Vipassana, which means "insight" in the Pali language, is the fruit of meditative practice. Insight into what you may ask? Ultimately it is insight into the nature of suffering and the possibility of a complete end to it. What then is meditation? In a broad sense meditation is the cultivation of skilful action - action, that is, that leads one to deeper forms of happiness. As far as the formal aspect of meditation is concerned, there are several techniques for developing insight. All of them focus on the growth of two mutually dependent factors: concentration and wisdom.
We use concentration to calm and brighten the mind. When the mind is calm and happy - that is, unmoved by the changing flow perceptions, moods, sensations, and thoughts - it is in a much better position to discern clearly the nature of the mind-body process and the deeper causes for our difficulties in life. Seeing this process with greater clarity enables us to drop the activities that create suffering for ourselves and others. And dropping what is burdensome leads very naturally to ever more refined states of happiness. Thus concentration and discernment work together, feeding back into one another, leading deeper and deeper into ourselves.
What is the limit of this natural process? How far does it go? What are the obstacles that get in the way of its unfolding? These are the kinds of questions we're interested in exploring experientially in our daily practice. For more information about vipassana (aka insight meditation) please enjoy the resources below.
Talks
Thanissaro Bhikku - Why We Meditate
Thanissaro Bhikku - Basic Breath Instructions
