Bhikkhu
Sumanapal
In
the past meditation and related matters were considered mystical but modern
research has proved that those things should be viewed with more respect. In
1977 American Psychological Association acknowledged this fact when it issued a
statement saying, “Meditation may facilitate psychotherapeutic process. At the
same time research was,” also encouraged, to evaluate its possible usefulness.”Kutz,
Borysenko and Benson, 1985, p1)1
But
at the same time in our modern era we have seen phenomenal growth in the field of
science and technology and as an effect of it man has become more logical and
practical. Now we are not going to accept anything without a solid proof. But
in the hoary past due to the absence of a proper healthcare system man had to
depend upon ritual and magical practices. But even in those days people took
the help of some techniques that truly helped them to maintain their physical
and mental well-being. The Buddhist meditation system of Vipassana was one of
them. Though human beings are living a comparatively comfortable life due to
this development of science and technology, the entire human race is facing a
serious challenge in the form of Covid 19 pandemic which has been threatening
human civilization around the globe for almost two years. It has been rightly
said that after the Second World War the attack of corona virus has become the
most devastating disaster for humans and the socioeconomic development of the
world.
Diseases
especially communicable diseases have a profound impact on mental health.
Communicable diseases poseeven a greater threat because in the cases of these
diseases the care giver himself is susceptible to the attack of the diseases.
Today our world is facing the threat of the attack of corona virus. Due to the
attack of this virus even the advanced nations of this world are suffering
miserably. It has virtually brought life on this world to a standstill, causing
a great loss of precious human lives and a great burden on the world economy. So
people from all walks of life are facing a real problem in their day to day
existence. People are facing psychological problems 2and in order to help them
in such a situation the practice of meditations like vipassana can be of great
use. The practice of vipassana meditation can support doctors, patients and the
members of the patient’s family in such a crisis like the attack of corona
virus.
The
main problem associated with the attack of corona virus is that self-isolation
and restrictions in movement are causing a great harm to the mental health of
the population at large. Mind and body have profound effects on one another.
The term psychoneuroumnology means the interrelation between various
psychological factors, and the central nervous system. Meditation has a profound
effect on our mental health especially stress management. When we are in mood
of anxiety and worry stress hormones are released and this creates a
psychological load, in other words tremendous mental pressure which causes a
great harm to our immune system.
Meditation strengthens our immune system in many ways. It helps the
practitioner by increasing the number of his natural killer (N.K.) cells and
Blymphocytes. N.K. cells are white blood
cells the function of which is to aim and destroy abnormal or stressed cells.2
Meditations
like vipassana are based on the use of stress reduction techniques. Such a
practice helps us to decrease the level of our tension and anxiety and even
pain. So in a pandemic situation the practice of vipassana will go a long way
to complement the treatment of the disease through medication by providing
support in the state of a terrible mental anxiety which invariably accompanies
physical discomfort resulting from the disease. The global pandemic situation
has brought a sea change in our life and work. Health care professionals are
having a very tough time and are abnormally overwhelmed and busy. Anxiety and
depression have become a part and parcel of their lives. The general public is
spending time indoors. Children are forced to spend time within the narrow
confinements of their houses, bereaved of the company of their friends and
teachers. People have lost their mental
balance due to the loss of their near and dear ones in the attack of the virus
or have lost their jobs or are being forced to work and getting very nominal
wages. Domestic violence is on the rise.
The situation has grown even worse sometimes due tothe presence of the
members of the family suffering from the disease. Senior citizens are the most
vulnerable groups. Many of them have got infected and have lost their lives
even though most of them have lived within the confinement of the four walls
because other people have infected them. So it has become obligatory to
maintain a calm and quiet environment in the house which is conducive in
maintaining a healthy atmosphere inside the house.
We
have already said that the shock or trauma which we all are experiencing is
causing great losses in our lives. So every type of meditation should teach us
how to face loss or bereavements with mental calm and peace of mind. But even
in such situation there is a ray of hope which is promoting a sense of
compassion and togetherness.
Vipassana
is a kind of mediation which means to see things as they really are, is one of
India’s most ancient techniques of meditation. Gotama Buddha rediscovered it
and circulated it by teaching to his disciples. Vipassana mediation in reality
is a school which prepares us for the struggle called life. Its nature is
non-sectarian and so people from all caste creed and belief can practice it in
order to get rid of their own defilements. In this way we can attain the
fullest liberation which will result in supreme bliss and happiness.
Vipassana
system of meditation teaches us to attain self-transformation by way of
self-observation. It teaches us to observe our thoughts and emotions without
judging or being emotionally involved with them.3 We can start the practice of Vipassana with the aim to
concentrate our mind with the observation of our breath. In this the practitioners are advised to
achieve a deep interconnection between the mind and the body. One can
experience it by paying orderly and controlled attention on the sensations that
arise and disappears in his body. These sensations are the signs of life in our
body and this ultimately connects with and conditions the life of the mind.
