The interface of samatha and vipassanā in the Insight Meditation methods of Goenka, Mahāsī, Mogok and Pa Auk
Estrema: revista interdisciplinar de humanidades January 1, 2023 Otávio Vieira
Four Burmese masters of the Insight Meditation Movement—Goenka, Mogok, Pa Auk, and Mahāsī—held different views on the relationship between samatha (concentration) and vipassanā (wisdom) in meditation. Goenka and Mogok taught a brief samatha practice before vipassanā, Pa Auk required achieving the four jhanās (deep absorptions) first, while Mahāsī taught vipassanā without preparatory samatha, relying on momentary concentration for insight. These approaches reflect distinct theoretical understandings and practical methods shaped by their political-historical context.