Vipassanā (Pāli) or vipaśyanā (विपश्यना) in (Sanskrit) means "insight" and is often referred to by Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike as simply "insight meditation". While it is a type of Buddhist meditation as taught by the Buddha, it is essentially non-sectarian in character and has universal application. One need not convert to Buddhism to practice vipassanā meditation. While the meditation practices themselves vary from school to school, the underlying principle is the investigation of phenomena as they manifest in the four Foundations of Mindfulness highlighted in the Satipatthana sutta; namely: Kaya - Body (or breath), Vedana feeling, Citta - Mind, and Dhamma - Mind objects. These phenomena differ from the Khandas — aggregates — because the Citta factor is not connected to any aggregate, as it is the basic mood of the Mind-Body aggregate, while the Dhamma encompasses all mind objects, i.e., the Vinnana, Sanna and Sankhara aggregates, and also all mind objects that are not a fruit of kamma such as, for example, the Four Noble Truths. Pāli is a Middle Indo-Aryan dialect or prakrit. ... Sanskrit ( , for short ) is a classical language of India, a liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism, and one of the 23 official languages of India. ... Look up Insight in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Buddhist meditation encompasses a variety of meditation techniques that develop mindfulness, concentration, tranquility and insight. ... Media:Example. ... Sectarianism is an adherence to a particular sect or party or denomination, it also usually involves a rejection of those not a member of ones sect. ... Image:Buddhasunset crop. ... For other senses of this word, see Meditation (disambiguation). ... For other senses of this word, see Meditation (disambiguation). ... Satipatthana refers to the broad conception of Buddhist meditation in the Theravada Buddhist tradition. ... Kaya can be: In history and geography: Kaya, Burkina Faso, a town in West Africa Kaya, Sudan, the town in southern Sudan Gaya confederacy of ancient Korea In popular culture: Kaya (album), by Bob Marley and the Wailers Kaya (musician), a popular singer in Mauritius Kaya (One Piece), a fictional... Breathing transports oxygen into the body and carbon dioxide out of the body. ... This article needs to be wikified. ... Citta - one of the chief lay disciples of the Buddha. ... The word dharma (Sanskrit; धर्म in the Devanagari script) or dhamma (Pali) is used in most or all philosophies and religions of Indian origin, Dharmic faiths, namely Hinduism (Sanatana Dharma), Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. ... The Khanda Sikh Khanda on Stamp designed by Stacey Zabolotney Issued By Canada Post in November 2000 . ... Citta - one of the chief lay disciples of the Buddha. ... The word dharma (Sanskrit; धर्म in the Devanagari script) or dhamma (Pali) is used in most or all philosophies and religions of Indian origin, Dharmic faiths, namely Hinduism (Sanatana Dharma), Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. ... Vijñāna (Sanskrit: विज्ञान) or viññāna (Pāli: विञ्ञान) is translated as consciousness or life force or simply mind.[1] It can also be translated as divided knowing, in contrast to Jnana. ... The Sanna is a tributary of the Vistula in Poland. ... An important Pali term featuring prominently in the teaching of the Buddha. ... Kamma might refer to: Kamma, a caste or social group found largely in Southern India The Pali term for karma Category: ... The Four Noble Truths (Pali: Cattāri ariyasaccāni, Sanskrit: Catvāri āryasatyāni, Chinese: Sìshèngdì, Thai: อริยสัจสี่, Ariyasaj Sii) are one of the most fundamental Buddhist teachings. ...

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 yoga. 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, wisdom) and thus understanding, preventing it from being disturbed again. A replica of an ancient statue found among the ruins of a temple at Sarnath Buddhism is a philosophy based on the teachings of the Buddha, Siddhārtha Gautama, a prince of the Shakyas, whose lifetime is traditionally given as 566 to 486 BCE. It had subsequently been accepted by... Samatha (Pāli; Sanskrit: Å›amatha), Tranquility or concentration meditation. ... Pāli is a Middle Indo-Aryan dialect or prakrit. ... Sanskrit ( , for short ) is a classical language of India, a liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism, and one of the 23 official languages of India. ... For other uses, see Yoga (disambiguation). ... Prajñā (Sanskrit; Pali: paññā; Tibetan: shes rab, Chinese: 般若, banruo) meaning wisdom, cognitive acuity; or know-how -- but especially the Buddhist wisdom that is based on a realization of dependent origination, not-self, emptiness, etc. ... Jñāna (also spelled Gñāna; Devanagari ज्ञान) is the Sanskrit term for knowledge or philosophy. ...

