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Samatha is essentially the practice Ānāpāna, which is the practice take benefit of his Teachings. So
for concentration of mind. It is of maintaining awareness of there are different types of people
also called Samādhi. Vipasannā the natural, normal breath, as it and therefore, our endeavor should
Meditation requires a meditator to comes in, as it goes out. Without only be to let them know about
undergo three-steps. One, maintain controlling it in anyway, in its vipassanā and how it can help
ethical conduct, also known as Sīla. absolutely natural state. It is real them overcome suffering through
Two, learn to concentrate the mind, object, as well as comparatively their own personal experiential
also called Samādhi. Third, gain subtle, allowing meditator to gain wisdom rather than dependence
insight into the true nature of all insights at the subtler levels. on someone else. If people can
mental and material phenomena, understand and accept that our
also called paññā. So, Samatha Vipassanā meditation is also own habit patterns are responsible
is essentially the second step of taught in a secular environment, for our suffering and that purifying
Vipassanā Meditation. especially in the West today. What our mind of these habit patterns
aspects of the religious element and inculcating skillful habits will

Lord Buddha gave forty meditation in Vipassanā meditation can we automatically bring us peace and
objects to practice Samatha. A remove in order for it to appeal to happiness, then chances are that a
meditator was instructed to practice a non-religious audience and yet considerable number of people will
Samatha using any one of the forty retain its original character and want to take benefit of Vipassanā
meditation objects, depending efficacy? Meditation while the technique is
on their mental make-up, also still available to the world.
known as carita. Once a meditator Considering that out of the 82,000
learns to concentrate the mind discourses of Lord of Buddha, not The original aim of Vipassanā
using a suitable meditation object, even one relates to any religious meditation is enlightenment,
he can progress to the third-step idea, nor is it seen in the 2000 and not to cure physical diseases.
of vipassanā with the help of his discourses by his leading disciples, However, as a by-product of
concentrated mind. it should be clear that the Teaching mental purification, many
of Buddha is not a religious one, psychosomatic diseases are
The objects can be gross or subtle. at the outset. Buddha discovered, eradicated. How much scientific
As our Principal Teacher Shri S practiced and taught the universal evidence do we have of the
N Goenka explained to us, as the principles of mind & matter benefits of Vipassanā mediation?
meditators progress, they must phenomena and how it could be
work on subtler and subtler objects used to overcome suffering. Vipassanā Research Institute (VRI)
of meditation. This is essential to in Mumbai, India has partnered
help the meditator gain insight In Dhammapada, Buddha says that with NIMHANS in Bengaluru, India,
about the ultimate nature of all all Buddhas teach people to refrain a premier institute involved in
mental and material phenomena at from evil deeds, cultivate wholesome studies in the area of mental health,
the subtlest level. actions, and to keep purifying the to study the effect of vipassanā on
mind of all unskillful habit patterns. meditators. It may be better if VRI
The object can be imaginary or real. is directly approached in this regard
However, as we work on the path to Where is the religion in that? to share their research work.
learn the ultimate truth, it is essential
to use real meditation objects, as It benefits whoever practices it. In a long-term Vipassanā retreat,
prescribed by Lord Buddha. During the time of Lord Buddha, you are cut off from external
while a very large section of Indian stimuli and human contact,
In today’s world, the commonly Society took refuge in his Teachings, and sometimes these changes
prescribed meditation object is yet there were people who did not can manifest as confusion,