Zen and insight (Vipassana)
Best if you want depth, discipline and a traditional path, often in silence.
Zen and Vipassana are the two great traditional sitting practices. Zen (zazen) comes from the Japanese Mahayana lineage and emphasises upright, silent "just sitting" with the breath. Vipassana, from the Theravada tradition, cultivates insight by closely observing the changing nature of sensation, thought, and feeling. Both are typically taught through longer sits and silent retreats, sometimes ten days or more, and both reward patience over novelty.
You matched here because you want depth, not a wellness tweak. You're drawn to a tradition with real lineage, real teachers, and a path that asks something of you. The right next step is finding a teacher or a retreat in your tradition of interest. A daily app-guided sit isn't a substitute for that, but it can hold the daily practice between retreats, which is often where the real work of integration happens.
Worth knowing
- Zen and Vipassana are often taught through longer sittings and silent retreats.
- Vipassana means roughly "insight": seeing how sensations and thoughts constantly change.
How to start
- Sit upright, follow the breath in the belly, and let thoughts pass without chasing them.
Meditation, matched to your moment, with a journal that remembers.
StillMind does not run silent retreats, but it can support a steady daily sit alongside a traditional practice.