How much concentration do I need to practice vipassana?
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In Tibetan tradition, before you can do Vipashyana, you have to practice Shamatha-type meditation until you learn to attain so-called "Calm Abiding" or "Fully Pacified Stable One-Pointed Effortless Meditative Equipoise".
According to a traditional presentation, Calm Abiding is considered attained when a meditator can effortlessly focus on a chosen object of observation, without getting distracted and without falling into lethargy, for a substantial period of time.
"substantial period" is a subjective measure. Some say it is 2 minutes, some say 10 or 15.
"object of observation" means any object or theme, like a flame of a candle, flower, a far away mountain peak -- or a visualized/imaginary object of any kind, the most popular being an image of Buddha statue. (With imaginary objects it is best to use something very familiar that you remember very well.)
"without getting distracted" means without forgetting about meditation and getting carried away in thoughts.
"without falling into lethargy" means, without getting sleepy or even losing clarity of mind.
"effortlessly" means without fighting with oneself over distractions and lethargy.
Here is a set of more detailed guidelines on achieving Calm Abiding: an excerpt from a lecture given by Gelug meditation master Lati Rinpoche.
Upvote:0
To practice Vipassana, what you need is right mindfulness or Samma-sati. Concentration comes as you develop right mindfulness. There are actually four ways of doing it. You can develop concentration first and then switch to Vipassana or develop both concentration and Vipassana in tandem or develop Vipassana first and then switch to concentration. Whoever claims that developing concentration first is the only way is misinformed. Read the Yuganaddha Sutta for details.
Upvote:1
I recently did a 10 day Silent Retreat based on Vipasanna Meditation by S. N. Goenka. https://www.dhamma.org/en-US/index
There are no prerequisites for the course and it is given in many centers around the US, Canada and other parts of the world. I recommend it highly.
I did read a recommended book, Art of Living by William Hart (The Art Of Living as Taught by S.N. Goenka from Amazon). I also practiced meditating on my own for two months before I did the course β there is usually a pretty long wait list for the course at least here in Texas.
You will be minimally qualified to do Vipassana meditation when you leave the course and follow up practice on your own or through a Vipassana Sangha is recommended.
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