Vipassana Meditation

Vipassana Research Institute

About this app

Vipassana Meditation is a technique of observation and exploration of the mind-body phenomena. The technique leads to purification of mind and can bring about a major transformation in the attitude and behavioural pattern of an individual and, through him, in the entire society.
It has a unique potential as an instrument for better education, health, organisation, management development and social change for strengthening the concept of secularism, national integration and international understanding.
From time to time, we all experience agitation, frustration and disharmony. When we suffer, we do not keep our misery limited to ourselves; instead, we keep distributing it to others. Certainly this is not a proper way to live. We all want to live peacefully within ourselves, and with those around us. After all, human beings are social beings: we have to live and interact with others. How, then, can we live peacefully? How, then, can we remain harmonious ourselves, and maintain peace and harmony around us?
Vipassana enables us to experience peace and harmony by purifying the mind, freeing it from suffering and the deep-seated causes of suffering. Step by step, the practice leads to the highest spiritual goal of full liberation from all mental defilements.
Vipassana has been revived after a period of more than 2500 years.

Courses of Vipassana meditation started in India since 1969, however, initially, there was no separate institution to explore the theory part of the technique. The importance of establishing such an Institute was realized when Mr. S. N. Goenka, principal teacher of Vipassana meditation, began teaching courses on the Satipatthāna Sutta, a discourse in which the Buddha systematically explains the technique of Vipassana.

During the Satipatthāna courses, Goenkaji noticed students studying the words of the Buddha (pariyatti), were encouraged and filled with gratitude when applying them in their meditation practice (patipatti). They found their understanding and practice strengthened, owing to their experiential understanding of the Buddha’s words. Naturally, some of them felt inspired to undertake further study, and to provide this opportunity, the Vipassana Research Institute (VRI) was established. The principal aim of VRI is to conduct scientific research into the sources and applications of the Vipassana Meditation Technique.

For decades now, the words of Goenkaji have inspired masses to not only get introduced to the technique but also to go deeper in their meditative practice. This app aims to make Vipassana Meditation instructions and media available globally to all so that all benefit from this wonderful technique.

Features of the app:
App provides access to VRI newsletters that are published in various languages each month. Various audio files of chantings, dohas, mini-anapana are also made available. For students who have completed a 10 day course in this tradition, they can access additional audio files for the complete 10 day discourse and have access to One day courses and Group sittings held in their area to enable them to keep up with the practice. They can also make donations to VRI via the app.

Ratings and reviews

Update2: no there is no offline functionality. Now even when I have connection, it gets stuck at 83%. This used to be a great app, but anymore. Update: very helpful, but still waiting for a version in which the app can be opened and meditations can be listened without any internet connection (i.e. on a plane) The voice recordings of Goenka has some background noise, that could be avoided. Especially when he is not talking. Nevertheless I am grateful to have this opportunity to do Anapana. Thanks

Nice clean interface and really user friendly. Very informative with a lot of well organized supportive material, thank you very much. A couple of suggestions... Sometimes at startup, it stops if network isn't available. An option to retry (or retried/ offline mode)or exit would be appreciated. In the app, while exiting, pressing Back button it asks to confirm exit that's fine, but clicking on Back again is usually a confirmation, more convenient than clicking on the exact action button.

Ever since the update, the app has stopped loading. Error 1003 (something to do with the server - the message is cut off). I have tried several times to uninstall and reinstall with the same problem and message. It appears to load to 3%, then stops. Plz correct this. This had been my go-to Meditation app for years.

What’s new

Dhamma courses added.
Video issue is fixed.