I have recently started practicing Vipassana meditation. For the past two weeks I have been doing 2-3 hours total of both sitting and walking meditation. The first week and a half I actually put more emphasis on Samatha meditation to develop the concentration needed for proper Vipassana practice. Now that my concentration is more developed, I have started focusing more on Insight.
For the past 14 years I have been practicing meditation solely for the purpose of inducing out of body experiences, lucid dreams, and deep altered states of consciousness with the goal of exploring nonphysical reality and the nature of my self beyond the physical level of experience. But these nonphysical experiences and explorations, while beneficial in their own way, do little to eradicate attachments, defilements, and suffering. I have recently come to the realization that I have been putting off the development of a dedicated meditation practice for quite some time now, and that if I am to make any significant improvements in the evolution of my consciousness into states of higher awareness and truth, the establishment of such a practice is necessary.
My friends recently attended a 10-day Vipassana retreat, which inspired me to begin a dedicated practice of Vipassana at home. I had previously known about Vipassana and it's potential benefits, and would have attended the retreat if I had been able to. After recently reading much more in depth into the theoretical and practical aspects of Vipassana practice, I came to an understanding that this practice could potentially lead to true liberation. While I had been practicing mindfulness to some extent for the past could of years and working to eradicate the influence of my ego and the suffering caused by my attachments and desires, I was now presented with a practical means for the ultimate fulfillment of this.
This post is more geared towards Matthew and others who are more theoretically and experientially knowledgeable in these matters. Matthew, you have written that you have certain disagreements or dissatisfactions with the Vipassana method. My goal is to dedicate myself to a practice that will bring results, and according to my understanding, Vipassana is such a practice. My understanding is that Samatha meditation, while having it's own benefits, does not lead the practitioner to true insight and liberation in the way that Vipassana may.
I wanted to inquire as to:
What aspects of Vipassana do you find lacking and/or unsatisfactory?
What do you believe is the best practice or combination of practices to achieve liberation from suffering and illusion, to achieve enlightenment?
If this is not clear from your responses of the previous two questions, How would you recommend I supplement or modify my Vipassana practice to achieve the best results?
Thanks!