New
New
Year 10
Eduqas

Forms of meditation: vipassana

I can explain the nature, purpose and significance of vipassana meditation for Buddhists today.

New
New
Year 10
Eduqas

Forms of meditation: vipassana

I can explain the nature, purpose and significance of vipassana meditation for Buddhists today.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Vipassana meditation is one of the two main methods taught by the Buddha.
  2. Vipassana helps Buddhists gain insight into the true nature of reality as characterised by the three marks of existence.
  3. In the Yuganaddha Sutta, four possible paths to enlightenment are discussed.
  4. Vipassana was used by the Buddha as a way of eliminating ignorance and suffering (dukkha).
  5. Practising vipassana is a way to achieve enlightenment and attain Nibbana/Nirvana.

Keywords

  • Meditation - a spiritual experience that opens a person up to the highest state of consciousness

  • Samatha - calmness or breathing meditation

  • The three marks of existence - the belief that all life involves/is marked by three features: dukkha, anicca, anatta

  • Vipassana (insight) - ‘insight’ meditation enabling the individual to see the true nature of things

Common misconception

Vipassana meditation is primarily about relaxation or stress relief.

Vipassana meditation is aimed at cultivating insight into the nature of reality, specifically the impermanent, unsatisfactory, and non-self characteristics of all phenomena, known in Buddhism as the three marks of existence.


To help you plan your year 10 religious education lesson on: Forms of meditation: vipassana, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Teach samatha meditation to consolidate the learning in this lesson.
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This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
How is samatha meditation often described?
as insight meditation
as chanting meditation
Correct answer: as calming meditation
Q2.
What tool do some Buddhists use to focus during samatha meditation?
rosary beads
Correct answer: kasinas
incense sticks
Q3.
Which school of Buddhism mainly practises samatha meditation?
Correct answer: Theravada
Pure Land
Tibetan
Q4.
What benefit do many non-Buddhists gain from meditation?
it helps them to learn Pali chants
Correct answer: it reduces stress
it allows them to become monks
Q5.
Which of the following is not a goal of samatha meditation?
Correct answer: enlightenment
calmness
concentration
Q6.
What is the aim of mettabhavana meditation?
Correct answer: to develop loving-kindness and compassion
to recite Buddhist scriptures
to enter a trance-like state

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
Vipassana meditation is used by Buddhists to help them achieve .
Correct Answer: enlightenment, Enlightenment
Q2.
What is the main focus of vipassana meditation?
Correct answer: gaining insight into reality
gaining material wealth
chanting sacred words
Q3.
What are the three marks of existence that were taught by the Buddha?
peace, kindness, faith
wisdom, action, thought
Correct answer: dukkha, anicca, anatta
Q4.
According to the Yuganaddha Sutta, what did the Buddha teach about meditation?
that vipassana must come after samatha meditation
that both methods are optional
Correct answer: that the order of samatha and vipassana meditation can vary
Q5.
Which form of meditation is focused on calming the mind?
vipassana
zazen
Correct answer: samatha
Q6.
Why is vipassana meditation significant to Buddhists?
Correct answer: it helps remove ignorance
it replaces the Eightfold Path
it is quicker than other methods