Vipassana

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Radhakrishna Warrier

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Dec 24, 2023, 9:11:52 AM12/24/23
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I came across the term “Vipassana” (विपस्सना) a long time ago in connection with a politician.  She went on a session of Vipassana, and this was widely publicized through newspapers.  At that time, I didn’t bother to find out what Vipassana was.  Just a couple of days ago, another politician reportedly said he was going for Vipassana.  This led me to try to find out what Vipassana is all about. 


So, what did I find out about Vipassana?

Vipassana is an ancient term coined by the Buddhists, especially the Theravāda Buddhists (Theravāda थेरवाद from Sanskrit Sthaviravāda स्थविरवाद meaning the doctrine of the elders; vāda = doctrine, sthavira = elders.)   Vipassana is a Pali/Prakrit word. The Sanskrit equivalent is Vipaśyanā (विपश्यना) formed with upasarga vi वि plus the root word paśya पश्य to see.  (पश्यति = he/she/it sees.)  It denotes looking inside.  Antardŗṣṭi (अन्तर्दृष्टि അന്തർദൃഷ്ടി), so to speak.  Looking deep within oneself.  If the politicians do the Vipassana right, they wouldn’t remain deceitful politicians anymore, in my humble opinion.  So, these political Vipassana-s are a farce, again in my humble opinion.


My question is, has the term Vipaśyanā (विपश्यना) been used in the Vedas, Upanishads or other ancient Sanskrit works pertaining to Sanātana Dharma?


Thanks and regards,

Radhakrishna Warrier

Himanshu Pota

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Dec 25, 2023, 11:42:51 PM12/25/23
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Respected Radhakrishnaji,

Thanks for sharing your little dig into विपश्यना. I cannot answer your main question, but I seek your indulgence in commenting on your comment.

Patanjali's yoga sutra is clear that there can be no sadhana without strict morality. Many other yogis suggest that sadhana and moral progress can go together.

The politicians you refer to may be fake, but one must not always judge a sadhak's effort from their morals. Gautam Buddha took some 500 lives to achieve nirvana. I say this because some people are very hard on themselves and get discouraged with sadhana if they feel anger or experience other moral failings. One should never be discouraged by moral shortcomings regarding one's sadhana.

Isn't दृश् ल्युट् =  दर्शनम् and not पश्यनम्?

Thanks.

Himanshu

लोकेश

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Dec 25, 2023, 11:42:51 PM12/25/23
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नमोनमः 

आर्यरत्नमेघे -

विपश्यना भूतप्रत्यवेक्षेति ।

बोधिचर्यावतारपञ्चिकायाम् विपश्यना इत्यस्य तदेव लक्षणमुक्तम् -

विपश्यना यथाभूततत्त्वपरिज्ञानस्वभावा प्रज्ञा ।

अतः वक्तुं शक्यते विपश्यना नाम यथाभूतदृष्टिः तन्नाम तत्त्वदृष्टिः । सा तु वैदिकप्रन्थेषु अत्यन्तादरेण बाहुल्येन च प्रस्तूयते । यथा गीतायाम् -

नासतो विद्यते भावो नाभावो विद्यते सतः ।
उभयोरपि दृष्टोऽतस्त्वनयोस्तत्त्वदर्शिभिः ॥१६॥

तत्त्ववित्तु महाबाहो गुणकर्मविभागयोः ।
गुणा गुणेषु वर्तंत इति मत्वा न सज्जते ॥२८॥

नैव किंचित्करोमीति युक्तो मन्येत तत्त्ववित् ।
पश्यन्श्रृण्वन्स्पृशन्जघ्रन्नश्नन्गच्छन्श्वसन्स्वपन् ॥८॥


इति शिवम् ।

Mahamaho. Subrahmanyam Korada

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Dec 26, 2023, 11:15:50 AM12/26/23
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नमो विद्वद्भ्यः

has the term Vipaśyanā (विपश्यना) been used in the Vedas, Upanishads or other ancient Sanskrit works pertaining to Sanātana Dharma?

                                                                                                                                                      --- Vid Radhakrishna Warrier

No , it is not a Sanskrit word and even in Vedic literature we do not find the term विपश्यना ---

The विपस्सना course (ten days - eleven hours a day - no communication of any kind - meditation (ध्यानम्) seated with closed eyes - 
2,500 years old - for enlightenment - free - voluntary donation - Buddhism -  is being offered worldwide .
Most of the techniques advocated in Buddhism and Jainism have got their roots in Upanishads , Yoganusasanam etc. .
Just like many other सनातनधर्मs विपस्सना is also  being abused  - प्रतारणा (cheating) has become the order of the day .

विपाशना is a  word  that can be logically  accepted as the Sanskrit equivalent .

