Introduction to Vipassana meditation (Mahasi method)

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Introduction to Vipassana meditation(Mahasi
method)
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Course Outline

• Lesson 1 Who is Mahasi Sayadaw What is the
  Mahasi method Basic meditation instructions
• Lesson 2 What is Buddhist meditation Group
  individual meditation practice
• Lesson 3 Satipatthana Sutta Group meditation
  practice Group individual meditation practice
• Lesson 4 Chappana Sutta, Malunkyaputta
  Sutta The Five Hindrances Group
  individual meditation practice

3
Course Outline

• Lesson 1 Who is Mahasi Sayadaw What is the
  Mahasi method Basic meditation instructions
• Lesson 2 What is Buddhist meditation Group
  individual meditation practice
• Lesson 3 Satipatthana Sutta Group meditation
  practice Group individual meditation practice
• Lesson 4 Chappana Sutta, Malunkyaputta
  Sutta The Five Hindrances Group
  individual meditation practice

4
Course Outline

• Lesson 1 Who is Mahasi Sayadaw What is the
  Mahasi method Basic meditation instructions
• Lesson 2 What is Buddhist meditation Group
  individual meditation practice
• Lesson 3 Satipatthana Sutta Group meditation
  practice Group individual meditation practice
• Lesson 4 Chappana Sutta, Malunkyaputta
  Sutta The Five Hindrances Group
  individual meditation practice

5
Course Outline

• Lesson 1 Who is Mahasi Sayadaw What is the
  Mahasi method Basic meditation instructions
• Lesson 2 What is Buddhist meditation Group
  individual meditation practice
• Lesson 3 Satipatthana Sutta Group
  individual meditation practice
• Lesson 4 Chappana Sutta, Malunkyaputta
  Sutta The Five Hindrances Group
  individual meditation practice

6
Course Outline

• Lesson 1 Who is Mahasi Sayadaw What is the
  Mahasi method Basic meditation instructions
• Lesson 2 What is Buddhist meditation Group
  individual meditation practice
• Lesson 3 Satipatthana Sutta Group
  individual meditation practice
• Lesson 4 Chappana Sutta, Malunkyaputta
  Sutta Group individual meditation practice

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Course Outline

• Lesson 5 Four Brahma Viharas Metta Sutta
  Metta meditation Individual Q A
• Lesson 6 Samatha and Vipassana meditation
  Their differences and equal importance
  Individual Q A
• Lesson 7 Modern applications of Mindfulness
  32 Parts of the Body contemplation
  Individual Q A
• Lesson 8 Group individual meditation
  practice Individual Q A

8
Course Outline

• Lesson 5 Four Brahma Viharas Metta Sutta
  Metta meditation Individual Q A
• Lesson 6 Samatha and Vipassana meditation
  Their differences and equal importance
  Individual Q A
• Lesson 7 Modern applications of Mindfulness
  32 Parts of the Body contemplation
  Individual Q A
• Lesson 8 Group individual meditation
  practice Individual Q A

9
Course Outline

• Lesson 5 Four Brahma Viharas Metta Sutta
  Metta meditation Individual Q A
• Lesson 6 Samatha and Vipassana meditation
  Their differences and equal importance
  Individual Q A
• Lesson 7 Modern applications of Mindfulness
  32 Parts of the Body contemplation
  Individual Q A
• Lesson 8 Group individual meditation
  practice Individual Q A

10
Course Outline

• Lesson 5 Four Brahma Viharas Metta Sutta
  Metta meditation Individual Q A
• Lesson 6 Samatha and Vipassana meditation
  Their differences and equal importance
  Individual Q A
• Lesson 7 Modern applications of Mindfulness
  32 Parts of the Body contemplation
  Individual Q A
• Lesson 8 Hindrances and Impediments Individual
  Q A

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Background to the Mahasi method

• There are many types of Buddhist meditation
  techniques with different methods used by
  different teachers.
• Examples of such techniques are visualizations of
  the Buddha or various deities, meditation on the
  chakras, meditation with mantras, meditation on
  the breath, etc...

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Background to the Mahasi method

• There are many types of Buddhist meditation
  techniques with different methods used by
  different teachers.
• Examples of such techniques are visualizations of
  the Buddha or various deities, meditation on the
  chakras, meditation with mantras, meditation on
  the breath, etc...

13
Background to the Mahasi method

• However, the most successful and widespread
  techniques of recent times is the method taught
  by Mahasi Sayadaw.
• This method is based on the teachings of the
  Satipatthana Sutta, one of the most important
  teachings of the Buddha.
• It uses the breath as the meditation object
  centred on the abdomen, as well as techniques for
  all the four postures.

