VIPASSANA

Vipassana is one of the world's oldest techniques of meditation, the rediscovery of which is credited to the Buddha.  In English, vipassana is often referred to simply as "insight meditation."  The purpose of vipassana is seeing reality as it truly is.

By focusing on body, feelings, mind, and objects of mind, noting how they change from moment to moment, indeed how all of existence seems coming and going constantly, one sees that what he considers to be himself, and the world, is an illusion.  With this realization arises the not-self, so-called, a state of consciousness only, experienced as bliss.

Vipassanā is one of two categories of Buddhist meditation, the other being samatha.  Samatha is a focusing, pacifying, and calming of the body and mind, common to many traditions in the world, notably yoga. It is used as a preparation for vipassanā, steadying the mind and strengthening the concentration, which allows the real work of insight to proceed.  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.