Insight meditation (Vipassana) is the ultimate expression of Socrates’ dictum, “know thyself.” The Buddha discovered that the cause of suffering can actually be erased when we see our true nature.
This is a radical insight. It means that our happiness does not depend on manipulating the external world. We only have to see ourselves clearly— a much easier proposition (but in the ultimate sense, knowing oneself with clarity reveals there is no permanent self, as the Buddha taught).
It is very hard to handle stressful situations. Every individual should learn how to become aware of it and accept it. One form of meditation which is very effective in dealing with the problems and difficult situations of life is known as mindfulness meditation or insight meditation. This is often considered by many people as a miraculous technique.
Insight meditation offers teachings and practices in mindfulness and insight meditation (vipassana). These teachings are suitable for everyone in all walks of life.
It is a fact that frustrations, stress, disappointments, anger, and other related negative emotions affect the mind and body adversely. Such negative actions and emotions must be handled effectively. Likewise, setbacks must be accepted truly without causing health problems. Insight meditation is like a medicine that helps people in dealing with negative situations and emotion in a manner that is most effective to them.
Insight meditation allows or requires individuals to become aware of their environment.
They are more likely sensitive to perceiving each moment. Thus, they prefer to accept situations that are stressful rather than avoiding it. If you become aware of the internal status of your mind upon insight meditation, then you can learn to accept difficult circumstances without too much resistance.
By practicing insight meditation, you can train your mind in achieving a tranquil state without being affected by external forces. The mind is aided in developing the needed strength to obtain such peacefulness.
Today, the world around you is so busy, no time for meditating. But remember that wherever you are, it is your choice to become still or not. Set specific time and space where you can do insight meditation where nobody can disturb you.
You can start practicing insight meditation.
Sit in an upright position with the legs crossed. Focus on your breath or something else like physical and mental processes that are helping you to become aware of your present inner state and thought patterns.
Always watch out for your breath. It does not leave you provided that you are conscious. Imagine that you breathe in spirit. When you are breathing out, you express spirit. Concentrate on the air that passes down from your nostrils, to your air passages, and to your lungs, and vice versa when you breathe out.
Focusing on your breath can accomplish two things. Your concentration is slowly shifted away from the problems in your mind as well as it brings your focus to God.
Your practice of insight meditation lets you concentrate on your actions, thoughts, and present situation non-judgmentally. Insight meditation doesn’t encourage you to evaluate or think your past actions or take your thoughts on the uncertainty of the future. It trains and helps your mind not to be distracted by external disturbances, concentrate your thoughts, and relax your mind.
Insight meditation is conducted or practiced through formal and informal techniques.
Formal insight meditation incorporates yoga. In this way, you can be aware and control your breathing patterns in connection with particular body movements. When you take every life’s experience with pleasure and enjoyment, then you are using an informal insight meditation.
The strategy used in insight meditation is insight or introspection wherein you get clear pictures of your inner states and thoughts, achieve thought concentration, and train your mind in perceiving situations and things more effectively.
So, you can say goodbye to your problems and live a better and a healthy life.
