Vipassana

Vipassana is a form of Buddhist meditation aimed at gaining insight into the true nature of reality. The term vipassanā comes from the Pali word vipassanā, usually translated as insight or clear seeing. In traditional practice it is often presented as the cultivation of mindfulness and equanimity to understand phenomena as they arise and pass.

Historically, vipassana appears in early Buddhist texts as a core component of the path to liberation in Theravada traditions. In the modern era it was revived and systematized in Burma by teachers such as Ledi Sayadaw and Mahasi Sayadaw and later spread worldwide through teachers including S. N. Goenka. It is now taught in monasteries, meditation centers, and lay programs across many countries.

Practice typically involves sustained attention to bodily sensations, the breath, or other chosen objects while cultivating continuous mindfulness of the mind and mental states. The aim is to observe impermanence (anicca), unsatisfactoriness (dukkha), and non-self (anatta) in order to develop direct experiential insight that leads to detachment from craving and aversion.

Different lineages emphasize different techniques. Some schools use deliberate analytical noting of experiences (often called the noting method), while others stress simply maintaining continuous mindful awareness. In recent decades vipassana has influenced secular mindfulness programs, which adapt core elements for non-religious settings.

See also: Satipatthana, Anapanasati, Theravada.