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Vipassanā (Pāli) or vipaśyanā (Sanskrit) means "insight". While it is often referred to as Buddhist meditation, the practice taught by the Buddha was non-sectarian, and has universal application. It does not require conversion to Buddhism. While the meditation practices themselves vary from school to school, the underlying principle is the investigation of phenomena as they manifest in the five aggregates (skandhas) namely, matter or form (rūpa), sensation or feelings (vedanā), perception (saṃjñā, Pāli saññā), mental formations (saṃskāra, Pāli saṅkhāra) and consciousness (vijñāna, Pāli viññāṇa). This process leads to direct experiential perception, vipassanā.
In a broader sense, vipassanā has been used as one of two poles for the categorization of types of Buddhist meditation, the other being samatha (Pāli) or śamatha (Sanskrit). Samatha is a focusing, pacifying and calming meditation, common to many traditions in the world, notably Hindu yoga, from which much of Buddhist terminology derives. It is used as a preparation for vipassanā, pacifying the mind and strengthening the concentration in order to allow the work of insight. This dichotomy is also sometimes discussed as "stopping and seeing." In Buddhist practice, it is said that while samatha can calm the mind, only insight can reveal how the mind was disturbed to start with, which leads to prajñā (Pāli: paññā, knowledge) and jñāna (Pāli: ñāṇa, pure wisdom) and thus can lead to preventing it from being disturbed again.
The term is also used to refer to a religious movement modelled after Theravāda Buddhism which employs Vipassanā and ānāpāna meditation as its primary techniques and places emphasis on the teachings of the Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta. Vedanā (sensation/feeling) is the primary initial subject of investigation.
More on [ Vipassana ]
ran 3.5 miles around prospect park. SO inspired by yesterday's marathon. Vipassana meditation now, before heading for work...
cyn_bklyn (cynthia monares) Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:32:16 -0000
ran 3.5 miles around prospect park. SO inspired by yesterday's marathon. Vipassana meditation now, before heading for work...
Peaceful on all levels...Vipassana rocks!
turninginward (Caron Hunter) Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:28:47 -0000
Peaceful on all levels...Vipassana rocks!
DAY4: Honor diversity, heart unity and the law of impermanence within the framework of the body. #Vipassana #BeingInReceptiveSilence
ONEworldcitizen (Pancho Ramos Stierle) Mon, 02 Nov 2009 05:53:28 -0000
DAY4: Honor diversity, heart unity and the law of impermanence within the framework of the body. #Vipassana #BeingInReceptiveSilence
@shimauli Try Vipassana ;P I was there for my birthday!
saurabh (Saurabh Garg) Mon, 02 Nov 2009 03:42:09 -0000
@shimauli Try Vipassana ;P I was there for my birthday!
Come One Come All - FINAL session of my FREE Vipassana Meditation - tomorrow 11-12pm @Theaterlab http://bit.ly/1FHFV6
RobynLeeITM (Robyn Lee) Mon, 02 Nov 2009 01:58:19 -0000
Come One Come All - FINAL session of my FREE Vipassana Meditation - tomorrow 11-12pm @Theaterlab http://bit.ly/1FHFV6
I cannot even begin to imagine who I would be after a 10 day vipassana retreat. Just 1 day and I didn't want to come back to my life.
imtboo (Freedom Spice ) Mon, 02 Nov 2009 01:38:50 -0000
I cannot even begin to imagine who I would be after a 10 day vipassana retreat. Just 1 day and I didn't want to come back to my life.
A Gradual Awakening - Excerpts from Stephen Levine's meditation manual.
Buddhist Meditation from Thailand - The fundamentals of meditation by Phra Ajahn Plien Panyapatipo, Wat Aranyawiwake, Thailand.
Mindfulness In Plain English - By Ven. Henepola Gunaratana. Several chapters posted online.
The Skillful Meditation Project - Instructions and advice aiming to add to the depth and scope of awareness meditation practice.
Meta Description: [ Our endeavor is to add to the depth and scope of awareness meditation practice, so that it may always be vital and fresh, encompassing the fullest range of human meditation experience.Send us descriptions of your meditation sittings together with questions you may have about them. ]
The Vipassana Page - Site of the vipassana email list.
Meta Description: [ Home of the Vipassana Mailing List & resources for practicing Theravada Buddhist Meditation ]
Theravada Meditation - A series of eight practical talks on vipassana by Venerable Sayadaw U Janaka.
Vipassana - Downloadable books by Nina van Gorkom and Sujin Boriharnwanaket, and many texts from the Tipitaka.
Vipassana Meditation - Instruction in vipassana as taught by S. N. Goenka.
Meta Description: [ Homepage of the organization which offers Vipassana Meditation courses as taught by S.N. Goenka ]
Vipassana Research Institute - Based in Igatpuri, India. Information on the Vipassana meditation technique as taught by S.N. Goenka in the tradition of Sayagyi U Ba Khin. Pages include Vipassana Newsletter and details of courses and centres.
Meta Description: [ Official Website of Vipassana Research Institute, Igatpuri, India. Vipassana meditation technique as taught by S.N. Goenka ]
Vipassana Support Institute - Information on the basic theory of vipassana meditation, also known as mindfulness or insight meditation. Articles and tapes from Shinzen Young.
Meta Description: [ Information on the basic theory of vipassana meditation, also known as mindfulness or insight meditation. Articles and tapes from Shinzen Young. ]
Vipassana.com - Meditation in the Theravada tradition. Online meditation course.
Meta Description: [ Vipassana Fellowship's online Meditation Course provides a supported introduction to Buddhist Meditation as found in the Theravada tradition. Resources and support for meditators and authoritative texts from the earliest Buddhist sources. ]
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