विपश्यना --
पश्य -- दृशिर् प्रेक्षणे (भ्वादिः) - पाघ्राध्माधेट्दृशः शः  पा 3-1-137 , पाघ्राध्मास्थाम्नादाण्दृश्यर्तिसर्तिशदसदां  पिबजिघ्रधमतिष्ठमनयच्छपश्यर्छधौसीयसीदाः
पा 7-3-78  -- पश्यः ।
न पश्यो मृत्युं पश्यति (7-26-2 छान्दोग्योपनिषत् ) - पश्यः यथोक्तदर्शी विद्वानित्यर्थः - शांकरभाष्यम् ।
उत त्वः पश्यन् न ददर्श वाचम् (10-71-4 ऋग्वेदः) अपि एकः पश्यन् न पश्यति वाचम् (1-19 , निरुक्तम्) ।
कश्यपः पश्यको भवति । यत्सर्वं परिपश्यतीति सौक्ष्म्यात् ( 2-33 , अरुणम् , तैत्तिरीयारण्यकम् ) - 
भवेद्वर्णागमाद्धंसः सिंहो वर्णविपर्ययात् (3-4, निरुक्तम्) -- पश्यकः=कश्यपः ( when गोत्रम् is not known then काश्यपगोत्रम् - धर्मशास्त्रम्) ।
पश्यार्थैश्चानालोचने  पा 8-1-15 -- पश्यार्थाः दर्शनर्थाः - ज्ञानम् , आलोचनम् ... काशिका । भक्ततव रूपं ध्यायति - कौमुदी ।
So पश्य is not a धातु (verbal root) which can have a प्रत्यय (ल्युट् - अन) on it and therefore the term विपश्यना has no meaning.

विपाशना --
I cannot claim that this word is there in usage but not unacceptable as per पाणिनीयव्याकरणम् --

पश बन्धने (चुरादिः नित्यणिजन्तः) - सत्यापपाशरूपवीणातूलश्लोकसेनालोमत्वचवर्मवर्णचूर्णचुरादिभ्यो णिच् पा 3-1-25 विपाशयति (= पाशं विमोचयति) 
= getting one out of mundane bindings through different means .
पाशः = बन्धनम् , rope .
...नैव विमुञ्चति आशापाशः -- शंकराचार्याः ।
तस्य समूहः पा 4-2-36  पाशादिभ्यो यः  पा 4-2-49 -- पाशानां समूहः पाश्या ।
विपाशा तु विपाट् स्त्रियाम् ( वारिवर्गः , प्र. कां. अमरः ) -- विपाशा is the name of a river which relieved वसिष्ठ who was पाशबद्ध due to पुत्रशोक।
त्रिपदार्थं  शैवदर्शनम् - पतिपशुपाशभेदात् (7, शैवदर्शनम् , सर्वदर्शनसङ्ग्रहः) |
वि पाश ल्युट् (कृत्यल्युटो बहुलम् पा 3-3-113) -- विपाशना ।

धन्यो’स्मि
्


Dr.Korada Subrahmanyam
Adju.Professor , Dept of Heritage Science and Technology, IIT, Hyderabad
299 Doyen , Serilingampally, Hyderabad 500 019
Ph:09866110741
Skype Id: Subrahmanyam Korada


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BVK Sastry (G-S-Pop)

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Dec 27, 2023, 12:06:26 AM12/27/23
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Namaste

 

A submission on this thread of discussion. 

 

Buddhist Practice of विपस्सना is a branch out practice of Gita Yoga- Teaching under (6-23 to29) – Taken out as a yogaanga practice,  which runs common to Vaidika and Avaidika practices of yogaanga.

 

Buddhists and Jians adapted –accepted – Yoga practices; They do not accept ‘infallible authority of Veda -Pramanam’.

 

Would Yoga practice lead to ‘ Veda- Darshna/ Can yogi become a Muni / Mantra Drashtaa’ – is a different question which may need further exploration connecting ‘Yogeswara Sri Krishna describing himself as ‘Vedanta Krit/ Vedavit eva cha – aham’.

 

Probably ‘ Schools which accept ‘Buddha as one of Avataras of Vishnu’ need to answer this  question.

Probably, Jains who embed ‘ Vishnu- Chihna/ ankitas’ on Teerthankaras need to address this question.

 

1. English Scribing of VIPASSANA  is not  Devanagari Samskruth  – ‘Vipaśyanā (विपश्यना)’  .

 

2. The Buddhist Technical term is विपस्सना  - vipassanā -  traced to Prakruth/ Pali/ ..(Non Sanskrit).

 

3. By Yoga- Meditation practice, विपस्सना - vipassanā is NON- ENGAGED NEUTRAL OBSERVATION OF FLOW OF EVENTS.  And in residential  training practices, one modality of practice becomes ‘Observe the flow of in-out- breath’. This is yogaanga technicality of ‘प्राण- वायु -श्वास- गति - दर्शनम्  prāṇa- vāyu -śvāsa- gati – darśanam’-  an elevated practice and diversity under ‘ Pranayama’.

4. Original Teaching of  विपस्सना – vipassanā  by Goenka is available at  link

     Vipassana Meditation (dhamma.org) https://www.dhamma.org/hi/about/vipassana

  The linguistic Transcribing error विपस्सना – vipassanā as (विपश्यना)’and tracing it to Samskruth is seen there.

