The main meditation practice that is offered at Passaddhi Meditation Centre is vipassana or insight meditation (sometimes called mindfulness meditation). The practice of vipassana meditation is based on the instructions given by the Buddha in the Satipatthana Sutta, the discourse on the establishing of mindfulness.

This practice was originally taught by the Buddha 2,500 years ago, to free us from the bondage of greed, hatred and delusion, to overcome all suffering. Nowadays vipassana is still practised in Burma, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries.

Since the late 1970’s vipassana has been taught and practised in the West, brought here by Western practitioners and Asian meditation masters.

The particular technique that is practised and taught at Passaddhi is known as the Mahasi method. Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw was a Burmese meditation teacher, who revived the vipassana practice and made it more accessible for lay people. Nowadays there are over 500 meditation centres in Burma where mainly lay people practise.

Mindfulness in the four postures of sitting, walking, standing and reclining is the tool used in vipassana meditation. Continuity of mindfulness is aimed for, to gain clear insight into the true nature of all our experience. We learn to observe without judgment, without preference whatever is happening in body and mind, and we will grow in wisdom and compassion. These qualities were perfected by the Buddha, but it is also possible for us to realise our full potential as a human being, with the help of vipassana or insight meditation.

The development of mindfulness or awareness is also central to Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, and Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy programmes.