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About Mindfulness and Insight Meditation


The Five Precepts

The effort to develop one's moral character is of paramount importance in Buddhism. By keeping the Five Precepts in daily life, a yogi builds an essential basis of morality (Sila) that is necessary for successful meditation. Good deeds and moral virtue stabilize and calm the mind so that a yogi's conscience can be clear when meditating. Developing a good foundation of moral character by keeping the precepts helps prevent remorse and guilt from arising and disturbing one's practice.

The Five Precepts are as follows:
  • To abstain from killing any living beings
  • To abstain from stealing
  • To abstain from sexual misconduct
  • To abstain from lying
  • To abstain from intoxicating drinks and drugs
 
In the Meditation Resources Section

Resources Overview >>

About Mindfulness Meditation >>

Essential Reading >>

Inspiring Books for Beginners >>

Books for Meditators Earnestly
Trying to Improve Their Character
>>

Additional Suggested Reading >>

Dhamma in Daily Life >>

Panditarama Meditation Centers >>

Further Resources on the Web >>

 

Satipatthana Vipassana Meditation

Introduced by the Buddha over 2500 years ago, this unique meditation practice is a precise system of scientific investigation by which one develops the power of empirical observation (Sati or Mindfulness) and reveals the underlying nature of the mind and body process. The natural result of a yogi's efforts in sustained meditative observation is a series of developmental discoveries or "insight knowledges." These knowledges reveal the true nature of existence. The accumulation and deepening of such transformative experiences builds existential wisdom which cleanses the mind of destructive mental tendencies called kilesas (greed, hatred and delusion). Firm commitment to this meditation practice ultimately leads one to the development of complete mental purity, the experience of which is known as Nibbana.

>> The Meaning of Satipatthana by Sayadaw U Pandita (PDF)
Ven. Mahasi Sayadaw


Meditation Instructions

The late Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw was a Burmese meditation master and the founder of our lineage. His clear and thorough instructions are based on the Buddha's teachings in the Maha Satipatthana Sutta. The power and authenticity of the Mahasi method has been proven over the years by the thousands of yogis who have successfully practiced and achieved the spiritual attainments described in the Buddhist scriptures.

>> Mahasi’s Meditation Instructions (PDF)

Daily Meditation Practice

One should try to set aside a period of time every day for mediation. Whether it's a full hour or just a few minutes is not as important as being consistent and putting in sincere effort in keeping a routine practice. If one sits regularly then one will gradually build the skills and determination (Paramis) helpful for longer retreats. It is during sustained retreat practice that one is most able develop one's practice and make significant spiritual progress.

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