Insight meditation, also known as Vipassana or Mindfulness meditation, is a practice that can relieve the difficulties we experience as human beings.  We are usually in a flow of liking and disliking – desire and aversion – of most if not all of our day-to-day experiences.

Insight Meditation began as a practice taught by Siddhartha Gautama (better known as the Buddha, c. 563 – c. 483 BCE). He taught this and other practices to relieve us of the difficulties of human existence in the whole range of existence – not getting what we want, getting what we don’t want, the impermanence and eventual loss of everything we love. Insight

Meditation helps us gain important experiential insights into those aspects of living that are the basis for all our suffering and dissatisfaction. It usually begins with learning to place and hold attention on the sensations of breathing. With practice, this leads to physical and mental relaxation, increased concentration, inner peace and equanimity. But in the early attempts, a new meditator may be most aware of how busy and shifting their mind is and having trouble relaxing. But, having good instruction and support, and with a desire to reap some of the benefits of meditation, the fruits of practice will come!