Vipassana Samadhi confusion

Both states? Which “both states” you refer to?

So, what are the samadhi states (Samma-samadhi) you refer to?

When the Citta becomes singularly focused on the (Ti-lakkhana) investigation of the meditation subject, this is Upacara before Appana Samadhi. When the Citta withdraws from the object, this is Appana Samadhi. When the Citta has rested sufficiently, it returns to Upacara Samadhi and it is in this state that investigation is most effective. On its return, the Citta has the same degree of Sati that it did prior to Appana.

Appana Samadhi is very similar to forth Jhana, but not exactly the same.

If, during one’s meditation, one stops investigating and just focuses on the subject, such as the feel of the in and out breath, then the experience can change to become Jhana, which is also and Appana state.

1 Like

So, what are the samadhi states (Samma-samadhi) you refer to? Do you only refer to the forth Jhana?

Thanks everyone for a lot of good points! A couple of details in the OP have not been addressed.

I wouldn’t look at it that way. First up, anapanassati is satipatthana, there is no doubt of that. Satipatthana is broad and may be practiced many ways, of which anapanassati is the most common method.

Secondly, the identification of satipatthana with vipassana is mostly an artefact of the 20th century Burmese vipassana schools. In the suttas, satipatthana is included within the section on samadhi, and in fact is regarded as the “basis for samadhi”.

Yes, there is some connection between satipatthana and vipassana, because every part of the Dhamma is connected to every other part. But think of it this way: in the hundreds of suttas dealing with insight throughout the collections on the aggregates, sense bases, dependent origination and so on, satipatthana is almost never mentioned. Conversely, in eighty or so suttas on satipatthana, with a few exceptions, vipassana is never mentioned.

The basic meaning of satipatthana in the suttas is “meditation”. It is what one does when one goes to a secluded place, sits down and satiṁ upaṭṭhapetvā “establishes mindfulness”, i.e. “does satipatthana”, and observes the in-breaths and out-breaths. Yes, it has a broader and more subtle sense than this, but this is the core.

Vipassanā per se does not belong under “right mindfulness” of the eightfold path, but as pointed out by thomaslaw, under “right view”.

I’ve just finished a series of four talks on the topic, enjoy!

https://lokanta.live/

11 Likes

Unfortunately to say , that is not accurate . Anapanassati *is not * Satipatthana . Satipatthana included anapanassati but not the other way round .

At MN 118, the Ānāpānassati Sutta, ānāpānassati is said to fulfil the four satipaṭṭhānas:

Mendicants, when mindfulness of breathing is developed and cultivated it is very fruitful and beneficial. Mindfulness of breathing, when developed and cultivated, fulfills the four kinds of mindfulness meditation. The four kinds of mindfulness meditation, when developed and cultivated, fulfill the seven awakening factors. And the seven awakening factors, when developed and cultivated, fulfill knowledge and freedom.

Ānāpānassati, bhikkhave, bhāvitā bahulīkatā mahapphalā hoti mahānisaṁsā. Ānāpānassati, bhikkhave, bhāvitā bahulīkatā cattāro satipaṭṭhāne paripūreti. Cattāro satipaṭṭhānā bhāvitā bahulīkatā satta bojjhaṅge paripūrenti. Satta bojjhaṅgā bhāvitā bahulīkatā vijjāvimuttiṁ paripūrenti.

I hope this helps! :slightly_smiling_face:

4 Likes

Bhante , it could fulfil but not Equivalent to . If ānāpānassati is four satipaṭṭhānas , you dont need another satipaṭṭhānas term . I wonder if you get it .

I understand “ānāpānassati is satipatthāna” to mean that it is part of satipaṭṭhāna, just as contemplation of the 31 parts of the body is satipaṭṭhāna. I don’t read this sentence as an absolute identity.

4 Likes

Sure but i think you are not in same page with me . Nvm . Just FYI , contemplation of the 31 parts of the body is not satipaṭṭhāna too but that may need somewhat long piece of writing to address . Thanks anyway .

According to SN/SA suttas, sati-patthana ‘station of mindfulness’ is not anapana-sati ‘mindfulness by in- and out-breathing’; however, both are the practice of sati ‘mindfulness’ or samatha ‘calm’.

Cf.:
Who is the best teacher on Samatha and Vipassana meditation? - Q & A - Discuss & Discover

Vipassana Samadhi confusion - The Watercooler - Discuss & Discover

Also, both sati-patthana and anapana-sati are not ‘contemplation of the 31 parts of the body’, according to the mentioned SN/SA suttas.