Vipassana, Vipassanā: 7 definitions
Introduction:
Vipassana means something in Buddhism, Pali. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
In Buddhism
Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Access to Insight: A Glossary of Pali and Buddhist TermsClear intuitive insight into physical and mental phenomena as they arise and disappear, seeing them for what they actually are - in and of themselves - in terms of the three characteristics (see ti lakkhana) and in terms of stress, its origin, its disbanding, and the way leading to its disbanding (see ariya sacca).Source: Dhamma Dana: Pali English GlossaryF (Observation from moment to moment, multiplied). Direct vision into reality developed by the mere fact to turn ones attention to that which is perceived, the way it is perceived.
Buddha does teach that the training into the developement of the direct vision into reality (vipassana bhavana) is the unique path leading to nibbana, as this is the only way to directly contemplate phenomena at time of their appearance, and consequently, to achieve a right knowledge of reality.
See also: vipassana
Source: Pali Kanon: Manual of Buddhist Terms and DoctrinesAversion (vipassanā):—(from existence), contemplation of: s. vipassanā (VI . 5)
Source: Pali Kanon: Manual of Buddhist Terms and Doctrines'insight', is the intuitive light flashing forth and exposing the truth of the impermanency, the suffering and the impersonal and unsubstantial nature of all corporeal and mental phenomena of existence. It is insight-wisdom (vipassanā-paññā) that is the decisive liberating factor in Buddhism, though it has to be developed along with the 2 other trainings in morality and concentration. The culmination of insight practice (s. visuddhi VI) leads directly to the stages of holiness (s. visuddhi VII).
Insight is not the result of a mere intellectual understanding, but is won through direct meditative observation of one's own bodily and mental processes. In the commentaries and the Vis.M., the sequence in developing insight-meditation is given as follows:
- 1. discernment of the corporeal (rūpa),
- 2. of the mental (nāma),
- 3. contemplation of both (nāmarūpa; i.e. of their pair wise occurrence in actual events, and their interdependence),
- 4. both viewed as conditioned (application of the dependent origination, paticcasamuppāda),
- 5. application of the 3 characteristics (impermanency, etc.) to mind-and-body-cum-conditions.
The stages of gradually growing insight are described in the 9insight- knowledge (vipassanā-ñāna), constituting the 6th stage of purification: beginning with the 'knowledge of rise and fall' and ending with the 'adaptation to Truth'. For details, see visuddhi VI and Vis.M. XXI.
Eighteen chief kinds of insight-knowledge (or principal insights, mahā-vipassanā) are listed and described in Vis.M. XXII, 113:
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(1) contemplation of impermanence (aniccānupassanā),
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(2) of suffering (dukkhānupassanā),
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(3) of no self (anattānupnupassanā),
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(4) of aversion (nibbidānupassanā).
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(5) of detachment (virāgānupassanā),
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(6) of extinction (nirodhānupassanā),
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(7) of abandoning (patinissaggānupassanā),
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(8) of waning (khayānupassanā),
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(9) of vanishing (vayānupassanā),
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(10) of change (viparināmānupassanā),
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(11) of the unconditioned (or signless, animittānupassanā),
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(12) of desirelessness (apanihitānupassanā),
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(13) of emptiness (suññatāupassanā),
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(14) insight into phenomena which is higher wisdom (adhipaññā-dhamma-vipassanā),
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(15) knowledge and vision according to reality (yathā-bhūta-ñānadassana),
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(16) contemplation of misery (or danger, ādīnavānupassanā),
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(17) reflecting contemplation (patisankhānupassanā),
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(18) contemplation of turning away (vivattanānupassanā).
Through these 18, the adverse ideas and views are overcome, for which reason this way of overcoming is called 'overcoming by the opposite' (tadanga-pahāna, overcoming this factor by that). Thus
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(1) dispels the idea of permanence.
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(2) the idea of happiness,
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(3) the idea of self,
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(4) lust,
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(5) greed,
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(6) origination,
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(7) grasping,
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(8) the idea of compactness,
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(9) karma-accumulation,
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(10) the idea of lastingness,
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(11) the conditions,
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(12) delight,
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(13) adherence,
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(14) grasping and adherence to the idea of substance,
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(15) attachment and adherence,
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(17) thoughtlessness,
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(18) dispels entanglement and clinging.
Insight may be either mundane (lokiya) or supermundane (lokuttara). Supermundane insight is of 3 kinds:
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(1) joined with one of the 4 supermundane paths,
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(2) joined with one of the fruitions of these paths,
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(3) regarding the extinction, or rather suspension, of consciousness (s. nirodha-samāpatti).
