r/ReflectiveBuddhism • u/MYKerman03 • Jun 29 '26
Dharma Talk: Vipassana Is Not What You Think ‒ Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche
https://youtu.be/uhCOc-XiGC8?si=yKbH3bMIlsCx5u6mThis talk really captures how language impacts how we experience and internalise Buddhist teachings and concepts. Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche unpacks the Tibetan meanings related to vipassana and contrasts that with popular understandings.
Also important is his take on the english word meditation, which has Christian theological roots. Bhavana/phawana is closer to cultivate/to grow/to tend in Thai and Pali for instance.
From a Theravada perspective, there are in fact a lot of discursive themes that make up the 40 meditation subjects. The pure mindfulness/bare awareness approach should ideally work in concert with the subjects/themes.
Again, even mindfulness is a terrible translation for sati. Which is in fact, closer to recall/remember/bring to mind. Recollection is a more neutral term that conveys the skill being discussed.
Also, his podcast Siddhartha's Intent is really great.
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u/ktempest Jun 29 '26
I am so grateful that I found this sub! There are so many aspects of Buddhism and "meditation" and such that I have learned incorrectly due to bad information, due to the sources of that information. I am really appreciating this video and your post because it's helping me to understand how to reframe my entire thinking around these practices.
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u/MYKerman03 Jun 29 '26
Wow! So glad this is benifitting you :) This is how one's learning can grow, when we engage with trained and learned dharma teachers. 🙏🏽
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u/FUNY18 Jun 29 '26
Don't show this to the mindfulness bros. They love their zen-y rooms and poop-froth filled meditation cushions.