Page 8 - Dhamma Practice

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vipassana. As these conscious phenomena occur, whichever that is the most apparent to the mind, that is the present conscious phenomenon.
For example, when we close our eyes to wilfully contemplate the inflate-deflate phenomenon—the inflation of the stomach as we inhale and the deflation of the stomach as we exhale. At that moment, the inflate-deflate phenomenon is the clearest, therefore the present conscious phenomenon is inflate-deflate. If we sit and the inflate-deflate phenomenon of our stomach is not clear but, rather, we feel some throbbing around the chest area, then that is where we should contemplate the present conscious phenomenon. This is part of the observation of the physical self. When we practice vipassana, another present phenomenon that often occurs is sensation. When we sit and sensation occurs—no matter where it is in our body—if the sensation is more apparent than the inflate-deflate phenomenon, then the present conscious phenomenon is sensation. This is the phenomenon that we must wilfully contemplate.
In addition to the sensation, thoughts are a common conscious phenomenon that could occur. As we sit down to practice vipassana, we are bombarded by numerous thoughts. Breathing and the inflate-deflate phenomenon is not clear; sensation is not present; the only thing that dominates is our thoughts. At that moment, thoughts are our present conscious phenomenon. This