Vipassana leads to self realization: Kovind

Vipassana purifies the mind and it's practice leads to increased concentration, President Ram Nath Kovind said on Sunday while speaking at Global Vipassana Foundation's 'Gratitude Day'.

"This practice includes three simple precepts - morality, concentration of mind and self realisation through awareness and insight. It is a non -sectarain meditation technique that applies equally on all human beings irrespective of caste, religion, language, gender or age," the President said.

Kovind affirmed that the propagation of the Vipassana practice is beneficial for society. Kovind said that he was pleased to note that the Vipassana Kendra in Igatpuri, Dengan Palace in Nagpur and the biggest Pagoda in the world in Mumbai are popularising the Vipassana practice and attracting people in large numbers not only from Maharashtra but from various parts of India and abroad.

The President informed that in 1972, Acharya Vinoba Bhave had told Shri Satya Narayan Goenka to teach Vipassana to school children. In 1975 prisoners in jails were also taught Vipassana.

The government of Maharashtra is providing facilities to its officials in learning Vipassana. Other state governments are also doing so.