This journey from the physical to the spiritual dissolves all our mental
impurities which give birth to a balanced mind in which love and compassion are
harmoniously blended. Vipassana helps us to purify our mind and at the same
time it helps the practitioner to get rid of many psychological problems.4
We
know that corona virus is highly contagious and so is fear. Fear, if not
controlled can give rise panic which takes away the power of thinking
rationally in man. Vipassana meditation, if properly practised, can rid us of
our fear of being a carrier of the disease. This is surely a very important
contribution of vipassana meditation.
Media
is worsening the situation. It is publishing real and imaginary news of death
and destruction by the virus. Common people who are not in a position to verify
them properly are being a victim of mass hysteria. Such propaganda takes away
our ability of taking the right decisions. And this paralyse of thinking
endangers our lives as well as the lives of our near and dear ones. This
increases our anxiety and distress.
A
brief introduction to Vipassana: According to the Buddha’s teaching it is
ignorance which is principally responsible for our suffering. Vipassana is the
most potent technique which we can apply to get rid of our sufferings.
Vipassana is based on scientific technique which is designed to enable the
practitioner to reach the ultimate goal of human life i.e. nirvana. For this we
should start and continue the practice of sila or moral conduct, the aim of
which is to attain Samadhi or concentration of mind which purifies it through
panna or the wisdom of insight. So by means of Vipassana we can attain panna or
experienced anicca, dukkha, and anatta through the practice of vipassana i.e.
Buddhist Meditation.
The
following are the pancashila (5 precepts) essential for vipassana.
1. To
abstain from killing any being
2. To
abstain from stealing
3. To
abstain from all unlawful sexual activities
4. To
abstain from telling lies
5. To
abstain from all intoxicants
The
Buddha told us about for noble truths and the noble eight fold path. They are
right understanding, right thought, right speech, right action, right
livelihood, right effort, right concentration, and right mindfulness.
On
the whole Vpassana meditation increases our self-awareness and by applying this
awareness judiciously we can observe the changing nature of body and mind and
gain the experience of impermanence, suffering, and non- substantiality. We can attain the experience impermanence
through feeling i. e. by contact of visible form with the eye, by contact of
sound with the ear, by contact of smell with the nose, by contact of taste with
the tongue, by contact of touch with the body.
In
Vipassana there are ten levels of knowledge. They are sammasena, (theoretical
appreciation of impermanence, suffering and non-substantiality), udayabbaya(
direct observation which enables the practitioner to experience the
dissolution of nama and rupa), bhanga(
observe clearly the phase of dissolution),bhaya( awareness of the dreadfulness
of our present existence), adinava( being conscious of the fact that this existence
is full of evil), nibbida( knowledge that this very existence is very
disgusting), muncitakamyata( Knowledge of the fact that we urgently need to
wish for an escapade from this life), patisankha ( being aware of the fact that
we should immediately start working for our deliverance), sankharupekkha(
awareness of the fact that the time has arrived to be detached from all
conditioned phenomena), anuloma( knowledge that would increase our speed of
reaching the goal).
Since
in vipassana the practitioner strives to attain the realization of anicca they
can successfully do it by concentrating on their bodily feeling. We can divide
Vipassana into four classes namely Kayanupassana or continuous mindfulness of
the body, vedananupassana or continuous mindfulness of the feelings, cittanupassana
or continuous observation of the mind,
dhammanupassana or continuous mindfulness of the mental processes, 5
1. Kayanupassana
This
type of meditation advices the learner to concentrate his mind on two objects
namely the breathing process and on the rising and falling of the abdomen. The
learner also gets the training to observe the functions of the sense organs of
the body. This will give us the impression that everything is impermanent and
there is very little to suffer for theimpermanence of things or of something
that we love and cherish.
Vedananupassana
or Continuous Mindfulness of Feelings:
Three
kinds of sensations namely pleasant, unpleasant and neutral sensations can be
found in our mind. The purpose of vedananupassana is to make the practitioner
to be conscious and mindful of these feelings because they give rise to action.
Cittanupassana
or Continuous Observation of the Mind:
This
sort of Vipassana makes the practitioner aware of the appearance and
disappearance of thoughts and emotions such as anger, joy, frustration, hatred,
live, etc..
Dhammanuppasana
or Continuous Mindfulness of Mental Processes)
This
type of Vipassana teaches the learner the art of concentrating on the negative
traits of the mind namely lust, doubt, anger, sloth and the clinging nature of
the mind.
