Vipassana is a practice that started with the Theravada
dynasty. It implies an insight into the true nature of reality or clear seeing.
It could also mean superior or higher seeing. It is said to be:
"Looking
into something with clarity and precision, seeing each component as distinct
and separate, and piercing all the way through so as to perceive the most
fundamental reality of that thing."
It had disappeared in the 10th century
but was revived in the 18th century in Burma by the Toungoo and
Konbaung dynasties. But a new form came in the 19th century and
became a movement in the 20th century. American Buddhist teachers
initiated the new Vipassana movement.
Vipassana-It means to
see things as they really are. It is said to be a logical process of mental purification
via self-observation. Anything wrong within or around us upsets a human being.
There is frustration and agitation leading to disharmony. This causes
problems to self and those around us. Vipassana is said to free one from
suffering and the cause of it. It is liberation from all forms of sufferings.
Modern-day Vipassana
These are courses
conducted in various centers of the world. The students of the course are to
stay within the campus and have no contact with the outside world for 10 days.
They cannot read or write or watch TV or use mobile phones. They have to not do
any religious practices. There is a set Code of Discipline that the
participants have to obey and follow. They cannot talk with anyone except with
themselves. There has to be a noble silence. But they can put forth their
queries if any to their teachers and any material problems with the management
of the center.
The three stages are:
-Abstaining from
harmful actions such as killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, or using drugs.
-Meditation with focus
on breathing. They believe that it increases concentration and controls the
unruly mind. This is done for 3.5 days.
-Actual Vipassana. In
this, one tries to achieve wisdom or an insight.
On day 10, students
resume normal talking and are transitioning back to a regular life. Each day
starts at 4.30 am and ends at 9.30 pm. 10 hours of meditation per day with
breaks is aimed at.
The courses are free
but past students donate voluntarily to meet the expenses of boarding, lodging,
and other expenses during the course. |
| Vipassana [Source: Medium] |
The course is more of
a coping mechanism and has nothing to do with achieving super powers or wisdom.
It is elimination of negativities, complexes, and knots within a person. Those
who have a lot of it would feel benefited but those who have no or minimal of
it find no real benefit with it. It is an art of living. It means to end
daydreaming, illusion, and fantasies that are not true. It tries to overcome
self-ignorance. The practice needs to be continued at home or as intermittent
courses. It teaches moral conduct.
Studies and Vipassana
Every intervention for
peace of mind or any other physical or mental health benefit has to undergo the
process of a well-designed study. There are claims of some studies and courses
of Vipassana being done on jail inmates, police officers, and government
officers in India. The people doing the study claim that there were positive
results but there are neither proper data on it nor have these studies being
done in a randomized and controlled way. |
| Vipassana center [Source: 7 continents 1 passport] |
The Vipassana Research
Institute also state on their website that a positive impact was noted with
these courses in the field of health, education, drug addiction and business.
There are claims that it can transform human mind and character. There are no
long-term studies on benefits of the said training.
Vipassana is not the same as
mindfulness. In the former, there is a blanket command of non-reaction. But
mindfulness focuses on awareness.
A meta-analysis of Vipassana
benefits
I am sorry but I have no heartening
news on that.
An analysis of Vipassana Meditation (VM) and its
benefits in 2010 by an Italian scientist, Chiesa A revealed:
“Current studies
provided preliminary results about neurobiological and clinical changes related
to VM practice. Nonetheless, few and mainly low-quality data are available
especially for clinical studies and current results have to be considered with
caution. Further research is needed to answer critical questions about
replications, self-selection, placebo, and long-term effects of VM.”
The National Center for Complementary
and Integrative Health had also in June 2007 said:
“Scientific
research on meditation practices does not appear to have a common theoretical
perspective and is characterized by poor methodological quality. Future
research on meditation practices must be more rigorous in the design and
execution of studies and in the analysis and reporting of results.”
 |
| Nature [Source: Mindless Duck] |
Even, American Heart Association had ruled out any
positive benefits of Vipassana or other meditation techniques in lowering blood
pressure. Though a lot of studies claim positive results, methodological flaws
exist in the studies and should be addressed before reaching the conclusion
that it is beneficial or not. Modern technology used with these well-designed
studies would help to know about any benefits of it in humans.
Also, read Yoga-A meta-analysis. Is there any use of it?
I personally have seen that many (rather most) people who have taken the
course show no reaction even in places that a normal human being would.
Sometimes I wonder whether the course has helped people really or just made
them zombies. I think that it makes people go to the other extreme which is
also not right. One should hold a balance in life as much as possible. Teaching
on moral conduct and balance of life has to be ingrained from childhood and not
taken as a separate course later in adult life when moulding and imbibing are difficult.
Besides, until the benefits of Vipassana are proven by properly conducted large-scale and follow-up studies, one should avoid too much and undue faith in it.
Further reading advised:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effects_of_meditation
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