtain immediate relief from oppressive mental problems. It needs no guru to constantly lead one, and makes the meditator strong and self-reliant.
Most of what has been written in this book about Vipassana is based on the teachings of Shri Satya Narayan Goenka, the Pramukh Acharya of Vipassana International Academy. It is he who brought this precious gem from Burma (now Myanmar) to India in 1969 as a gift from his Guru, Sayagyi U Ba Khin in whose words, 'Burma owed a debt to India since the days of Asoka'. Brief accounts of the lives of these saintly persons are given in a separate chapter of this book.
I have liberally used and quoted the sayings of a large number of spiritual masters, although most of them did not practise or teach Vipashyana, and some, perhaps, had not heard of it. In their own way these masters indicated the path of spirituality and urged people to follow a saner and holier life. But so far as eradication of deeply entrenched negativities are concerned, the path of Vipashyana, as shown by the Buddha, is the 'ekaina maggo' the only path. I have no doubt about that. I have also similarly used the views of some modem thinkers, where relevant and were explaining the point better.
After knowing about the technique of Vipashyana, the noblest gift of the Buddha, one is naturally keen to know some more about the Buddha as a person, his teachings and the Buddhism. Chapters on these subjects have therefore been included.
A practitioner, who chooses to lead the life of a grahasti, and does not move to a vihara or an ashrama, has a major disadvantage : He has to struggle against numerous doubts and questions which arise in his mind from time to time, and for which he needs to seek answers from more knowledgeable practitioners. These one does not meet very often. Most practitioners come across this problem in the beginning. With a view to helping them in finding answers to their doubts, I have added a biggish chapter under the heading "SOME COMMON QUESTIONS". The answers which I have given in that chapter, a meditator should not take them as gospel truths but treat them as humble suggestions by a fellow practitioner who has not had the good fortune of living close to a Vipassana expert, except while attending vipashyana camps. Once the simple doubts are cleared, one has to find the answer himself through study and experience, the scope of which in spiritual matters is limitless. It is like an ocean and a practitioner should jump into it with courage and faith, if he wants to go far and deep.
I have said nothing original in this book. There cannot be anything original. For centuries, wiser persons - avatars, rishis, saints, sadhus, writers, even ordinary householders - have been saying these same things, in every language, in every society. I have been hearing and reading these words of wisdom from my childhood. In writing this book, I have been merely repeating their words consciously or unconsciously, having forgotten in most cases where I heard or read them. Where I did remember, I have acknowledged their authorship. Where I have failed to acknowledge, I seek the pardon of their authors.
I have used Pali words, their Sanskrit versions and English translations rather indistinctly, hoping that the reader who has undergone even one tenday course of vipashyana meditation or who has gone through the glossary at the end of the book will not find any difficulty in understanding them.
Art (289)
Biography (239)
Buddha (1969)
Children (95)
Deities (48)
Healing (35)
Hinduism (56)
History (544)
Language & Literature (464)
Mahayana (413)
Mythology (91)
Philosophy (456)
Sacred Sites (115)
Tantric Buddhism (90)
Send as free online greeting card
Email a Friend
Manage Wishlist