--- In Pali@yahoogroups.com, "Bhikkhu Pesala" <pesala@...> wrote:

> > Venerable Mahaasi Sayaadaw spent most of his life teaching the
> suddhavipassanaa method for the benefit of lay people who have
> insufficient time to cultivate jhaana. Since the late Sayaadaw was

the

> Chief Questioner at the Chattha Sangaayana, and left a legacy of

over

> 300 branch meditation centres, I think we can be reasonably sure

that

> his method is an effective way to gain insight and realise

nibbaana.

>
>||||||||

Dear Venerable Pessala,

Last month this was posted on another list. It would be good if
venerable Sujato could join in the dialogue but I think he said he is
not replying to group emails while on vassa (maybe he can join in
later):
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Jhanas/message/7720
ven. Sujato: It is sad, and not a little weird, how attachment to
meditation techniques generates such anger. I try to approach the
matter through remaining cool and relying on the facts, without
buying into personal stuff. There is a strong vipassana bent in
Sydney where i live; in fact Mahasi and Goenka dominate the whole
scene. It is important to positively encourage good relations and
mutual help in other areas, even if we disagree about meditation.

In Western terms, vipassana develops IQ [Intelligence Quota] but not
EQ [Emotional Quota], and this causes dislocation and imbalance in
the community. I think historically this was a result of an attempt
to rationalize meditation in the wake of the colonial challenge. In
other words, the vipassanavada is a modern western-influenced idea,
not an authentic tradition at all.

In my opinion, the whole vipassanavada thing is a big 20th Century
furphy: it could only arise in a context where the suttas were
subordinated to the commentaries, and with increasing awareness of
the suttas it will soon enough disappear. People will look back at
this odd episode and shake their heads in wonder at how the supposed
most orthodox of orthodoxies managed to convince the world that the
Buddha taught a sevenfold path.

[furphy (aussie slang) n.(pl.furphies) 1 a false report or rumour. 2
an absurd story]
in Dhamma,
Bhante sujato

________

I would like to look at this in some detail if you feel interested. I
have written several posts over the last few years on sukkhavipassaka.
Robertk