What is the philosophy of Vipassana?

Vipassana, as a concept, is also secular in nature and is a technique not bound by any religion. To put it simply, Vipassana is based on two main tenets – concentration and self-observation. During Vipassana, a person sits down and focuses on her breathing, which is the most natural and continuous process.

What is the difference between Vipassana and Anapanasati?

Anapanasati is the preparatory practice for Vipassana. Anapanasati is a method of training to forge mindfulness on four frames of reference: body, feelings, mind and dharmas. Vipassana is a method of using mindfulness on the three characteristics of every dharma: anicca, dukkha and anatta.

How is Vipassana different from samatha?

Samatha means equanimity and Vipassana practice leads you to strong equanimity. So they are interlinked and help each other grow. If you practice Vipassana in daily life continuously you gain equanimity and gaining equanimity leads to better Vipassana practice and overall spiritual progress.

What is the difference between Dhyan and vipassana Buddhism?

Believe it or not: Dhyan or Dhyana (meditation) of India became Chen in China and then Zen in Japan—due to pronunciation problems. Dhyana became Jhana of Buddhism due to the same reason. Vipassana is a result of Dhyana, Jhana, Zen, or meditation.

What is the difference between Samantha meditation and vipassana meditation?

The main differences between Samantha (calmness) and Vipassana (insight) in terms of what they deliver we have already made clear, but the difference between what the meditations are focusing on and why they are different is a little more subtle and deserve a little more explaining.

Does Vipassana criticize Zen?

I’m not aware of Vipassana directly critiquing Zen,* but (a) in the West it now incorporates Zen tenets — and is more free to adapt than Zen, which is still evolving at a more gradual rate — now having a more formal centralized governing body overall, which Vipassana doesn’t ) – which raises the issue of b) lineage.

What are the different styles of meditation in Buddhism?

In the Buddhist tradition, there are three major lineages / styles-of-practice: Theravada, Mahayana & Vajrayana. Personally, I spent several months living at the Upaya Zen Center, where I practiced Zen Meditation full-time (a style of Mahayana Buddhism).