Beyond Breath and Equanimity: Rediscovering Vipassana

My Journey with Vipassana

A few years ago, a friend introduced me to Vipassana meditation through dhamma.org. Curious, I coenrolled in a 10-day course.

Those ten days were unlike anything I had ever experienced. I discovered aspects of myself I had never encountered before. Yet, what stood out most vividly was not the silence or the insights—it was the persistent back pain and the constant desire to shift into more comfortable postures.

After completing the course, I drifted away from the practice. Life brought storms of its own, and in the midst of personal challenges, I realized meditation was a tool I wanted to rediscover.

I began meditating again and slowly found peace. This time, I went deeper—researching what Vipassana truly teaches. My exploration led me into the foundations of Sila (morality), Samādhi (concentration), and Paññā (wisdom).

Practice Interpretation

A very wise person I recently met, with direct experience, interpreted vipassana for a simple breathing exercise or just a practice of equanimity. Indeed, what we actively practice in the meditation centers are Samādhi & Paññā.

But there is an underlying element often overlooked: Sila.

The Five Precepts

Every practitioner is expected to follow the Five Precepts, which form the moral foundation of Vipassana:

• No lying

• No stealing

• No killing

• No sexual misconduct

• No intoxicants

For some, these precepts may seem straightforward. For others, they can be quite challenging. Each of us begins from a different starting point, and so our journeys vary—whether in morality, concentration, or equanimity.

Each morning in the centers, chants are played for about half an hour. The very first, known as the Atanatiya Sutta, is a protective verse. As written down, it was originally sung by a king. Before the sutta begins, the king asks Siddhartha why so many of his citizens do not believe in the teachings of the Buddha. He replies that most people find the moral vows undesirable and unpleasant to follow.

What it means

As I am still at the start of the journey, I see the precepts as essential to practice. Even in moments of oversight, mindfulness matters, and I choose to live with the precepts at the heart of my path.