Development of Practices of Vipassana Meditation in Thai Society towards Soft-Powered Effectiveness

Abstract

The research article titled "The Development of Vipassanā Meditation Practices in Thai Society Toward Soft Power Outcomes" aims to analytically study the methods of Vipassanā meditation practice in Thai society, to compare different methods of Vipassanā meditation practiced in Thailand, and to develop those methods for broader impact. This is a qualitative research study, conducted through document analysis using the 6 Cs technique, along with field research involving in-depth interviews with eight Vipassanā meditation masters and Buddhist scholars. The data was analyzed using triangulation.

The research findings revealed that:

                 1) Methods of Vipassanā meditation practiced in Thai society include:

                - The “Buddho" repetition of the word “Buddho" in conjunction with breathing,

                 - The Pong-yup use mindfulness of abdominal movements,

                - The Nama-Rupa use mindful observation of bodily and mental phenomena,

                - The Samma-Arahant use visualization and focus on light or mental images (nimitta),

                - The Anapanasati use mindfulness of inhalation and exhalation.

                 2) The “Buddho" and Samma-Arahant methods are categorized as Samatha (concentration) meditation. The Anapanasati (mindfulness of breathing) and Rising-Falling abdominal movement methods begin as Samatha and evolve into Vipassanā (insight) meditation. The Nama-Rupa (mind-body analysis) method is considered Vipassanā from the beginning. All methods are based on the Four Foundations of Mindfulness (Satipatthāna) and can lead to progressive stages of realization.

                 3) The development of Vipassanā meditation practices in Thai meditation centers emphasizes the principle of maintaining continuous mindfulness in all postures and cultivating uninterrupted awareness until insight (Vipassanā paññā) arises, ultimately leading to the realization of the Path, Fruition, and Nibbāna.