July 2006 Newsletter

Vipassana Fellowship Newsletter

July 2006 Edition

"Like a bush in the jungle that is in full bloom,
In the hot month of early Summer,
Such a lovely Dhamma, A Dhamma leading to Nibbana,
Out of highest compassion did the Lord preach."

September Meditation Course now registering

Vipassana Fellowship's online meditation courses have been offered since 1997 and have proven helpful to meditators in many countries around the world. The main text is based on a tried and tested format and serves as a practical introduction to samatha (tranquillity) and vipassana (insight) techniques from the Theravada tradition of Buddhism. Intended primarily for beginners, the 90 day course is also suitable for experienced meditators who wish to explore different aspects of the tradition. The emphasis is on building a sustainable and balanced meditation practice that is compatible with lay life.

The course is suitable for users of any major operating system (Windows, Apple Mac, Linux) provided they have a recent web browser that can display Flash files. The course uses our Online Course Campus which adds additional flexibility and permits greater interactivity. Participants also receive an audio supplement on CD-Rom containing guided meditations and chants to support the online material.

The course is led by Andrew Quernmore, an experienced meditation teacher based in England and begins on Monday, September 4th.

Registration for the September course is available at:

http://www.vipassana.com/course/

Parisa - Support for Continuing Meditators

If you have taken one or more of our online courses during the past 9 years you are eligible to subscribe to our Parisa support and encouragement programme for former participants. Parisa provides ongoing access to the latest edition of the 90 day course (there are 3 of these each year), new material to aid your practice and understanding of the Dhamma in the form of monthly themed "parisa packs" and a similar level of access to personal support from Andrew as available to regular course members. This is a flexible scheme that can be joined throughout the year for as long or as short a period as you wish. It is hoped that regular contact during the three courses we run each year and added inspiration from the parisa packs will help to provide a support network for those who do not have access to a local group or who would like to further explore our tradition. Recent Parisa themes have included how to make use of traditional Observance Day practices, alternative approaches to Anapanasati Meditation, Ethical Living, Buddhanussati, Four Element Practice, the Dhamma teachings to be found in our own cultures, Meditation on the Thirty-Two Parts, Kasina Practice.

If you have already taken one of our courses, Parisa details can be found here:

http;//www.vipassana.com/parisa/

The Goal of the Buddha-Dhamma

by Bhikkhu Kassapa (Sri Lanka)

"No lie is the Nibbana Dhamma;

this the Ariyas have seen;

they, indeed, have realized the Truths,

Peace Eternal."

There are some who think that the attainment of Virtue (Sila) is the Goal. Some think that the attainment of Concentration (Samadhi) with the gain of one-pointed mind of Jhanas. Some think that the gain of Wisdom (panna) is the end. But none of these is the Goal, though they are essential steps of the Path to it.

These three - Virtue, Concentration and Wisdom - are the three factors of the Noble Eightfold Path, the fourth of the Four Noble Truths. The Goal is in the realization of the Third Noble Truth: the total extirpation of all craving and the intuition of Nibbana.

The Path is truly a narrow one. Mankind in enmeshed in the toils of suffering because none but the Noble, Ariyas, have truly understood and realized the Four Noble Truths. There are many who cannot see that Life is suffering, for they do not possess the critical mind that alone can grasp this First Noble Truth. Because of the transitory pleasure that comes from the pleasurable excitement of one or other of the five senses, we fail to see that these bodies of ours are all the time, even at the moments we are "enjoying ourselves", most steadily decaying and step by step nearing the grave-yard. We fail to remember that disease often of a foul nature has caught and killed many of our friends, even our nearest and dearest, and that we too can be killed, who can tell at what moment, by some foul disease. We tolerate "living" because we have these transitory pleasures, and these friends to share them with us. But one by one our friends will all die, those who now we love so much, and leave us lonely if we live that long. Otherwise we must die, leaving them. But we are blind, blinded by dull ignorance. And from this Ignorance, and combined with it, are born Greed and Hate, the inseparable twins of craving (tanha), the second Noble Truth. Greed makes us want this, that and the other, and when we cannot get what we long for, we are miserable. Do you doubt it? Look at the woeful face of your friend who has "fallen in love" (another name for Craving) with even a box of cream chocolates, and is afraid it cannot be obtained. And if it is obtained how long will it last? What bellyaches may it not cause while it is still not empty, if one eats well but unwisely? And everything is like - lover, husband, wife, child, parent, friend, and all that is near and dear to one. They pass away, they die, and while they last, they give us many aches. And this is true of all "possessions", without exception.

And we; we go on; for to die is to be reborn and that again means a repetition of the same round of misery.

Many of us seek to ennoble our petty cravings, naming them "ambition", "getting on in life", "success" and so forth. But all such purely worldly progress, honestly and critically examined, is at the expense of other people's craving being foiled one way and another. We rise pushing others down. Six boys love one girl. One wins the girl and five are miserable, and the one who wins may later be even more miserable than the other five. It is the same with "success" in business, professions, or anything else. And so comes Hate. We hate those who want what we want, who block our way, who take what we dream is "ours". Most religions point to a sensuous sort of "heaven" as their goal. There are such "heavens", they are not the goal at all, but to gain even them the path is narrow. The broad road of pursuit after worldly pleasures leads to "hells"; the narrow road to any "heaven" calls for munificence and love, in place of greed and hate. One who gives freely to all in need, who gives as much as he can, such a person conquers greed and wins munificence. Such a person also, not ever wanting what others also need and want, finds it easy to extend love towards all beings. Such a munificent and kindly person surely treads a narrow path to heaven.

But heavens too pass away. In heavens too, there is birth and death. And these greeds and hates, conquered but not rooted out, may spring up again and bring all the misery back.

So the wise, the Buddhas and the Arahants, tell us to be done with it all forever and, for this, we must tread the Noble Eightfold Path of Right Understanding, Right Aspiration (these two come under Wisdom), Right Speech, Right Deed, Right Mode of Livelihood (these three come under Virtue), Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration (these three come under Mind training). The Noble Eightfold Path is indeed a very narrow and difficult road, but it brings its own fruits and happinesses, very much higher than the worldly joys, to those who follow it, even before the Goal is won.

And one day, the Goal, Nibbana will be won. That only can end this round of birth, death and sorrow for ever.

"No lie is the Nibbana Dhamma" - so said our Teacher, the 'Dhammaraja anuttaro' who himself trod the path and won the Goal with thousands and thousands of his Arahant disciples.

The Vipassana Fellowship Newsletter is published about 10 times each year and is sent only on request and to previous participants of our courses. Vipassana Fellowship is an organisation dedicated to the dissemination of accurate and useful information on Buddhist meditation practices as found in the Theravada tradition. Our next mailing will be in August. Our site can be accessed via the vipassana.com and vipassana.org domains.