The term is also used to refer to the Buddhist Vipassana movement modeled 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. Vipassanā (Pāli) or vipaÅ›yanā (विपश्यना) in (Sanskrit) means insight and is often referred to by Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike as simply insight meditation. While it is a type of Buddhist meditation as taught by the Buddha, it is essentially non-sectarian in character and has universal application. ... Theravada (Pāli: theravāda; Sanskrit: स्थविरवाद sthaviravāda; literally, the Way of the Elders) is the oldest surviving Buddhist school, and for many centuries has been the predominant religion of Sri Lanka (about 70% of the population[1]) and most of continental Southeast Asia (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand). ... Image:Buddhasunset crop. ... Anapana Sati, meaning mindfulness of breathing (sati means mindfulness, ānāpāna refers to breathing) is a basic form of meditation taught by the Buddha. ... Satipatthana refers to the broad conception of Buddhist meditation in the Theravada Buddhist tradition. ... Sutra (सूत्र) in Sanskrit is derived from the verb siv-, meaning to sew (these words, including English to sew and Latinate suture, all derive from PIE *syÅ«-). It literally means a rope or thread, and more metaphorically refers to an aphorism (or line, rule, formula), or a collection of such aphorisms... This article needs to be wikified. ...

Etymology

Vipassanā is a Pali word from the Sanskrit prefix "vi-" and verbal root √paś. It is often translated as "insight" or "clear-seeing," though, the "in-" prefix may be misleading; "vi" in Indo-Aryan languages is equivalent to our (Latin) "dis." The "vi" in vipassanā may then mean to see apart, or discern. Alternatively, the "vi" can function as an intensive, and thus vipassanā may mean "seeing deeply". In any case, this is used metaphorically for a particularly powerful mental self-perception. Pāli is a Middle Indo-Aryan dialect or prakrit. ... The Indo-Aryan languages form a subgroup of the Indo-Iranian languages, which belong to the Indo-European family of languages. ...

A synonym for "Vipassanā" is paccakkha (Pāli; Sanskrit: pratyakṣa), "before the eyes," which refers to direct experiential perception. Thus, the type of seeing denoted by "vipassanā" is that of direct perception, as opposed to knowledge derived from reasoning or argument.

In Tibetan, vipashyana is lhagthong. The semantic field of "lhag" means "higher", "superior", "greater"; the semantic field of "thong" is "view" or "to see". So together, lhagthong may be rendered into English as "superior seeing" or "great vision". This may be interpreted as a "superior manner of seeing, and also as "seeing that which is the essential nature". Its nature is a lucidity, a clarity of mind.^[1] The semantic field of a word is the sum of the sememes expressed by it. ...

Practice of vipassanā

Vipassanā meditation is a simple technique which depends on direct experience and observation. It can be related to the three trainings taught by the Buddha as the basis of a spiritual path- adherence to a sīla (Sanskrit: śīla) (abstinence from killing, stealing, lying, sexual misconduct and intoxication), which is not an end in itself but a requirement for the second part, concentration of the mind (samādhi). With this concentrated mind, the third training, in the context of this technique (paññā, Sanskrit prajñā), is detached observation of the reality of the mind and body from moment to moment. For other uses, see Sila (disambiguation). ...

The actual instructions for Vipassana meditation are not often published in clear terms in public venues. This is simply to avoid confusion and prevent incorrect technique. The instructions are not esoteric or difficult but basically involve retraining the mind to avoid its innate conditioned response to most stimuli. In order to obtain maximum benefit, it is recommended that this be learned from a legitimate source as it does have deep cleansing effects. Although Vipassana includes body awareness as part of the practice, it is not a "body scan" technique. The purpose is also not to release past trauma, but to bring full awareness of the mind, body and all sensations and be fully present. This practice is thought to develop a deep, experiential understanding of the impermanence of all phenomena and also brings to the surface and dissolves deep-seated complexes and tensions. The technique fosters development of insight and needs to be continued as a way of life in order to having lasting effects.

