Altered Traits

The Visuddhimagga, is the blueprint for “insight meditation,” also known as “mindfulness.”

A fifth-century Buddhist text, the Visuddhimagga lays out the progression of meditative states through to “nirvana.” In the normal waking state, thoughts rush about and you react to them; this is the “monkey mind.” By focusing on the breath, the practitioner focuses the mind. Concentration gets stronger and one’s attention “rests in the stillness of a lake.” This leads to positive sensations of joy and calm. Concentration deepens and the meditator feels bliss.

The Buddha said this path alone would not liberate the mind. He followed the “path of insight.” Instead of focusing on one point, the meditator remains open and observant, “mindful” of what comes up, but doesn’t react. Eventually the practitioner sees past the torrents of thoughts into the nature of mind itself. The Vissuddhimagga describes a lasting transformation of being, where compassion, kindness and joy replace negative traits like anger, selfishness, and greed. But like drug-induced highs, meditation highs also fade. The “deep path” in meditation practice transforms who people are. The “...