Vipassana (Pali, "clear seeing") is the name of an ancient meditation practice associated primarily with Theravada Buddhism.
The two basic types of Buddhist meditation are vipassana and shamatha (Sanskrit, "peaceful dwelling"). Shamatha is used to develop concentration, while vipassana is more analytical. Vipassana is thought to be the form of meditation the historical Buddha used to realize enlightenment.
Ihe Ven. Dr. Walpola Rahula wrote in What the Buddha Taught (Grove Press, p. 69), that vipassana "is an analytical method based on mindfulness, awareness, vigilance, observation."
The Theravada school practices vipassana exclusively, while Mahayana meditation often combines elements of shamatha and vipassana.
For more, see "Bhavana: An Introduction to Buddhist Meditation."