Put another way, Vipassanā meditation consists of the experiential observation of mind and matter (nāma and rūpa) in their aspects of impermanence, unsatisfactoriness and lack of an inherent, independent essence or self. In Buddhism, rÅ«pajhānas (Sanskrit: rÅ«padhyāna form meditation) are successive levels of meditation in which the mind is focused on a material object: it is a word used in Pāli scriptures. ... Impermanence (Sanskrit: anitya; Pali anicca; Tibetan: mi rtag pa; Chinese: 無常, wúcháng; Japanese: mujō) is one of the essential doctrines or the three marks of Buddhism. ... Dukkha (Pāli दुक्ख ; according to grammatical tradition from Sanskrit uneasy, but according to Monier-Williams more likely a Prakritized form of unsteady, disquieted) is a central concept in Buddhism, the word roughly corresponding to a number of terms in English including sorrow, suffering, affliction, pain, anxiety, dissatisfaction, discomfort, anguish, stress... In Buddhist philosophy, anatta (Pāli) or anātman (Sanskrit) refers to non-self or absence of separate self[1]. One scholar describes it as ...meaning non-selfhood, the absence of limiting self-identity in people and things. ...

To see through the mode of impermanence means to examine things as to whether they are permanent. To see through the mode of unsatisfactoriness means to examine things as to whether they are satisfactory or are imbued with suffering. To see through the mode of non-self means to examine the phenomena that are the objects of the meditation to see if they have a permanent, isolated, and enduring entity. In other words, to see through non-self relates to having a sense of non-doership and a sense of non-possessorship while examining things.

In Vipassanā meditation, the meditation object is one's own consciousness, although it can be further refined to be one's consciousness while observing, say, the breath, as in anapanasati meditation. In this context, the modes of seeing refers to focusing on those aspects of consciousness which appear to have (or not have) these characteristics. Ānāpāna Sati, meaning mindfulness of breathing (sati means mindfulness, ānāpāna refers to breathing) is a basic form of meditation taught by the Buddha. ...

Some steps are described as vipassanā jhānas, or simply as knowledges. This article uses excessive clichés and jargon associated with Vipassana jhanas. ... The pratice of vipassana buddhist meditation is a method of ataining wisdom. ...

Vipassanā today

Today, the term "Vipassanā" also refers to a series of meditation techniques used by many branches of modern Theravāda Buddhism, for example in modern Sri Lanka, Burma, Laos and Thailand, and to a specific branch of Buddhism popularized by the Indian businessman S. N. Goenka and his mentor U Ba Khin as a nonsectarian form of Buddhism, and also by Americans Joseph Goldstein, Sharon Salzberg, and Jack Kornfield (who were inspired by the monks Mahasi Sayadaw and Ajahn Chah) under the rubric "insight meditation." Theravada (Pāli: theravāda; Sanskrit: स्थविरवाद sthaviravāda; literally, the Way of the Elders) is the oldest surviving Buddhist school, and for many centuries has been the predominant religion of Sri Lanka (about 70% of the population[1]) and most of continental Southeast Asia (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand). ... Image:Buddhasunset crop. ... S.N. Goenka Sri Satya Narayan Goenka (born 1924) is a leading lay teacher of Vipassana meditation and a student of Sayagyi U Ba Khin. ... Sayagyi U Ba Khin (March 6, 1899 – January 18, 1971) was born in Rangoon, Burma. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... Sharon Salzberg is a teacher of Asian meditation practices, particularly Vipasannā, (mindfulness), and mettā (lovingkindess) methods. ... Jack Kornfield (b. ... Mahāsi Sayādaw (1904-1982) was a famous Burmese Buddhist monk and meditation master who had a significant impact on the teaching of Vipassana (Insight) meditation in the West and throughout Asia. ... Venerable Ajahn Chah Subhatto (Chao Khun Bodhinyanathera) (alternatively spelled Achaan Chah, occasionally with honorific titles Luang Por and Phra) (17 June 1918, Thailand – 16 January 1992), was one of the greatest meditation masters of the twentieth century. ...