See samatha-vipassanā, visuddhi, III-VII.
Literature:
- Manual of Insight, by Ledi Sayadaw (WHEEL 31/32).
- Practical Insight Meditation, Progress of Insight, both by Mahāsi Sayadaw (BPS).
- The Experience of Insight, by Joseph Goldstein (BPS).
insight;
Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).
General definition (in Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: BuddhismVipassana:—Insight into the character of impermanence and the actual nature of the universe.
Languages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionaryvipassanā : (f.) insight.
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English DictionaryVipassanā, (f.) (fr. vi+passati; BSk. vipaśyanā, e.g. Divy 44, 95, 264 etc. ) inward vision, insight, intuition, introspection D. III, 213, 273; S. IV, 195, 360; V, 52 (samatha+); A. I, 61 (id.), 95; II, 140, 157 (samatha+); IV, 360; V, 99, 131; Ps. I, 28, 57 sq. 181; II, 92 sq.; Pug. 25; J. I, 106; Dhs. 55, 1356; Nett 7, 42 sq. 50, 82, 88 sq. 125 sq. 160, 191; Miln. 16; Vism. 2 (with jhāna etc.), 289 (+samādhi), 628 sq. (the 18 mahā°); PvA. 14 (samāhita-citta°), 167; VvA. 77; Sdhp. 457, 466.
Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Vipassana Sutta, Vipassana Yanika, Vipassana-kammatthana, Vipassanadhura, Vipassanakatha, Vipassananana, Vipassananga, Vipassanupekkha.
Ends with: Adhipanna Dhamma Vipassana, Maha Vipassana, Naya Vipassana, Samatha Vipassana, Vutthana Gamini Vipassana.
Full-text (+70): Panna, Dukkhanupassana, Appanihitanupassana, Animittanupassana, Signless, Reflecting Contemplation, Ascending Insight, Desirelessness, Nibbidanupassana-nana, Yuganaddha, Mutability, Turning Away, Maha Vipassana, Paramattha, Unconditioned, Nana, Sitting posture, Dissolution Contemplation, Aniccanupassana, Higher Wisdom.
Relevant text
Search found 84 books and stories containing Vipassana, Vipassanā; (plurals include: Vipassanas, Vipassanās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Dhyana in the Buddhist Literature (by Truong Thi Thuy La)
4.3 (c): A Model for Clinical Application < [Chapter 4 - The Practice of Dhyāna]
2.3: Mindfulness (b): Body Contemplation < [Chapter 2 - The Dhyāna as depicted in Hinayāna Literature]
2.2: (2a) Meaning of the term “Vipassanā” < [Chapter 2 - The Dhyāna as depicted in Hinayāna Literature]
Introducing Buddhist Abhidhamma (by Kyaw Min, U)
Chapter 7 - Vipassana Meditation < [Part 2 - Meditation]
Chapter 6 - Right Understanding < [Part 2 - Meditation]
Chapter 13 - ānā-pāna, or Mindfulness of Breathing < [Book II]
A Survey of Paramattha Dhammas (by Sujin Boriharnwanaket)
Chapter 2 - The Stages of Vipassanā < [Part 5 - The Development Of Insight]
Chapter 1 - The Factors Leading To Enlightenment < [Part 5 - The Development Of Insight]
Chapter 3 - Different Kinds Of Purity < [Part 5 - The Development Of Insight]
The Buddhist Path to Enlightenment (study) (by Dr Kala Acharya)
4.2.3. Faculty of Mindfulness (Satindriya or Smṛti) < [Chapter 2 - Five Groups of Factor]
4.2.5. Faculty of Wisdom (Paññindriya or Prajñā) < [Chapter 2 - Five Groups of Factor]
2.9. Saccā-ñāṇa, Kicca-ñāṇa and Kata-ñāṇa with regard to Magga-saccā < [Chapter 3 - Seven Factors of Enlightenment and Noble Eightfold Path]
A Discourse on Paticcasamuppada (by Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw)
Chapter 1 - Vipassana Practice And Upadana < [Part 9]
Chapter 10 - Right View, Etc. < [Part 1]
Chapter 6 - Extinction Of Craving < [Part 6]
Vipassana Meditation Course (by Chanmyay Sayadaw)
Part 1 - Samatha And Vipassana Meditation < [Chapter 1 - Preliminary Stage]
Part 2 - Mental Noting < [Vipassana Meditation Guidelines]