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The Seminar on Vedana and Sampajanna, held in 1990 at Dhamma Giri, Igatpuri,
was an important milestone in the acknowledgement of Vipassana Meditation as
the quintessence of the Buddha's teaching. The papers presented at this Seminar
gave detailed insight into these two very important terms from the Pali canon
and are inspiring to meditators and scholars interested in the Buddha's teaching.
Introduction to the Papers Presented by VRI
Vipassana Research Institute (VRI) is an organisation that was established for
conducting research into the pariyatti (theory) and patipatti (practice) of
the Buddha's teaching. It also conducts research on the application of Vipassana
in such fields as health, education and social development. The Institute is
adjacent to Vipassana International Academy, Igatpuri where regular courses
in Vipassana meditation are offered. VRI also offers a Pali language study programme
and publishes works of interest to Vipassana students. It integrates theoretical
principles of the non-sectarian teaching of Gotama the Buddha with the practice
of Vipassana meditation.
Vipassana Research Institute has undertaken the task of interpreting certain
words that are of great importance to the practice of the Buddha's teaching.
This seminar has been organized to help elucidate such terms, the understanding
of which, play a crucial role in Vipassana meditation as taught by Gotama the
Buddha-vedana and sampajanna. It is important that meditators understand these
two terms so that they may practice seriously, with confidence, free from confusion.
There is tremendous gratitude for all of the pioneering efforts in translating
the sayings of the Buddha into English and other languages. As a result of these
efforts many people have come into contact with and have been inspired by his
precious teachings. However, the translation of one language into another is
difficult and often imperfect, even more so when it comes to the words of the
Fully Enlightened One. When the Buddha uses technical terms that are the crux
of meditation techniques, these terms have very specific and specialised meanings.
Corresponding terms in other languages may not, and often do not, exist. For
this reason translations must continue to be refined and updated because a clear
understanding of these words serves as an essential guide to the practice. As
one develops in the practice, one's understanding deepens, which in turn allows
for more accurate translations of the Buddha's teachings.
In presenting these papers, it is hoped that the understanding of the Buddha's
words will become more precise and that students of meditation will be able
to work free from doubt and confusion to experience real peace and happiness.
Certainly, the coverage of these two terms, presented in these papers, is incomplete.
Additional work is needed in order to shed light on many other suttas in the
Tipitaka and its commentaries where these terms are contained; research must
continue-both theoretical and practical.
Why
Vedana and What is Vedana?
The
Importance of Vedana and Sampajanna
Vedana and the Four Noble Truths
The Significance of Vedana in Vipassana
Relevance of Vedana to Bhavana-maya Panna
Significance of the Pali Term Dhuna in the Practice of Vipassana Meditation
Types of Vedana and a State Beyond Vedana
Vedana in the Practice of Satipatthana
The
Comprehension of Vedana, the Sambodhi of the Buddha
The
Importance of Kaya-samphassaja-vedana in Vipassana Meditation
Samisa and Niramisa in Meditation
Sampajanna-the Constant Thorough Understanding of Impermanence
The Importance of Vedana and Sampajanna in Vipassana Meditation
The
Buddha and His Noble Path
Vipassana and Vedana as Understood by
a Novice
Importance
of Vedana and Sampajanna in the Vipassana (Insight) System of Meditation
Vedana and Aniccasanna of Vipassana in
the Pali Text
The Impact of Thorough Understanding (Sampajanna) on Sensations (Vedana)