Famous masters

• U Ba Khin
• Mahasi Sayadaw
• Ledi Sayadaw
• Ajahn Chah Subhatto

Sayagyi U Ba Khin (March 6, 1899 – January 18, 1971) was born in Rangoon, Burma. ... Mahāsi Sayādaw (1904-1982) was a famous Burmese Buddhist monk and meditation master who had a significant impact on the teaching of Vipassana (Insight) meditation in the West and throughout Asia. ... Ledi Sayadaw Ledi Sayādaw (1846, Burma - 1923) was a famous Theravadin Buddhist monk in Burma. ... Ajahn (Thai: อาจารย์) is teacher in the Thai language; it is derived from the (Pali) word ācārya. ... Venerable Ajahn Chah Subhatto (Chao Khun Bodhinyanathera) (Thai:ชา สุภัทโท , alternatively spelled Achaan Chah, occasionally with honorific titles Luang Por and Phra) (17 June 1918, Thailand – 16 January 1992), was one of the greatest meditation masters of the twentieth century. ...

Living teachers

• Ajahn Tong Sirimangalo
• Lakshman Attanayake
• Ajahn Sumedho
• Ajahn Sobin S. Namto
• Bhante Henepola Gunaratana (schedule)
• Bhikkhu Bodhi
• Christopher Titmuss
• Gil Fronsdal (schedule)
• Jack Kornfield
• Joseph Goldstein
• Matthew Flickstein
• Rodney Smith (schedule)
• S. N. Goenka (schedule)
• Sayadaw U Pandita
• Shaila Catherine (schedule)
• Sharon Salzberg (schedule)
• Shinzen Young (schedule)
• Sujin Boriharnwanaket (books)
• Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche

Ajahn Sumedho is a widely venerated modern figure of Theravada Buddhism. ... Achan Sobin S. Namto has taught Vipassana (Insight Meditation) and Abhidharma (Buddhist psychology) in South-East Asia and North America for over 50 years. ... Bhante Henepola Gunaratana is a Sri Lankan Buddhist monk. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Gil Fronsdal is a Buddhist who has practiced Zen and Vipassana since the 1970s, and is currently a Buddhist teacher who lives in the San Fransisco Bay area. ... Jack Kornfield (b. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... Matthew Flickstein is a teacher of insight (vipassana) meditation. ... S.N. Goenka Sri Satya Narayan Goenka (born 1924) is a leading lay teacher of Vipassana meditation and a student of Sayagyi U Ba Khin. ... Sayadaw U Pandita (b. ... Sharon Salzberg is a teacher of Asian meditation practices, particularly Vipasannā, (mindfulness), and mettā (lovingkindess) methods. ... Shinzen Young (信善) is a Vipassana meditation teacher. ... Popular woman Vipassana and Abhidhamma teacher (born 1927). ...

Vipassanā in the Theravāda, Mahāyāna and Vajrayāna

Theravada (Pāli: theravāda; Sanskrit: स्थविरवाद sthaviravāda; literally, the Way of the Elders) is the oldest surviving Buddhist school, and for many centuries has been the predominant religion of Sri Lanka (about 70% of the population[1]) and most of continental Southeast Asia (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand). ... Relief image of the bodhisattva Kuan Yin from Mt. ... A mandala used in Vajrayana Buddhist practices. ...

In the Theravāda

Vipassanā as practiced in the Theravāda is the understanding of the Four Noble Truths that were taught by the Buddha. It is understanding the transitory nature of phenomena and the selflessness of persons, that the conceptual consciousness, "I" does not exist.

Most of Theravāda's teachers refer to knowledges evolving during practice. The meditator gradually improve his perception of the three marks of existence until he reaches the step sensations constantly disappear, which is called bhaṅgānupassanā ñāṇa (Sanskrit: bhaṅgānupaśyanājñāna), knowledge of dissolution. According to the Buddhist tradition, all phenomena (dharmas) are marked by three characteristics, sometimes referred to as the Dharma seals, that is dukkha (suffering), anicca (impermanence), and anatta (non-Self). ... This article needs to be wikified. ... Sanskrit ( , for short ) is a classical language of India, a liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism, and one of the 23 official languages of India. ...

The yogi will then experience fear and ceasing of attachment, and eventually will reach the step of saṅkhārupekkhāñāṇa (Sanskrit: saṃskāropekṣājñāna): knowledge of equanimity of formations. This step leads to the attainment of nibbāna. Sanskrit ( , for short ) is a classical language of India, a liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism, and one of the 23 official languages of India. ... This article is about the Buddhist concept. ...