Benefits of Vipassana:
Vipassana
meditation can help the life and professional skill of a healthcare give in the
following ways: It gives them job satisfaction, resilience from stress, and
increases their self-compassion. The practice of Vipassana enhances their
capacity to fight and reduce stress as well as contributes to a better sleeping
habit which is part and parcel of stress reduction.6 Brain researchers too have identified this
capacity of the human nervous system. It is said that if Vipassana is practised
for a long time the practitioner can achieve a higher state of consciousness. (Mason
et all 1997). Vipassana can work simultaneously with conventional psychotherapy
without harming its efficacy in any way. Vipassana meditation can be used as a
means to broadening our consciousness and make life more meaningful and
pleasurable. In this way we can attain all the results of psychotherapy from
Vipassana. We can get relief from pent up anxiety and tension by the practice
of Vipassana. At the same time Vipassana helps us to get rid of old fears.7 Through the practice of
Vipassana we can realize that the mind operates on a far larger territory than
it was thought by the modern psychologists. By the recent researches on the
operation of brain it has been discovered that human nervous system has an
enormous capacity. Though psychotherapy is very effective in curing anxiety
related mental problems, it is expensive, time consuming and available only in
cities. Vipassana meditation can be applied everywhere to cure as well as
prevent mental problems. Vipassana should be made a part of the treatment of
mental problems for several reasons:
1. It
teaches us the way to observe things in a disinterested manner.
2. It
makes us aware of the fact that every sensation and feeling is impermanent.
3. Our
tension and anxiety are diminished considerably.
4. The
tendency towards anger and violence is considerably reduced.
5. Helps
us to remain calm and cool in a difficult situation.
6. Encourages
us to do constructive work.
7. Helps
us to introspect.
8. Teaches
us to enjoy life by being free from stress. It may help people getting rid of
alcoholism and drug abuse.
9. Improves
our communication skill.
10. Helps
us to get deep and sound sleep.
11. Makes
us fresh and alert in body and mind.
12. Increases
in us a sense of joy and inner happiness.
13. It
helps us to keep our mind and body strong which is very essential for fighting
the virus.
14. It
improves our power to concentrate and this enables us to observe all the
sensations that are going on in our mind more minutely and from a distance as
if the practitioner is witnessing the events as a distant observer as a third person.
15. It
encourages in the patient a positive ethical and outlook about the disease and
his future life.
16. By
providing a means to overcome psychological, emotional, physical, and mental
problems it will enable the patient to be more successful in managing his
personal affairs.
17. The
practice of Vipassana will make us more skilful in handling whatever is taking
place in our lives.
18. The
practice of Vipassana will encourage us to solving the problems of our life
more efficiently instead of escaping from them.
19. It
has a cleansing effect on our mind as it helps us to get rid of negative
emotions like anger, hatred, and greed.
In
this way the practice of Vipassana Meditation helps us to face any mental shock
by the adverse situations caused by Covid 19 by increasing our energy, vitality
and stability. Thus we become better equipped to fight against virus infection.
Covid
19 has proved that everything in this world is impermanent and ever changing.
By the practice of Vipassana we shall be able to accept the change that will
take place in our lives during this pandemic situation. This meditation teaches
us that no one can escape from this and in this way our life will become
bearable to us. Our aim in life is to understand ourselves and Vipassana gives
us an opportunity to realize this aim.
Two thousand and five hundred years ago with
the help of Vipassana meditation the Buddha attained enlightenment which taught
him the way to eradicate all human suffering. Since Covid 19 is a great source
of human suffering it can be cured by the practice of Vipassana meditation. Though
the physical and mental health can be achieved by the practice of Vipassana,
its ultimate aim is the attainment of enlightenment. So the practice of
Vipassana will help us a great deal to follow the teachings of the Buddha and
for our mental and physical well-being.8
We
can also say that the aim of our life is to live in harmony with ourselves and
our surroundings. So we should learn to be friendly with our environment. In
this pandemic situation we can be benefitted by the practice of Vipassana in a
number of ways.
Notes and References:
1. Importance
of Vipassana (Buddhist Meditation) In the Pandemic of Covid19 : A Review by
BalajiPothbare, R. Govind Reddy, PrashantShinde,
VanmalaWakode
2. E.
Hedderman1, V. Doherty, S. O’Connor, Mindfulness Monents for clinicians in the
midst of a pandemic, Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine, p 1-4
3. Emily
A Holmes, Roy C O’Connor, et al, Multidisciplinary Research Priorities for the
Covid 19 pandemic: a call for action for mental heath science, www. The
lancet.com/psychiatry volume 7 June 2020
4. Kirsten
Nunez, The Benefits of Vipassana Meditation and How to get Started
5. Vipassana
Meditation, Available from: https;//www.dhamma. org/en-US/about/vipassana
6. Vipassana
Meditation, Available from:
http//www.buddhistvipassana.com/vipassana-basics/the –four-types-of-vipassana-meditations
7. McEwen
BS Stress, adaptation and disease. Allostasis and allostatic load. Ann N.Y.
Acad Sci. 1998: 840: 33-44
8. Jyoti
Doshi, Vipassana and Psychotherap, Vipassana Research Institute, Igatpuri,
Nashik, Maharashtra, https// www. Vridhamma. Org/ research/
Vipassana-%26-Psychotherapy
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