Dhamma Letter No. 51

Understanding Samatha and Vipassana (III)

Vipassanā meditation can be said to be a meditation practice that observes all phenomena as they are in reality from the perspective of impermanence (Anicca, 無常), suffering (Dukkha, 苦), and selfless-ness (Anatta, 無我) through Sati (mindfulness).

Among the meditation practices of the body, feeling, mind, and dhamma for attaining Nirvana, the state of complete happiness where all defilements disappear, the meditation on the nature of mind, especially, shows its importance for "Extinction of Defilements (See Dhamma Letter No. 11)”.

Bhikkhus, I do not say to those who know and see that suffering ceases to exist, but to those who do not know and do not see, I do not say that suffering ceases to exist.

In the case of 'I know and see.' For example, one should be able to observe and know why something is happening to the body, how it is happening, and how does it feel.

Through observing causes, observing when they disappear, and observing the conditional arising and conditionally disappearing of dhamma, one can perceive that body, feeling, mind, and dhamma only arise and disappear by the dhamma-vicaya-sambojjhaṅga (擇法覺支, one of enlightenment factors) which is investigation of the mind.

When you do this, you will come to know that there is nothing but impermanence, suffering, and without self (無常, 苦, 無我 - Dhamma Letter No. 14 ~ 21).

To be continued…

With Metta,

Ayyā Kosallā
Edited by Euna Bonovich 

---

If you have any questions related to dhamma & meditation, please feel free to ask. You can reach Ayya Kosalla directly at Bhikkhuni.Kosalla@gmail.com. 

법에 대한 질문이 있으신 분은 위의 이메일 주소로 질문을 남겨주세요.

이번 주부터 연재되는 위빠사나명상의 마음관찰에 대한 논문을 한글 원본으로 읽고 싶으신 분은 클릭해서 다운로드 받을 수 있습니다. (네이버에 PDF 첨부)

The Korean Dhamma Letter is here 담마레터.

---

Buddha Sāsanaṁ Ciraṁ Tiṭṭhatu! 
May the Buddha’s teachings last a long time!

​Bhavatu Sabba Sotiṁ ca Maṅgalaṁ ca!!  
May everyone be led on the path of peace and blessing!!

Sādhu Sādhu Sādhu !