You may find Vipassana meditation is just the right style for you. Rather than just being for relaxation or ‘chilling out,’ this form of meditation has lofty goals in mind - none other than pursuing enlightenment.
Vipassana meditation is an ancient Indian art, having been practised and taught in India – and now elsewhere – for over 2500 years. Originally developed by Guatama the Buddha as a healing and enlightening practise, Vipassana meditation brings insight to those who do it.
Practising Vipassana meditation is also known as observing the Art of Living, as Buddha called it, and is also called Insight meditation, encouraging practitioners to ‘see things the way they really are.’
Because Vipassana meditation encourages one to look at both their inside and ‘outside’ worlds through enlightened eyes, seeing things more and more as they are in ultimate reality, this type of meditation is said to have the ability to cure a wide variety of ailments. By improving our understanding of and control over our bodies’ inner workings, we enhance our ability to heal and cultivate health.
Vipassana meditation involves far more than just meditating: many lifestyle and ethical choices are involved as well. For instance, choosing not to lie, kill, steal, consume intoxicants, etc., is part of the practice.
Students/followers develop their abilities to concentrate, to focus on and control their breathing, etc., as well as working on their commitment to higher and purer living as a whole, ultimately seeking enlightenment.
For a video on Vipassana meditation, click here.
