Contemplation is Total Engagement of Mindfulness

When we contemplate an object in vipassanā meditation we really need to give one hundred percent of all our mental resources to the work of contemplating the object in the present moment. The mind needs to be completely immersed with curiosity and interest into the object in the present moment and be totally engaged in investigating its nature.

The normal habit of the mind is to give a little attention here and a little there. Often we think that we are completely with the object in the present moment because it seems that we are able to follow the flow of the objects from moment to moment. But if we really look honestly we will realise that we are not really giving one hundred percent to the object occurring in the present moment.

Samatha and Vipassana Concentration: Some Similes

One way to understand the difference between samatha and vipassanā concentration is to think of samatha concentration as similar to a woodcutter who, when he wishes to take a break from his work, would put aside his axe by driving its sharp wedge into a tree stump, and then sit beside it to rest. Because the wedge of the axe is sharp it is able to cut into the stump effectively. But once it is driven in, the axe just remain there on the stump while the woodcutter takes a tranquil break.

Samatha concentration is like this. Because its jhāna factors (initial-mental-application, sustained-mental-application, joy, bliss, and mental-one-pointedness) are well developed, powerful, and sharp, they are able to penetrate effectively into their object. But once they go in, the mind just remain there, still and unmoving, allowing the meditator to have a peaceful and tranquil rest from the world of sensual objects. This is like the woodcutter taking a break from his work while his axe, normally busy chopping away, is in a state of rest, having been driven into the stump.