Vipassana
MeditationA Buddhist insight meditation practice focused on direct observation of impermanence, suffering, and non-self, traditionally taught in intensive silent retreat format.
Example: S.N. Goenka's standardized 10-day residential course — noble silence, no reading, writing, or eye contact — has become the default format worldwide; studies of these retreats have found measurable increases in wellbeing, though effects on anxiety specifically have been inconsistent across trials.
What is Vipassana meditation?
A Buddhist insight meditation practice focused on direct observation of impermanence, suffering, and non-self, traditionally taught in intensive silent retreat format.
What does a typical Vipassana retreat look like?
S.N. Goenka's standardized 10-day residential course — noble silence, no reading, writing, or eye contact — has become the default format worldwide. Studies of these retreats have found measurable increases in wellbeing, though effects on anxiety specifically have been inconsistent across trials.