14
Background to the Mahasi method

• However, the most successful and widespread
  techniques of recent times is the method taught
  by Mahasi Sayadaw.
• This method is based on the teachings of the
  Satipatthana Sutta, one of the most important
  teachings of the Buddha.
• It uses the breath as the meditation object
  centred on the abdomen, as well as techniques for
  all the four postures.

15
Background to the Mahasi method

• However, the most successful and widespread
  techniques of recent times is the method taught
  by Mahasi Sayadaw.
• This method is based on the teachings of the
  Satipatthana Sutta, one of the most important
  teachings of the Buddha.
• It uses the breath as the meditation object
  centred on the abdomen, as well as techniques for
  all the four postures.

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Background to the Mahasi method

• The late Mahasi Sayadaw was born in 1904 in upper
  Burma, north of Mandalay. He studied the Buddhist
  scriptures before taking up meditation practice
  under the guidance of Mingun Sayadaw.
• Mingun Sayadaw was a pioneer in the revival of
  Vipassana (Insight) meditation in Burma, and in
  particular the movement to teach Vipassana to lay
  people.

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Background to the Mahasi method

• The late Mahasi Sayadaw was born in 1904 in upper
  Burma, north of Mandalay. He studied the Buddhist
  scriptures before taking up meditation practice
  under the guidance of Mingun Sayadaw.
• Mingun Sayadaw was a pioneer in the revival of
  Vipassana (Insight) meditation in Burma, and in
  particular the movement to teach Vipassana to lay
  people.

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Background to the Mahasi method

• After completing his training, Mahasi Sayadaw
  returned to his home monastery to teach.
• When Burma became independent in 1948 the new
  government sponsored a revival of Buddhism.
  Mahasi Sayadaw was invited to be in charge of a
  new meditation centre in Rangoon which was
  developed to teach meditation practice to large
  numbers of lay people.

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Background to the Mahasi method

• After completing his training, Mahasi Sayadaw
  returned to his home monastery to teach.
• When Burma became independent in 1948 the new
  government sponsored a revival of Buddhism.
  Mahasi Sayadaw was invited to be in charge of a
  new meditation centre in Rangoon which was
  developed to teach meditation practice to large
  numbers of lay people.

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Background to the Mahasi method

• This was an innovation, as in traditional
  Buddhist societies meditation is generally
  practiced only by the monks.
• The meditation method associated with Mahasi
  Sayadaw is a Vipassana (Insight meditation)
  method, designed specifically to allow lay people
  in the modern world to attain the experience of
  Nibbana.

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Background to the Mahasi method

• This was an innovation, as in traditional
  Buddhist societies meditation is generally
  practiced only by the monks.
• The meditation method associated with Mahasi
  Sayadaw is a Vipassana (Insight meditation)
  method, designed specifically to allow lay people
  in the modern world to attain the experience of
  Nibbana.

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Background to the Mahasi method

• At the historic Sixth Buddhist Council, on in
  1954, Mahasi Sayadaw played an eminent role,
  undertaking the tasks of Final Editor and
  Questioner.
• In the editing of this commentarial literature,
  he was responsible for making a critical
  analysis, sound interpretation, and skilful
  reconciliation of several crucial, but divergent
  passages.

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Background to the Mahasi method

• At the historic Sixth Buddhist Council, on in
  1954, Mahasi Sayadaw played an eminent role,
  undertaking the tasks of Final Editor and
  Questioner.
• In the editing of this commentarial literature,
  he was responsible for making a critical
  analysis, sound interpretation, and skilful
  reconciliation of several crucial, but divergent
  passages.

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Background to the Mahasi method

• Subsequently and at the request of the Government
  of Sri Lanka, a special mission headed by Sayadaw
  U Sujata, an eminent deputy of Mahasi Sayadaw,
  went there in 1955.
• The mission stayed for over a year setting up
  twelve permanent and seventeen temporary
  meditation centres.

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Background to the Mahasi method

• Subsequently and at the request of the Government
  of Sri Lanka, a special mission headed by Sayadaw
  U Sujata, an eminent deputy of Mahasi Sayadaw,
  went there in 1955.
• The mission stayed for over a year setting up
  twelve permanent and seventeen temporary
  meditation centres.

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Background to the Mahasi method

• Following the completion of a meditation centre
  on a site granted by the Sri Lankan Government, a
  larger mission led by Mahasi Sayadaw left for Sri
  Lanka.
• This historic visit of the Burmese mission under
  the leadership of Mahasi Sayadaw led to a revival
  of interest in meditation in Sri Lanka, which had
  drastically declined.

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Background to the Mahasi method

• Following the completion of a meditation centre
  on a site granted by the Sri Lankan Government, a
  larger mission led by Mahasi Sayadaw left for Sri
  Lanka.
• This historic visit of the Burmese mission under
  the leadership of Mahasi Sayadaw led to a revival
  of interest in meditation in Sri Lanka, which had
  drastically declined.

