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 describes 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. Therefore by observing the physical sensations, we also observe the mind.

Sensation is indispensable 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