Vipashyana, Vipaśyanā, Vipasyāna: 5 definitions
Introduction:
Vipashyana means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit. 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.
The Sanskrit term Vipaśyanā can be transliterated into English as Vipasyana or Vipashyana, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: academia.edu: A Study and Translation of the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā1) Vipaśyanā (विपश्यना) refers to “expanded vision”, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly, “The great vehicle (mahāyāna) is made with four wheels (cakra), namely with the means of attraction, the spokes (ara) are well fitted as the roots of good have been transformed with intention (āśaya), [...] it is carried on by a yoke yoked with the team of insight and expedient means, it is fastened in the holes of peaceful meditation and expanded vision (śamatha-vipaśyanā), it is powered by the power of understanding four holy truths (catuḥsatya), it has the power of a thousand well-bred horses, [...]”.
2) vipaśyana (शमथ) refers to “transcendental analysis”, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly, “Then, the Lord went on to speak these verses: ‘[...] (46) The morality pacifies [minds], pacifies afflictions (kleśa), brings to the completion of the mental quiescence and transcendental analysis (śamatha-vipaśyana), 431 and guides to the ultimate [liberation]. [...]’”.
Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sūtras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.
General definition (in Buddhism)
Source: Shambala Publications: GeneralVipashyanā (vipaśyanā), Skt. (Pali, vipassanā); insight, clear seeing; intuitive cognition of the three marks of existence, namely, the impermanence (anitya), suffering (duhkha), and egolessness (anātman) of all physical and mental phenomena. In Mahāyāna Buddhism, vipashyanā is seen as analytical examination of the nature of things that leads to insight into the true nature of the world—emptiness (shūnyatā). Such insight prevents the arising of new passions. Vipashyanā is one of the two factors essential for the attainment of enlightenment; the other is shamatha (calming the mind).
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryVipaśyanā (विपश्यना).—(Sanskrit vi-paśyati plus -anā), correct insight: [Page491-b+ 71] with other virtues Lalitavistara 415.7 (°na, verse); °na-vāyu-samā Lalitavistara 414.11 (verse), like the wind in (penetrating) insight, so Tibetan, lhag mthoṅ rluṅ (daṅ) ḥdra; °na-vidyu-mālī Rāṣṭrapālaparipṛcchā 45.5 (verse; in all these °na m.c.); °nāyāṃ śikṣec ca Udānavarga vi.9; śama-śīla-°nā-balair Divyāvadāna 44.24 (verse); but almost always closely associated, often [compound], with a preceding śamatha; compare Abhidharmakośa LaV-P. vi.301. n. 2, ‘la pensée parfumée par le śamatha (calme) peut obtenir par la vipaśyanā (intelli- gence; elsewhere vision, contemplation) la vimukti’; another definition Bodhisattvabhūmi 260.11-14 tatra yā bodhisattvasyaiṣā dharmāṇām evam avikalpanā (see vikalpana), so 'sya śamatho draṣṭavyaḥ. yac ca tad yathābhūtajñānaṃ pāramārthikaṃ, yac ca tad apramāṇavyavasthānanayajñānaṃ dharmeṣu, iyam asya vipaśyanā draṣṭavyā; in Mahāvyutpatti 1678 vi° (Tibetan lhag mthoṅ) follows śamatha 1677, and forms a tetrad with it and yogaḥ, yoniśo-manasikāraḥ; śamatha-°nā- vihārin Divyāvadāna 95.13; 124.12; 264.27—28; Avadāna-śataka i.16.10; 283.2; °nā-vihāra-vihārin Gaṇḍavyūha 471.21; otherwise [compound] or associated with śamatha, Lalitavistara 128.3; 181.19; 183.7; Mahāvastu i.120.10; Avadāna-śataka ii.140.10; Śikṣāsamuccaya 260.12; 261.2; Kāśyapa Parivarta 154.5; Bodhisattvabhūmi 83.8; 109.9, etc. (Pali vipassanā; compare prec. and next.)
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English DictionaryVipaśyana (विपश्यन):—[=vi-paśyana] [from vi-paś] n. (or f(ā). ) right knowledge, [Buddhist literature]
[Sanskrit to German]
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Pashyana, Vi.
Starts with: Vipashyanakaushalya, Vipashyanasambhara.
Ends with: Shamathavipashyana.
Full-text: Samatha, Sixteen Contemplations, Shamathavipashyanaviharin, Vidyuta, Samatha Vipassana, Sukhavativyuha Sutra, Vikalpana, Vyavasthana, Vipassana, Catuhsatya, Mantrayana, Lokottaramarga, Shamathavipashyana, Vidarshana, Bhutakoti, Tathata, Dhatu.
Relevant text
Search found 11 books and stories containing Vipashyana, Vi-pashyana, Vi-paśyana, Vi-pasyana, Vipaśyanā, Vipasyana, Vipaśyana, Vipasyāna; (plurals include: Vipashyanas, pashyanas, paśyanas, pasyanas, Vipaśyanās, Vipasyanas, Vipaśyanas, Vipasyānas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)
Bhūmi 7: the far-gone ground (dūraṃgamā / dūraṅgamā) < [Chapter XX - (2nd series): Setting out on the Mahāyāna]
IV. Silence of the Śrāvakas on the dhāraṇis < [Part 4 - Obtaining the gates of recollection and concentration]
II. Synonymity of the three words < [Part 2 - Understanding dharmatā and its synonyms]
The Great Chariot (by Longchenpa)
Part 2b.9 - Summarizing the meaning of the eight means of resting < [B. The gradation of powers of those who meditate into high, middle, and low]
Part 2b.1 - The main means of practice, shamatha and vipashyana < [B. The teaching of the three factors of immovable samadhis]
Part 1 - Those of the highest powers < [B. The gradation of powers of those who meditate into high, middle, and low]
Guhyagarbha Tantra (with Commentary) (by Gyurme Dorje)
Text 5.14 (Commentary) < [Chapter 5 (text and commentary)]
Text 13.8 (Commentary) < [Chapter 13 (Text and Commentary)]
Blue Annals (deb-ther sngon-po) (by George N. Roerich)
Appendix 1 - The Great Seal teachings of the Dakpo Kagyu < [Book 8 - The famous Dakpo Kagyü (traditions)]
Chapter 6 - First incarnation series (i): dus gsum mkhyen pa < [Book 8 - The famous Dakpo Kagyü (traditions)]
Mahayana Mahaparinirvana Sutra
Chapter XXXVIII - On Bodhisattva Lion's Roar (f) < [Section Seven]
Chapter XXXVII - On Bodhisattva Lion's Roar (e) < [Section Seven]
Chapter XXV - On Pure Actions (e) < [Section Five]
Bodhisattvacharyavatara (by Andreas Kretschmar)
Text Section 250 / Stanza 16 < [Khenpo Chöga’s Oral Explanations]
Text Section 51 < [Khenpo Chöga’s Oral Explanations]
Khenpo Ape’s Advice On Studying The Bodhisattva-caryāvatāra < [Introduction Text]