Module 5: Foundations of Buddhist Meditation II: Vipashyana and the Four Applications of Mindfulness · The Buddha’s Path
An introduction to the four close applications of mindfulness, the foundation of Buddhist insight (vipashyana) practice.
Vipashyana (Pali: vipassanā) means to ‘see things as they really are’. It is one of India’s most ancient techniques of meditation, taught by the Buddha 2,600 years ago. A central message of the Buddha’s teachings is that the mind can be permanently freed through the union of meditative quiescence (shamatha) and contemplative insight (vipashyana). Vipashyana practice aims to cultivate deep understanding and realisation of the true nature of our reality. This includes examining the Three Marks of Existence: impermanence, suffering, and not-self. A central theme is the cultivation of discerning mindfulness, in which we distinguish between phenomena presented to our senses and the conceptual projections that we impose on reality. Everyone is welcome, whether you are new to this or have practised for years. Module 5 is part of The Buddha’s Path, our foundational study programme.
What this course covers
- Mindfulness of the body
- Mindfulness of feelings
- Mindfulness of the mind
- Mindfulness of phenomena
- The Three Marks of Existence: impermanence, suffering and not-self
- Discerning mindfulness: telling phenomena from the projections we impose on them
Sessions
- Session 1 - Mindfulness of the Body 91 minutes
- Session 2 - Mindfulness of Feelings 84 minutes
- Session 3 - Mindfulness of the Mind 85 minutes
- Session 4 - Mindfulness of Phenomena 77 minutes