Vipassana--The Non-Sectarian Way
by Sadhvi Vinodinibai
What is sectarianism? "My sect is the best; only people of my sect are religious and can be noble and truthful." This is the kind of thinking that goes into sectarianism.
People do not understand the difference between sectarianism and true religion. Sectarianism has a foundation of three or four basic concepts:
1) People of different sects have faith in their own respective deities or founders.
2) Each sect has its own ideas concerning the proper kind of clothes to wear. Only those people who wear these clothes are considered religious by them; others are considered irreligious.
3) Those who perform the rites and rituals approved by the sect are the only ones considered religious by them; others are not.
4) Each sect has its own philosophy and theory. Only those who believe in it are considered to be religious; the rest are considered non-believers.
In the practice of Vipassana there is no importance given to these concepts. Pure religion is universal.
Nature has its eternal laws. Understanding these laws, living one's life in accordance with them and liberating the mind of its impurities and defilements is the goal of Vipassana meditation. Every human being becomes agitated as a result of these defilements, and by becoming liberated from them one can enjoy peace and harmony.
The Buddha gave three steps in this meditation_ s²la, sam±dhi and paññ±. S²la means not harming anyone by actions of body and speech. Who in this world, belonging to any sect, can have any objection to this? By leading a good life each individual can bring about peace and harmony in his or her own family, society, country, and thus the whole world.
The second step is sam±dhi, concentration of the mind. But it must be concentration without craving or aversion as its object. It is the development of concentration by observing the natural and normal breath which is universal. It is not an external, imaginary object. No sect can have any objection to this.
The third and most important step is paññ±—bh±vana-may±-paññ± [experiential wisdom]. It is by observing the sensations on the body objectively and understanding their impermanent nature, and thus developing equanimity, that one gains liberation from impurities.
The unconscious mind generates craving and aversion every moment by identifying with pleasant and unpleasant sensations. This can be experienced only through Vipassana meditation.
Which sect would object to a scientific method of liberating oneself from one's defilements without using an external object of concentration, and through insight meditation?
No sect can have any special authority on this scientific technique. Any individual who follows the technique and makes effort can succeed.
In this meditation practice there is no external object for meditation; no external chains. In fact, by practising this meditation technique a deeper understanding of one's own religious philosophy and theory is gained. Whoever practises this Jewel of Dhamma begins to experience the benefits of it. Total liberation from one's impurities is not possible by any other practice.
I happened to come to a Vipassana course accidentally and I express my infinite gratitude to Goenkaji for establishing me in pure Dhamma with great love and compassion. It is a very long path. But the very fact of having found this path is itself a matter of great merit.
May everyone enjoy peace and happiness.
The world is facing serious problems. It is just the right time for
everyone to take to Vipassana meditation and learn how to find a deep
pool of quiet in the midst of all that is happening today.
--Sayagyi U Ba Khin