Buddhist Meditation in the Theravada tradition

"Enlightenment is always sudden. It is grace; when the conditions are right, it happens. But the path leading up to that moment is gradual. We practice, we create the field, we prepare the ground, and the mind eventually opens suddenly and spontaneously. Then again, after sudden awakening can come a gradual cultivation and ripening of the enlightened mind."

- Joseph Goldstein

Welcome to the Vipassana Fellowship.

Meditation Course

The online meditation course has been hosted here since 1997. Our 90 day course provides a clear and practical introduction to tranquillity and insight practices from the Theravada tradition. The course is usually offered in January, May and September each year.

Authentic Texts

All of the documents on this site take their lead from the Pali Canon; the most authoritative record and guide to the historical Buddha's teachings. They are part of a living tradition that continues to flourish after two and a half millennia.

Useful Resources

We are an independent site promoting a balanced approach to the practice of Buddhist meditation as found in the Theravada tradition. We aim to offer resources to help nurture and sustain a fulfilling and effective meditation practice that is consistent with the Buddha's teachings

Authoritative Teachings

In addition to presenting the core texts of early Buddhism we are developing an online library featuring some of the finest modern writing on Buddhism and meditation.

Stay Informed

Our newsletter contains details of our new courses and items of interest to those meditating in the Buddhist tradition.

In the Pali language of the early Buddhist texts, vipassana means insight. It is often used to describe one of the two main categories of Buddhist meditation (the other being samatha or tranquillity). The term may correctly be applied to any Buddhist meditation technique that aims for a complete understanding of the Three Characteristics - dukkha (suffering or unsatisfactoriness), anicca (impermanence) and anatta (not-Self).

The southern form of Buddhism now found mainly in Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar. It is the oldest living tradition and its core teachings are based on the word of the Buddha as found in the earliest texts.