Changing Buddhist Practice in Burma - Online Burma Library

way, vispassana strives for non-self. The experiences (of body and mind) are
changing according to the law of impermanence. Mahasi wrote, "one who
desires to practice 'Vispassana' should retire to a quiet place and seat himself
cross-legged or in any convenient manner so as to enable him to sit for a long
time, with body erect, and then contemplate by fixing his attention on the
physical and mental phenomena which are known as 'Upadanakkhandhas' and
which are distinctly arising in his body". The five combined physical and
mental groups of the Upadanakkhandhas, "are those which are distinctly
perceived at every moment of seeing hearing, smelling, knowing the taste,
feeling the bodily-contacts and thinking of ideas, etc" (Mahasi Sayadaw 1958:
6). 23
Mahasi Vipassana begins with two prescribed meditation techniques; abdomen
meditation for the beginner, and breathing meditation for the advanced
practitioner (Mahasi Sayadaw 1984: 3-13, 14- 41). 24 Abdomen meditation is
practiced by observing, knowing, and focusing the consciousness on every
movement of the abdomen caused by breathing; for example particular
attention can be given to the actual movement of the abdomen, 'rising' and
'falling' (Mahasi Sayadaw 1958: 7, 1984: 3- 13). Breathing technique involves
being aware and knowing when the meditator breathes air in and out through
the nose. Both these techniques involve specific bodily postures such as
keeping the body upright (straight back) when sitting, although the meditator
can sit on a chair and the posture can be varied to a comfortable position as
meditation is meant to be a relaxed practice. However, every bodily movement
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