Meditation

Vipassana meditation (also called Insight meditation) as in the Theravada Buddhist tradition, is practised and taught in Passaddhi. Vipassana means 'clear seeing'. Through observing our experience, from moment to moment, in the here and now, without immediately reacting to it or getting absorbed into it,we learn to develop mindfulness and awareness. This clear seeing gets us in touch with our mental, physical and emotional processes. Meditation is a journey of self-discovery. It is not about getting mystical experiences, but about developing a capacity to be realistic, to be in touch with our experience of what is real here and now, and to see the true nature of that reality. We can wake up from living on automatic pilot, from being only half-awake, and learn to live life more fully, open-minded and open-hearted, with less fear and clinging.

In this changing world of ours where we are challenged by materialism and economic problems, it is of the utmost importance that we learn to get in touch again with that which is beyond gain and loss, beyond hope and fear. Through practising vipassana we learn to relate to the suffering of ourselves and other beings in a more skilful way, not getting
overwhelmed by it, nor becoming indifferent to it.
We can develop equanimity and compassion in the midst of worldly chaos as much as in peaceful circumstances. But retreats and intensive meditation practice help us to tap into our inner source of awareness and wakefulness. We begin to see our patterns and habits more clearly, and from this understanding compassion for ourselves and others arises.

Metta or lovingkindness meditation, the other practice practised and offered at Passaddhi, is a way of reconnecting with our inner essence that is free from conditionings. Metta meditation was taught by the Buddha as a way of protecting ourselves from internal and external dangers. Cultivating metta means opening our heart and relearning loveliness, thereby releasing ourselves from the internal chronic critic that often is sabotaging our commitment to waking up. Metta is an antidote to fear, and it helps to overcome anger, hatred and resentment. Practising metta is about befriending ourselves and others in an unconditional way. Through the force of metta we begin to loosen the boundaries we have created around ourselves, and we experience the interconnectedness of all beings. What unites us is our wish to be happy, and in practising metta meditation we give expression to this wish for happiness and well-being, our own and that of other sentient beings.