Vipassana is exclusively the Buddha’s teaching

Through the development of samatha one can become temporarily free from lobha, dosa and moha, but these defilements are not eradicated. Vipassana is the only way to eradicate defilements. Samatha was taught also by other teachers before the Buddha’s time, but vipassana is exclusively the Buddha’s teaching. The Buddha reminded the monks of the goal of the teachings, the eradication of defilements, and he exhorted them not to be satisfied with lesser attainments, but to continue developing the right conditions for the attainment of arahatship.

We read in the “Greater Discourse on the Simile of the Pith” (Middle Length Sayings I, no 29) that the Buddha, while he was staying near Rajagaha, on Mount Vulture’s Peak, spoke about a monk who received gains, honours and fame. We read: “ ... Because of the gains, honours, fame, he becomes satisfied, his purpose is fulfilled. Because of the gains, honours, fame, he exalts himself, disparages others, thinking: ‘It is I who am a recipient, being famous, but those other monks are little known, of little esteem.’ He, because of the gains, honours, fame, is exultant, indolent and falls into sloth; being indolent, he dwells ill ... ”

We then read about a monk who does not think that his purpose is fulfilled when he receives gains, honours and fame, but who develops moral habit, sila, and attains success in this. He then thinks that his purpose is fulfilled. We read the same about a monk who gains success in concentration and then thinks that his purpose is fulfilled, and about a monk who gains “knowledge and vision” and then thinks that his purpose is fulfilled.

So long as he has not attained arahatship he has not reached the goal. We read at the end of the sutta that the Buddha said: “ ... So it is, monks, that this Brahma-faring is not for advantage in gains, honours, fame; it is not for advantage in moral habit, it is not for advantage in concentration, it is not for advantage in knowledge and vision. That, monks, which is unshakable freedom of mind, this is the goal, monks, of this brahma-faring, this is the pith, this is the culmination.”