|
Perhaps the most profound of Buddhist meditations Vipassana can move us towards self-actualization or self-realization. The true reality of an event, situation, or existence is explored within this meditation. Understanding true reality can help us move towards a more enlightened and wise form of existence.
In this meditation we take ourselves to a stage of dispassion and objectivity. Once here, we look at the way we interact with others and the world in a non-judgmental manner. Through the "four basics" we have learned how we think and where we are in our existence. Through the breathing meditation we have learned concentration and attention, so now we apply everything we have learned to become the people we want to be. If we want to be more loving in our lives we must become more kindly with the ourselves and the world. For this we go into Vipassana meditation and look at the components of an event that creates our anger. Here in a non-judgment way we look at all the parts of an event, what they truly consist of, and how we can become what we truly want to be.
Perhaps an example may assist since the concepts within this meditation are difficult to understand and work with. Firstly, when someone cuts us off in traffic do we really want to be angry. Although the adrenaline really flows we are hurt and then depressed. In Vipassana we would look at this event and first determine if we wanted to continue in this manner or not. We would not judge the event good or bad, but whether this reaction is to our advantage or disadvantage. If it is a disadvantage then this is baggage we need to let go.
For the next stage we look at all the components that could make up this situation and apply understanding. The experience of feeling cut off in traffic has many causes and components. The other driver is interacting with his or her vehicle. They moved into our lane through there hands turning a steering wheel, there feet moving over peddles, and their eyes judging distances. There may also be emotional conditions that the person was feeling that may have caused these actions. They may have a family member in the hospital that they are rushing to see, an argument that they are running away from, physical pain, or grief that is consuming them. This person may have poor eyesight or skills in judging distance. They may need to get to the airport to pick up a loved one or to fly to them. This person moving into our lane is full of many dependent (dependent origination) components.
So why were we so sensitive about them moving into our lane so quickly? Now we look at the weave within the web. There is no doubt that someone moving into our lane has potential danger but mindfulness of where we are can easily prevent an accident, so why were we reactionary and how do we diffuse our feelings in such a manner we constructively grow and become the loving person we are? There are a myriad of events, thoughts, and feelings that could have caused this person to react inappropriately. There are a myriad of actions and reactions that can either increase or decrease a situation or feeling.
Through our breathing let us look at the holes in the web of this situation as we look at the gaps between our breath and understand the varying components that flow within this situation that we may or may not understand. Understanding a situation from another's point of view can assist us to de-escalate our hypersensitivity. We can look at this situation and see how we would prefer to act. In Vipassana because we are devoid of passion we can look at these feelings and not suppress them instead we can look at them constructively and make logical choices in how we prefer to act. If they have grief in their heart and we honk our horn or wave our fist we have not made them aware of their poor driving but made them hurt more or be confused. Because of our action they become so distraught they act inappropriately and mat crash. If we could not react with anger but with loving-kindness they will get safely to their destination and maybe in refection they will that their pain caused them to cut off another person and so be a danger to themselves and others. Changing our actions changes the effect. This cause and action is Karma and our thought process and mind are their governor.
Now in Vipassana we can change what we consider appropriate and inappropriate. We can see each component as it truly is and without the emotions that cause misunderstanding of reality. After all water is just water and only becomes associate with an emotion because we attached a reaction to it. Through understand how we think (through the four basics), diffusing our emotional perceptions or attachments, right action, right effort, right mindfulness, and concentration we can then move into a wiser and more poised way of acting that brings us into a middle path.
This is the most complex form of meditation, but as Bhante gently reminds us that leg pain is just leg pain we can re-fabricate how we perceive, think, and act. The work is ours and the path difficult but the result is so simple. We become joy within our world.