In practice one can use various methods to do Vipassanā Meditation. For example one method is that there are 40 topics that can be concentrated by the meditator such as anitya (Pāli anicca, impermanence), duḥkha (Pāli dukkha, suffering), roga (illness), and so on. The meditator can meditate on one of these until he sees the truth in everything in the universe. Impermanence (Sanskrit: anitya; Pali anicca; Tibetan: mi rtag pa; Chinese: 無常, wúcháng; Japanese: mujō) is one of the essential doctrines or the three marks of Buddhism. ... Dukkha (Pāli दुक्ख ; according to grammatical tradition from Sanskrit uneasy, but according to Monier-Williams more likely a Prakritized form of unsteady, disquieted) is a central concept in Buddhism, the word roughly corresponding to a number of terms in English including sorrow, suffering, affliction, pain, anxiety, dissatisfaction, discomfort, anguish, stress...

In the Mahāyāna

Mahāyāna Vipaśyanā consists of meditating on the two truths: conventional truth and absolute truth. One realizes that phenomena likewise have a lack of inherent existence, and have the nature of emptiness (śūnyatā). This is determined by the inferential path of reasoning and direct observation through meditation. Relief image of the bodhisattva Kuan Yin from Mt. ... Śūnyatā, शून्यता (Sanskrit), Suññatā (Pāli), stong pa nyid (Tibetan), Kuu, 空 (Japanese) qoÉ£usun (Mongolian), generally translated into English as Emptiness or Voidness, is a concept of central importance in the teaching of the Buddha, as a direct realization of Sunyata is required to achieve liberation from the cycle of...

Gradualism or Subitism and the realisation is a debate in the Mahāyāna. Nevertheless, Huineng, sixth patriarch of the Zen, considered the practice cannot be described as gradualistic nor subitist, but implies people with more or less clear minds. Subitism is the English term given in Chan and Zen scholarly discourse to the position that enlightenment (bodhi or satori) is instantaneous, sudden and direct, and not attained by practice through a period of time however protracted or minute , and not the fruit of a gradual accretion or realisation. ... Huineng (慧能, 638 - 713) was a Chinese Chan (Chinese Zen) monastic who is one of the most important figures in the entire tradition. ... For other uses, see Zen (disambiguation). ...

In the Vajrayāna

Mahāmudrā and Dzogchen use Vipaśyana extensively, though in a different manner than in the Theravāda. In the Vajrayāna (tantric) path, the true nature of mind is pointed out by the guru, and the practitioner takes the path of direct experience. Mahāmudrā (Sanskrit: great seal or great symbol), (Tibetan: Chagchen, Wylie: phyag chen, contraction of Chagya Chenpo, Wylie: phyag rgya chen po), is a Buddhist method of direct introduction to the nature and essence of Mind (or Buddha-nature) and the practice of stabilizing the accompanying transcendental realization. ... This article refers to the primordial state as considered in Tibetan Buddhism and Bon. ... Theravada (Pāli: theravāda; Sanskrit: स्थविरवाद sthaviravāda; literally, the Way of the Elders) is the oldest surviving Buddhist school, and for many centuries has been the predominant religion of Sri Lanka (about 70% of the population[1]) and most of continental Southeast Asia (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand). ... This article is an overview of Tantra and an in-depth look at the Tantra of Hinduism. ...

"In the Sūtra path (Theravāda) one proceeds by examining and analyzing phenomena, using reasoning. One recognizes that all phenomena lack any true existence and that all appearances are merely interdependently related and are without any inherent nature. They are empty yet apparent, apparent yet empty. The path of Mahāmudrā is different in that one proceeds using the instructions concerning the nature of mind that are given by one's guru. This is called taking direct perception or direct experiences as the path. The fruition of śamatha is purity of mind, a mind undisturbed by false conception or emotional afflictions. The fruition of vipaśyanā is knowledge (prajnā) and pure wisdom (jñāna). Jñāna is called the wisdom of nature of phenomena and it comes about through the realization of the true nature of phenomena."