The error percolates and gets broadcasted through the WIKI link- विपश्यना - विकिपीडिया (wikipedia.org) and the like.

 

5.  The Buddhist Encyclopedia explains the term and practice : Vipassanā - Encyclopedia of Buddhism

Vipassanā

vipassanā (Pali; Skt. vipaśyanā; T. lhag mthong ལྷག་མཐོང་; C. guan 觀) is translated as "insight," etc.

 

The practice of insight (vipassana) is one of two branches of meditative cultivation (bhāvanā) within Buddhism, the other being calm (samatha).[1] Calm meditation cultivates concentration (samadhi) and stability within the mind. Insight meditation cultivates clarity and wisdom.

 

Specifically, insight meditation is directed towards developing "insight into the true nature of reality." Rupert Gethin states:

 

Insight meditation aims at understanding three aspects of the nature of things: that they are impermanent and unstable (anitya), that they are unsatisfactory and imperfect (duḥkha), and that they are not self (anātman). The philosophical nuances of these three terms may be expressed differently in the theoretical writings of various Buddhist schools, but in one way or another the higher stages of the Buddhist path focus on the direct understanding and seeing of these aspects of the world.[2]

 

Regards

BVK Sastry

kenp

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Dec 27, 2023, 10:27:10 PM12/27/23
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Here are some links.........

विपश्यना containing verses

विपस्सना containing verses



MEDITATION TECHNIQUES: SAMADHI AND VIPASSANA
https://wildyogatribe.com/meditationtechniques/

L Srinivas

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Dec 29, 2023, 9:02:33 AM12/29/23
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The point, that a Paninian derivation for विपश्यना is not possible, is well-taken. I thank Prof Pota and Mm Sri Korada Acharya for it.

Mm Sri Korada Acharya makes the additional point that such techniques as vipassana have their roots in traditions like Upanishads and Yoganuśasanam. This is indeed something which we must bear in mind.

In passing, I might mention that it will be useful to know the equivalent term or collection of terms, if any, that dharmic traditions used for the same or similar set of practices.

Much obliged,

Srini

Kushagra Aniket

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Dec 29, 2023, 11:44:09 PM12/29/23
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विदर्शन is the grammatically correct Sanskrit equivalent of Vipassanā. It is also attested in Buddhist literature in Sanskrit. Sometimes विदर्शना is also seen. This is also grammatically acceptable.

Kushagra Aniket
Economist and Management Consultant
Columbia University'21
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Venkata Subramanian

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Dec 30, 2023, 12:17:53 AM12/30/23
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As pointed out the word " vipasanaa" is grammatically not correct. 
Probably this could be a colloquial word which got a wrong usage.
N S Venkata Subramanian 
Hyderabad.

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/bvparishat/CADrasQrLyF3K7razEqCyxHa5pguvzZmxeM-ZdHmGiGFf9W2d5w%40mail.gmail.com.

Sivaram

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Dec 31, 2023, 5:58:12 AM12/31/23
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Namaste Everyone,

I responded to the original email privately based on Mohodaya's discussion on Vipassana Meditation and the query he had on the term Vipaśyanā (विपश्यना). Now, I feel compelled to contribute to this thread in repeating what I had sent to him.

To the extent I know the primary goal of Vipassana Meditation is to explore and gain insights on the true nature of reality and through it to observe oneself as an independent witnesser so we understand ourself and the relationship between jeevatma and paramatma. Its a kind of discovering the secrets of unity-diversity-unity equation which I corroborate as creator-creation-creator (essence of my research thesis). One of important outcomes of Vipassana Meditation is becoming more yoigcally mindful so we live in the present moment.  

Though the direct term Vipaśyanā (विपश्यना) does not occur in the Veda Samhitas but a term associated with it  विपश्यति does occur in three Rig Veda Samhita mantras. RV 3.62.9 (#3043 mantra uses vipashyati as contemplation), RV 10.125.4 (#10210 fourth mantra of the Vaghambhrni Sukta uses vipashyati as gaining insights), and RV 10.187.4 (#10538 mantra uses vipashyati as perceiving).

Vipashyati, Vipashyana, and Vipassana do have the same contextual implication - to perceive, observe, learn, and know something in detail. Here for vipassana meditation, it implies understanding the reality, oneself, and the relationship. By living in the present mindfully, one can avoid pancha kleshas and arsiahad vargas which typically originate from the ego (through pride by reliving the memory) of our past achievements and the anxiety to sustain them.  

As this is my first attempt at replying to our estmeeded group, kindly forgive if anything what I have expressed here is not in sync with the views of the respected you all.

Humble pranams.

kenp

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Dec 31, 2023, 11:42:40 AM12/31/23
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विपश्यति  containing verses
https://sa.wikisource.org/w/index.php?search=%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF&title=%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%83:%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D&profile=advanced&fulltext=1&ns0=1
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