What is the difference between mindfulness and vipassana

Buddhism addresses two major types of meditation. They are different mental skills, modes of functioning or qualities of consciousness.

In Pali, the original language of Theravada literature, they are called Vipassana and Samatha. When this is done, a deep calm pervades body and mind, a state of tranquility which must be experienced to be understood. Most systems of meditation emphasize the Samatha component.

The meditator focuses his mind upon some items, such as prayer, a certain type of box, a chant, a candle flame, a religious image or whatever, and excludes all other thoughts and perceptions from his consciousness. The result is a state of rapture which lasts until the meditator ends the session of sitting.

It is beautiful, delightful, meaningful and alluring, but only temporary. Vipassana meditation addresses the other component, insight.

In Vipassana mediation, the meditator uses his concentration as a tool by which his awareness can chip away at the wall of illusion that cuts him off from the living light of reality. It is a gradual process of ever-increasing awareness into the inner workings of reality itself.

It takes years, but one day the meditator chisels through that wall and tumbles into the presence of light. The transformation is complete. Liberation is the goal of all Buddhist systems of practice. But the routes to the attainment of that end are quite diverse.

Vipassana is the oldest of Buddhist meditation practices. The method comes directly from the Satipatthana Sutta [Foundations of Mindfulness] , a discourse attributed to the Buddha himself.

Vipassana is a direct and gradual cultivation of mindfulness or awareness. It proceeds piece by piece over a period of years. The meditator is trained to notice more and more of his own flowing life experience. Vipassana is a gentle technique. But it also is very, very thorough.

It is an ancient and codified system of training your mind, a set of exercises dedicated to becoming more and more aware of your own life experience. It is attentive listening, mindful seeing and careful testing. We learn to smell acutely, to touch fully, and to really pay attention to the changes taking place in all these experiences.

We learn to listen to our own thoughts without being caught up in them. The object of Vipassana meditation practice is to learn to see the truth of impermanence, unsatisfactoriness, and selflessness of phenomena.

We think we are doing this already, but that is an illusion. It comes from the fact that we are paying so little attention to the ongoing surge of our own life experience that we might just as well be asleep. We are simply not paying enough attention to notice that we are not paying attention.

It is another Catch Through the process of mindfulness, we slowly become aware of what we really are down below the ego image. We wake up to what life really is. It is not just a parade of ups and downs, lollipops and smacks on the wrist. That is an illusion. Active 4 years, 9 months ago. Viewed 14k times. Improve this question. Hi and welcome to Buddhism SE. We have a Guide and a Resource tab for new users that you might like.

Related question: What are the main differences between Buddhism and Ellen Langer's 'scientific mindfulness'? Add a comment. Active Oldest Votes. Improve this answer. Very concise answer. Thank a lot. Good answer that takes both perspectives into account.

To say that most people might not accept the Three Marks of Existence is an understatement! I find that many will argue strenuously for a permanent separate self, and cannot conceive of life or hope without it.

This is true even among people intelligent and informed enough to do some kind of self-inquiry together. I would say it is the hardest thing at all to get people to consider, let alone accept.

Most people probably will never accept it. Most of the time things are not so cut and dry: Some Tibetan schools prefer to emphasize samatha meditation, and require their students to master a complete one-pointed samadhi-with-seed before proceeding straight to the pondering meditation - something I personally found very frustrating This is very useful explanation. Expecially the "People call things however they want" part.

Community Bot 1. Suminda Sirinath S. Dharmasena Suminda Sirinath S. Dharmasena Mindfulness Mindfulness is not just awareness it is a state of mind in which the person is paying full attention to what he or she is witnessing at that moment. What is Mindfulness - click to read Vipassana Vipassana is a advanced step which is with more freedom to the practitioner to be creative. Everything goes through these stages. A bag with an opening at both ends Meditation of foulness Slaughtered cow Meditation on elements Verily my own body, too Meditation on nine cemetery contemplations.

Theravada Theravada 4, 11 11 silver badges 41 41 bronze badges. Though more studies are needed, research to date has found that Vipassana can reduce stress and anxiety, which may have benefits for substance use.

It may also promote brain plasticity. To get started with Vipassana, begin with 5- to minute sessions in a quiet space. Slowly increase this to 15 minutes or longer as you get used to this form of meditation. You can also listen to audio recordings or attend a class for guided mediations. Meditation is the process of redirecting your thoughts to calm your mind. It may also improve your overall quality of life.

This is what the research…. Metta meditation is a type of Buddhist meditation. During metta meditation, you recite positive phrases…. Kundalini meditation is a practice rooted in ancient concepts of spirituality and enlightenment. Here's everything you need to know about trying it in…. Recharge, practice presence, and connect more deeply with a meditation retreat. There's no right or wrong way to meditate. Discover the technique that's right for you.

Meditation may help with reducing anxiety, stress, and depression—find the best meditation podcasts to listen to. In some respects, they diverge. The knowledge is out there for those who seek it. That is the beauty of this age. Go out and explore. Get overwhelmed and take a few months to digest it all. And then explore some more! Thank you for this very tangible summary! Yet, for people who are interested in the differences between vipassana and mindfulness, this description may well prove helpful.

Tell me, what do you think is so harmful or petty about that? Focusing on the axe and the wood …. Thanks for your article. Goenka Vipassana is at the more extreme end of this practice. Skip to content. You might view this path as the ultimate ancient self-help program. Vipassana: life choice, tough road, often involving renunciation, clear and honest up front, better support, but cultural differences may weigh heavily.