Mahasati vs Vipassana and Breath Meditation
Only comparisons the book states are listed below, with no verdict on other methods. Vipassana is taught in many ways across traditions, so nothing here is a general statement about all of them.
| Compared with | What the book says | Page |
|---|---|---|
| Noting / labelling | The preface says Luangpor Teean gave up the traditional labelling and found that simply knowing bodily movement directly works better. Noting is "adding something to it"; Mahasati removes all of that | preface, 55 |
| Breath meditation | "Not recommended". It easily feels pleasant and you stick to the pleasantness and calm, which is not real comfort or calm, like ice in a fridge. Breath and movement should not be combined; know one at a time | 25 to 26, 51 |
| Samatha (calm) | It brings comfort and calm and is limited by time and place. Vipassana has no such limit, and Mahasati belongs to vipassana | 26 |
| Sitting meditation | Static meditation needs sitting; Mahasati works in any place, time or activity. Its concentration is "natural concentration", present while walking, running or working | 15 to 16 |
| Closed eyes | Seeing is the eyes' natural function and we should not go against nature. People used to closing their eyes may feel uneasy at first and then get used to it | 49 |
| Suppressing thoughts | This method does not suppress thoughts, and does not follow them; return to the movement | 59 to 60 |
| Watching the mind, contemplating suffering | No need to deliberately watch the mind, only know the body's movements; no need to contemplate suffering, just practise | 34, 61 |
| Concentration | A light fist is awareness, a tight fist is concentration. Be moderately focused, not over-focused; dangerous states come from too much concentration without awareness | 52 to 53, 71 |
| Chanting | Finish the chanting first, then do the hand movements | 54 |
The book's own summary of its feature is short: "just simply knowing" (p. 55).
In one talk, Yihuan Xingzhe also said that moving meditation and vipassana are both valid and differ in where you start, with breath and movement being tools and awareness the core. This is paraphrased authorisation pending.
More: What is Mahasati meditation, common mistakes.
FAQ
How is Mahasati different from vipassana with mental noting?
Luangpor Teean gave up the traditional labelling and found that directly and simply knowing bodily movement works better. Mahasati does no noting and no labels, just simple knowing (preface, p. 55).
Why does Mahasati not use the breath?
The book says breath meditation is "not recommended" because you easily stick to the pleasant calm, which is not real calm, like ice in a fridge (pp. 25 to 26). Breath and movement should not be combined either (p. 51).
Do I have to sit still to practise Mahasati?
No. Static meditation needs sitting; Mahasati applies in any place, time and activity (p. 15).
Should I concentrate hard?
Moderately, not too much. A light fist is awareness and a tight fist is concentration (pp. 52 to 53).
Source: Luangpor Thong, The Principles and Method of Mahasati (Chinese title 正念動中禪的原理與方法; the English title is my translation), Q&A compiled by the Taiwan Mahasati association, Religious Culture Press, 2013. "p." means a page of that book; page numbers are to be verified against the book. Paraphrased, not quoted at length.