What is Vipassana Meditation? How is it different from other types of meditation?
There are two types of meditation according to the ancient Theravada Pali texts. One in which clear awareness of the present moment is cultivated and another style in which the meditator is focused on one singular item, such as awareness of breath, for an extended period of time without becoming distracted, culminating in a deeper sense of calm or tranquility while enhancing a person’s capacity for concentration.
The first style of mediation, during which the practitioner is slowly building more profound awareness of the present moment and dropping illusory concepts that stand in their way of liberation, is normally practiced during a vipassana meditation retreat. It is considered the oldest meditation practice in existence, a teaching shared through a lesson given by Buddha himself.