-Thrangu Rinpoche, Looking Directly at Mind : The Moonlight of Mahāmudrā

Dzogchen Pönlop Rinpoche clearly charts the developmental relationship of the sadhanas of shamatha and vipashyana: A Sadhana is a ritualistic meditation practice from Hindu and Buddhist spiritual traditions which is followed in order to achieve a form of spiritual purification or enlightenment. ...

The ways these two aspects of meditation are practiced is that one begins with the practice of shamatha; on the basis of that, it becomes possible to practice vipashyana or lhagthong. Through one's practrice of vipashyana being based on and carried on in the midst of shamatha, one eventually ends up practicing a unification of shamatha and vipashyana. The unification leads to a very clear and direct experience of the nature of all things. This brings one very close to what is called the absolute truth.^[2]

Dzogchen Pönlop Rinpoche evokes an extended poetic metaphor from Milarepa to qualify vipashyana (as qualitatively different to shamatha) as having the propensity to "eradicate" klesha: Jetsun Milarepa (Wylie: Rje-btsun Mi-la-ras-pa), 1052-1135 (approx) was one of one of Tibets most famous yogis and poets, a student of Marpa Lotsawa, and a major figure in the history of the Kagyu (Bka-brgyud) school of Tibetan Buddhism. ... In Buddhism, the Pali word kilesa (Sanskrit: kleÅ›a or klesha) is used to mean defilements or corruptions. Three main kinds of kilesa are: lobha: greed, lust (rāga), attachment. ...

Insight, or vipashyana (lhagthong), is extremely important because it can eradicate the mental afflications, whereas tranquility [shamatha] alone cannot. That is why we want to be able to practice tranquility and insight in a unified manner. This unified practice has three steps; first, we practice tranquility; then we practice insight; and then we bring the two together. Doing this will eradicate the cause of samsara (which is mental afflictions), thereby eradicating the result of samsara (which is suffering). For this reason, it is improper to become too attached to the delight or pleasure of tranquility, because tranquility alone is not enough. As was said by Lord Milarepa in a song:

"Not being attached to the pool of tranquility

May I generate the flower of insight."^[3]

Vipassanā in prisons

Vipassana is a practice often taken up in prison, especially in Burma.[1] In 1993, Kiran Bedi, a reformist Inspector General of India's prisons, learned of the success of Vipassanā in a jail in Jainpur, Rajasthan. A 10-day course involved officials and inmates alike. In India's largest prison, Tihar Jail, near New Delhi, another attempt was made. This program was said to have dramatically changed the behavior of inmates and jailers alike. It was actually found that inmates who completed the 10-day course were less violent and had a lower recidivism rate than other inmates. This project was documented in the television documentary, Doing Time, Doing Vipassana. So successful was this program that it was adopted by correctional facilities in the United States and other countries as well. Unfortunately, the prisoners involved in the study were a biased sample, however, due to the fact that they volunteered for the program, while many who were told they would miss the Super-Bowl if they joined the program chose not to participate. Therefore, it is possible that only prisoners who were willing to make a significant personal sacrifice to "improve" themselves participated in the study. A less biased study would have taken this self-electing prisoner pool and randomly assigned them to either Vipassana training or a "placebo" meditation training and evaluated the results according to a double blind protocol. The Double blind method is an important part of the scientific method, used to prevent research outcomes from being influenced by the placebo effect or observer bias. ...

Notes

1. ^ Ray, Reginald A. (Ed.)(2004). In the Presence of Masters: Wisdom from 30 Contemporary Tibetan Buddhist Teachers. Boston, Massachusetts, USA: Shambala. ISBN 1-57062-849-1 (pbk.: alk. paper) p.74.
2. ^ Ray, Reginald A. (Ed.)(2004). In the Presence of Masters: Wisdom from 30 Contemporary Tibetan Buddhist Teachers. Boston, Massachusetts, USA: Shambala. ISBN 1-57062-849-1 (pbk.: alk. paper) p.76.
3. ^ Ray, Reginald A. (Ed.)(2004). In the Presence of Masters: Wisdom from 30 Contemporary Tibetan Buddhist Teachers. Boston, Massachusetts, USA: Shambala. ISBN 1-57062-849-1 (pbk.: alk. paper) p.76.

