Is this vipassanā bhāvanā or insight meditation?
This proper cultivation of the Seven Steps to Awakening (satta bojjhanga) is the real “Insight Meditation” (vipassanā bhāvanā), as taught by the Buddha, in the Sutta Pitaka. We, however, call our third level of meditation vidassana bhāvanā instead of vipassanā, in order to distinguish it from the common kind of vipassanā bhāvanā that is taught all over the world today, which is based on the teachings in the Visuddhi Magga, written by the well known author Buddhagosha. Our method is not based on the Visuddhi Magga but on the words of the Buddha as found in the Sutta Pitaka. We describe our method of vidassanā bhāvanā as “the development of Super- perception” (abhiññā). The term apperception, as we use it, means: focusing attention on the process of perception, rather than on the object perceived. When this is done a paradigm shift occurs between existential thinking and experiential thinking, which results in Super-perception (abhiññā). This will be explained in more detail in due course.
In support of our use of the term vidassanā, instead of vipassanā we quote a passage from the Metta Sutta: “diṭṭhiñca anupagamma sīlavā dassanena sampanno,” which we understand as: “Having withdrawn attention from the objects perceived, the disciplined individual focuses attention on the process of perception.” This method of meditation will be elaborated as we proceed. It is difficult for a beginner to comprehend this fully at this stage. A peep into the Mūlapariyāya Sutta in the Majjhima Nikaya could be helpful in comprehension.