Dhamma Letter No. 52

Understanding Samatha and Vipassana (IV)

Samatha Meditation is a method widely known not only in Buddhism, but also in eras before Buddhism. It is an intensive meditation method that can be practiced in other religions.

Buddhism, however, aims at complete enlightenment and nirvana (the cessation of defilements). Samatha meditation has been used as a foundational base for methods for vipassana meditation which observes the life and death of phenomena, insight into impermanence, suffering, and non-self (無常·苦·無我). Vipassana meditation also develops wisdom (pañña). (See Dhamma Letter No. 49 ~51)

He who does not have wisdom has no jhana, and he who does not practice jhana has no wisdom. When jhana and wisdom coexist, one is near Nirvana.

- Dhammapada (法句經) 372.

This is to emphasize that the proper harmony of samatha and vipassana (정혜쌍수, 定慧雙修) leads to nirvana. Therefore, samatha and vipassana are inextricably linked. 

To be continued…

With Metta,

Ayyā Kosallā
Edited by Euna Bonovich 

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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.

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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 !