AN ANALSIS FACTORS AFFECTING ON PRACTICING VIPASSANA MEDITATION OF WATRAMPOENG {TAPOTARAM} T.SUTHEP, A.MUANG, CHIANG MAI PROVINCE

Abstract

The thesis entitled ‘An Analysis of Factors Affecting on Practicing Vipassana Meditation of Wat Rampoeng (Tapotaram), T. Suthep, A. Muang, Chiang Mai Province’ consists of two objectives as: 1) to study the factors affecting on practicing Vipassana meditation in Buddhism and 2) to analyze factors affecting on practicing Vipassana meditation based on the Four Foundations of Mindfulness in Wat Rampoeng (Tapotaram), T. Suthep, A. Muang, Chiang Mai Province. The research was conducted by the documentary research method and presented the analyzed findings in the narrative manner.

The results revealed that there are four important factors that affect the practitioners towards the Insight Meditation or Vipassana practice, they are 1) Bodhipakkhiya-dhamma: virtues partaking of enlightenment that consists of Satipaññhàna: foundations of mindfulness, Sammappadhàna: right exertions, Iddhipàda: path of accomplishment, Indriya: controlling faculty, Bala: power, Bojjhaïga: enlightenment factors and Aññhaïgika-magga: the Noble Eightfold Path. 2) The Morality or Sãla, it is regarded as the peacefulness of mind and other doctrines as the heedfulness and disciplines for the practitioners. 3) Carita or the intrinsic nature of a person—the practice will progress quickly depending on the suitable postures, i.e. standing, walking, sitting and reclining, and the sub-deportment during the day. 4) Sappàya: beneficial or advantageous conditions—it consists of seven factors; âvàsa-sappàya: suitable abode, Gocara-sappàya: suitable resort, Bhassa-sappàya: suitable speech, Puggala-sappàya: suitable person, Utu-sappàya: suitable climate and Iriyàpatha-sappàya: suitable posture.

Regarding the meditation teaching technique of Wat Rampoeng, the technique is mixed with modern science based on the Four Foundations of Mindfulness and taught by the meditation master, Venerable Phrakrubhavanavirat (Suphan âciõõasãlo). He has a great way of teaching and explaining based on the Theravada Buddhist Tipitaka and using the Rising and Falling meditation technique to conduct the meditators. The Buddhist doctrines that encourage the meditation practice are Bodhipakkhiya-dhamma: virtues partaking of enlightenment that consists of the internal factors, viz., morality or Sãla, the intrinsic nature of a person or Carita, earnestness or âtapã. The external factors are the Sappàya or seven beneficial or advantageous conditions.

The meditation training course at Wat Rampoeng consists of ‘the Beginner Course’—the practitioners will be trained for 3 days—and the ‘Advance Course’—the practitioners will be trained for more than 30 days. The practitioners will be trained with the technique called the ‘rising and falling movement’ in four postures, i.e. sitting, walking, standing and reclining. The walking meditation at the first stage is to practice by the words ‘Right Go Thus and Left Go Thus’ in six stages. The significant teaching is to focus on the 28 meditative centers at the right and left hip and down to the right and left foot. For the sake of meditative progress, the practitioners will have their meditative experience examined by the meditation master every day, except on the Buddhist holy day. In addition, the temple also communicates its distinctive image by personal media, press, and online media in order to inform the Buddhist activities throughout the year. Therefore, many people come to practice meditation at this temple for their great benefit and to eliminate all sufferings until achieving Nibbàna.