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Background to the Mahasi method

• In 1952, at the request of the Thai Minister for
  Sangha Affairs, Mahasi Sayadaw sent two deputies
  for the promotion of Vipassana meditation in
  Thailand, which was no longer widely practiced.
• Thanks to their efforts, the Mahasi method gained
  wide acceptance in Thailand. By 1960, many
  meditation centres had been established and the
  number of Mahasi meditators exceeded a hundred
  thousand.

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Background to the Mahasi method

• In 1952, at the request of the Thai Minister for
  Sangha Affairs, Mahasi Sayadaw sent two deputies
  for the promotion of Vipassana meditation in
  Thailand, which was no longer widely practiced.
• Thanks to their efforts, the Mahasi method gained
  wide acceptance in Thailand. By 1960, many
  meditation centres had been established and the
  number of Mahasi meditators exceeded a hundred
  thousand.

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Background to the Mahasi method

• The Mahasi Centre, now teaches thousands of
  students every year and has over 300 branch
  centres inside and outside Burma.
• It remains one of the most important meditation
  centres in the world today, and the source of one
  of the most influential meditation lineages in
  Theravada Buddhism.

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Background to the Mahasi method

• The Mahasi Centre, now teaches thousands of
  students every year and has over 300 branch
  centres inside and outside Burma.
• It remains one of the most important meditation
  centres in the world today, and the source of one
  of the most influential meditation lineages in
  Theravada Buddhism.

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Background to the Mahasi method

• Among the centres promoting the Mahasi method are
  the huge Panditarama and Kanduboda meditation
  centres in Burma and Sri Lanka respectively.
• In Malaysia, there are the Lunas Hermitage, the
  Malaysian Buddhist Meditation Centre, and Ven.
  Aggacitta of the Sasanarakha Buddhist Sanctuary
  was ordained at the Mahasi Meditation Centre in
  Yangon, Burma.

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Background to the Mahasi method

• Among the centres promoting the Mahasi method are
  the huge Panditarama and Kanduboda meditation
  centres in Burma and Sri Lanka respectively.
• In Malaysia, there are the Lunas Hermitage, the
  Malaysian Buddhist Meditation Centre, and Ven.
  Aggacitta of the Sasanarakha Buddhist Sanctuary
  was ordained at the Mahasi Meditation Centre in
  Yangon, Burma.

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Background to the Mahasi method

• In addition, there are numerous centres located
  in the USA, Europe and Australia.
• America Burma Buddhist AssociationDhammanada
  Vihara
• Birmingham Buddhist Vihara Satipanya Buddhist
  Retreat
• Bodhi Tree Forest Monastery, Blue Mountains
  Insight Meditation Centre

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Background to the Mahasi method

• In addition, there are numerous centres located
  in the USA, Europe and Australia.
• America Burma Buddhist AssociationDhammanada
  Vihara
• Birmingham Buddhist Vihara Satipanya Buddhist
  Retreat
• Bodhi Tree Forest Monastery, Blue Mountains
  Insight Meditation Centre

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Background to the Mahasi method

• In addition, there are numerous centres located
  in the USA, Europe and Australia.
• America Burma Buddhist AssociationDhammanada
  Vihara
• Birmingham Buddhist Vihara Satipanya Buddhist
  Retreat
• Bodhi Tree Forest Monastery, Blue Mountains
  Insight Meditation Centre

40
Background to the Mahasi method

• In addition, there are numerous centres located
  in the USA, Europe and Australia.
• America Burma Buddhist AssociationDhammanada
  Vihara
• Birmingham Buddhist Vihara Satipanya Buddhist
  Retreat
• Bodhi Tree Forest Monastery, Blue Mountains
  Insight Meditation Centre

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Background to the Mahasi method

• The foremost centre in Singapore teaching the
  Mahasi method is the Satipatthana Meditation
  Centre (SMC) located in Sembawang.
• In Thailand, Wat Mahadhatu, Wat TamaoWat Vivek
  Asom are among the centres affiliated to the
  Mahasi Meditation Centre.The most active in
  conducting courses in the Mahasi Method, is the
  YBAT group of meditation centres throughout
  Thailand.

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Background to the Mahasi method

• The foremost centre in Singapore teaching the
  Mahasi method is the Satipatthana Meditation
  Centre (SMC) located in Sembawang.
• In Thailand, Wat Mahadhatu, Wat TamaoWat Vivek
  Asom are among the centres affiliated to the
  Mahasi Meditation Centre.The most active in
  conducting courses in the Mahasi Method, is the
  YBAT group of meditation centres throughout
  Thailand.

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• Prepared by T Y Lee
• www.justbegood.net