Guidelines for Considering Abhinhapaccavekkha to Promote the Practice of Vipassana Meditation

Abstract

The article is part of the research has three objectives : 1) to study the Abhinhapaccavekkha in the Theravada Buddhist scriptures,  2) to study the practice of Vipassana in Theravada Buddhist scriptures and 3) to propose guidelines for considering Abhinhapaccavekkha to promote the practice.  The research methodology was a documentary research mostly based on the Tipitaka and other Buddhist texts.  The results of the research found that:

1) Abhinhapaccavekkha is the consideration of ageing process, sickness, death, and separation from loved or liked things, and the consideration of own kamma  as they really are “We have own karma, we have karma as mother.  Whatever we have committed, be they good or bad, it will reflect back“.  Three main dharma elements are perseverance, mindfulness and wisdom.

2) Buddhism emphasizes the three studies:  (1)  Adhisila, the practice for purifying the body and speech.  (2)  Adhicitta, the practice of calming the mind.  (3) Adhipanya, the practice of seeing forms and names as they really are in order to understand the Four Noble Truths leading to the cessation of suffering forever.

3) There are 3 levels of contemplating Abhinhapaccavekkha:  (1) the level of seeing to prevent dangers,  (2) the level of considering to let go delusions, and  (3) the level of seeing the Four Noble Truths, which are the path leading to the complete cessation of defilements..