Vedanā and the Wisdom of Impermanence: We are Precipitants Within the Experiments of the Universe
Paul R. Fleischman
Contemporary Buddhism January 2, 2018 DOI: 10.1080/14639947.2018.1443733 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | Vipassana meditation |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key points | Argues that Vipassana meditation's focus on neutral awareness of body sensations is both practically workable and historically grounded in the Buddha's words, and that this practice aligns practitioners with a scientific narrative connecting body sensations to cell biology, biochemistry, bioenergetics, the evolution of life, solar nucleosynthesis, and cosmic evolution. |
Abstract
Vipassana meditation in the tradition of S.N. Goenka is based upon neutral, non-judgemental, non-reactive awareness of the arising and passing of body sensations. This focus for meditation has two advantages. First, it is a practical focus that most people find they can work with, and that derives from a historical connection to the Buddha’s words. Second, this meditative focus puts the practitioner in line with the modern scientific world view as well as with the Buddha. The rising and passing of body sensations can be understood in a seamless, scientific narrative that connects cell biology, biochemistry, bioenergetics, the history of the evolution of life on Earth, solar nucleosynthesis and the evolution of the universe. This article traces this elegant and elevating scientific narrative in greater detail.