What is Mahasati?

Mahasati Insight meditation is a form of Vipassana meditation originating from Southeast Asia. Mahasati in Pali means “great awareness.” Its objective is eliminating suffering through clear seeing and understanding of the body and mind in the present moment.

Mahasati meditation is based on the teaching of the twentieth-century Thai meditation master, Luangpor Teean Jittasubho.

Rather than using the breath as the primary object of awareness, Mahasati meditation uses attention to the body’s movement as an anchor to the present moment. When one’s mindfulness is strong enough, attention is turned to observing the movement of the mind in the present moment. The formal seated meditation practice involves repetitive hand movements, generally performed with the eyes open.

Periods of seated meditation are interspersed with walking meditation. Because this practice is performed with the body moving and the eyes open, the mind is generally more alert than in seated breath meditation, and insight is realized more quickly.

It is also easier to integrate this practice into one’s daily life. Continuous and diligent practice ultimately leads to a direct and profound understanding of the origins of suffering in human experience and points the way toward ultimate liberation.