As Buddhists, we study the teaching taught by the Buddha and try so hard to get into a real practice of what we have learnt. From that point, we understand the need of cultivating our wisdom, compassion and mindfulness in our daily life. This very often seems to be too difficult to perform. However, this is exactly what we have to do.
There is a Thai phrase that "truth without practice has no values but only truth with a practice has the value". We come to understand that by practicing we will get to the knowledge of the truth. The question is "how to put this into a real practice". The answer is practicing meditation. So, there is no better way to find the truth and values than taking part in meditation retreat.
Everyone is eligible for the insight meditation practice with no limitation of time or place. The practitioner will understand what the truth is, directly through self practice within this lifetime. One needs not to wait for the next life to find the truth. The texts and tools for practice are simply within ones body and mind. As a matter of fact, an insight meditation is the way to the cessation of sufferings (Nirvana).
The advantages of insight meditation
There are innumerable advantages of insight meditation. Some of them are listed in the Buddhist Canon (Tripitaka) such as Sattanam visuddhiya (the purification of all beings' action, speech and mind), Sokaparidevanam samatikkamaya (extinction of sadness and sorrows), Dukkhadomanassanam atthangamaya (end of sadness and sorrows), Nanassa adhigamaya (attainment of the path).
The Buddha has five purposes for insight meditation,
1. to purify the mind,
2. to get rid of sorrows and lamentation,
3. to get rid of physical and mental sufferings,
4. to understand the truth of life,
5. to extinguish sufferings and attain Nirvana.