See also

• Buddhism
• Meditation
• Samatha
• Ānāpāna
• Satipatthana
• Theravada
• Atthakavagga and Parayanavagga

Image:Buddhasunset crop. ... For other senses of this word, see Meditation (disambiguation). ... Samatha (Pāli; Sanskrit: Å›amatha), Tranquility or concentration meditation. ... Anapana Sati, meaning mindfulness of breathing (sati means mindfulness, ānāpāna refers to breathing) is a basic form of meditation taught by the Buddha. ... Satipatthana refers to the broad conception of Buddhist meditation in the Theravada Buddhist tradition. ... Theravada (Pāli: theravāda; Sanskrit: स्थविरवाद sthaviravāda; literally, the Way of the Elders) is the oldest surviving Buddhist school, and for many centuries has been the predominant religion of Sri Lanka (about 70% of the population[1]) and most of continental Southeast Asia (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand). ... The Aṭṭhakavagga and the Pārāyanavagga are two small collections of suttas within the Pāli Canon of Theravada Buddhism. ...

Further reading

• Mindfulness in Plain English. Bhante Henepola Gunaratana, Mindfulness in Plain English
• Seeking the Heart of Wisdom: The Path of Insight Meditation. Joseph Goldstein & Jack Kornfield (2001< Reissue) Shambhala. ISBN: 157062805X
• The Art of Living : Vipassana Meditation: As Taught by S. N. Goenka. William Hart. (1987) HarperSanFrancisco. ISBN 0-06-063724-2.
• Beyond the Breath: Extraordinary Mindfulness Through Whole-Body Vipassana. (2002) Marshall Glickman. Tuttle Publishing. ISBN 1582900434. [2]
• Journey to the Center: A Meditation Workbook. Matthew Flickstein and Bhante Henepola Gunaratana. (1998) Wisdom Publications. ISBN 0-86171-141-6.
• In this Very Life Sayadaw U Pandita, In this Very Life
• Traditions of Buddhist practice. PhD Thesis, London University, 1990. Gustaaf Houtman

External articles and experiences

• Vipassana meditation: A naturalistic, preliminary observation in Muscat
• "Is Vipassana the same as Theravada?" An elaboration on the different meanings of Vipassana related in this article
• www.theravadabuddhism.org Explanation and definitions of Theravada and Vipassana and the similarities and differences.
• "One tool among many" by Bhikkhu Thannisaro, arguing based on the Pali Tipitaka that Samatha or tranquility meditation and Vipassana go hand in hand
• About Ledi Sayadaw, U Ba Khin, S.N. Goenka Chapter 9 from Mental culture in Burmese crisis politics: Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy
• How Meditation Works by Shinzen Young
• Vipassana Meditation Description from VRI
• Meditation Found To Increase Brain Size An article about the benefits of insight meditation
• Vipassana101 A basic handbook preparing you to graduate in the science of seeing the true nature of things
• Learning to pay attention Vipassana meditation found to improve performance on attentional tasks
• Amit's Experience from attending Vipassana Course by S.N Goenka (4 days out of 10)
• Ajit covers day to day approach and instructions on each day.
• Simon covers day to day with personal experience and notes on Goenka and his voice, etc.
• Erik’s 43 things entry: What do you actually do on a 10 day course.
• Learning to Pay Attention: Article in PLoS Biology about the affect of intensive Vipassana meditation on cognitive and perceptual abilities and neural responses.

External links

• Numerous articles on meditation
• Vipassana Fellowship
• www.vipassana.info
• www.vipassanafoundation.com
• International Vipassana Meditation Website Vipassana Meditation As Taught By S.N. Goenka
• Instructions for Vipassana Meditation in the tradition of Mahasi Sayadaw: Free Public Domain E-Book
• Guide to Vipassana meditation by Bhikkhu K. Nyanananda
• Vipassana Meditation Courses For Correction Facilities Explanation of how Vipassana is used in jails and prisons around the world
• The Pali Tipitaka Project from Pariyatti
• Introduction to Vipassana Meditation Video introduction by S.N. Goenka
• Dhamma Podcasts from Pariyatti.org In the Tradition of S.N. Goenka
• A Critique of Vipassana as taught by Mr S N Goenka
• Insight Meditation Society, Barre, VT
• Spirit Rock Meditation Center (San Francisco area)