A Study of Vipassana Practice in Kali Sutta

Abstract

This article aimed to 1) study the content and important teaching in Kālīsutta; 2) study how to practice Vipassana meditation appeared in Kālīsutta. It was documentary research by studying information from Theravada Buddhist scriptures and related documents, the data was then summed up, analyzed and compiled in descriptive work.

The results revealed that Kālīsutta was discoursed concerning a laywoman named Kālī who inquired Ven. Mahakaccayana what was the meaning of the statement ‘the benefit gains refer to mental peace’ delivered by the Buddha. Ven. Mahakaccayana explained that benefit gains in the view of the Buddha, are different from other ascetics and Brahmins, that is, the benefit gains in other ascetics and Brahmins means only the 8 Samāpatti attainment by the ten Kasina practice, but the Buddha had gained such Samāpatti by 10 Kasina attainment, then knowing the value and disadvantages, and it renouncing and the way to attain the path and non-path knowledge, this is the true peaceful benefits of the heart.

The practice of Vipassana meditation in Kālīsutta showed that the Buddha entered meditation in a sequence consisting of 4 Jhāna, 4 Arūpajhāna, that is, he could enter these meditations starting from the initial Samāpatti, the first Jhanas, going up to the highest Jhana state. His disciple, Ven. Sariputta can enter the eight Samāpatti if he wished. The practice of Vipassana meditation according to the ten principles of 10 Kasina, i.e., concentrating on Pathavīkasina, etc., by using it as the base of meditation before developing into Vipassana exercise entering 4 Jhanas and 4 Arūpajhāna in the Pathavīkasina, etc., and concentrating for the establishment of mentality called as Samathayānika or a way of training the mind by practicing meditation first and continuing to practice Vipassana later. This way of training and developing the mind is for liberation from all suffering.