user579: What type of meditation is proposed by the Buddha for attaining self realization? Is it Vipassanna medition? Is Mindfulness meditation the same as Vipassanna? Which scripture mentions these techniques? 

user408: Popular belief is that the Buddha taught two types of meditation; samatha and vipassana. There are several texts that refer to this, but there has been debate whether these references qualify as 'teaching' them or if the Buddha just mentioned that 'tranquility' and 'insight' can be beneficial (e.g. see this article or this discussion)

The Blessed One said, "Monks, Sariputta is wise, of great discernment, deep discernment, wide... joyous... rapid... quick... penetrating discernment. For half a month, Sariputta clearly saw insight[1] into mental qualities one after another.
Notes [1] "Clearly saw insight": In Pali, this is vipassanam vipassi, which could be translated literally as "clearly saw clear seeing" or "insighted insight." source: Anupada Sutta

and

"As for the individual who has attained both internal tranquillity of awareness & insight into phenomena through heightened discernment, his duty is to make an effort in establishing ('tuning') those very same skillful qualities to a higher degree for the ending of the (mental) fermentations. source: Samadhi Sutta

and

"These two qualities have a share in clear knowing. Which two? Tranquillity (samatha) & insight (vipassana).
"When tranquillity is developed, what purpose does it serve? The mind is developed. And when the mind is developed, what purpose does it serve? Passion is abandoned.
"When insight is developed, what purpose does it serve? Discernment is developed. And when discernment is developed, what purpose does it serve? Ignorance is abandoned.
"Defiled by passion, the mind is not released. Defiled by ignorance, discernment does not develop. Thus from the fading of passion is there awareness-release. From the fading of ignorance is there discernment-release." source: Vijja-bhagiya Sutta

A list of other references to vipassana in the scriptures can be found here, and to samatha here

user610: Here is a simple answer.
There is only 2 Main Techniques.

Samatha Meditation Technique
Vipassana Meditation Technique

Samatha Meditation Technique
 This is the base to all meditation. According to buddhas teaching this will make the path for vipassana Meditation Technique.
Vipassana Meditation Technique
 This mainly include Anapanasathi. For Enlightnment and Ultimate truth this is the way.
This is the simplest answer I can give. If you have questions leave a Comment 

user157: If we take the Pali Canon as been the closest we have to the word of the Buddha then there isn't a wealth of specific meditation advice in there when compared to other types of advice such as ethical.
However there are two sutras that do give specific advice these being

Anapanasati Sutra (Mindfulness of breathing)
Satipatthana Sutra (The Way of Mindfulness)

Both these sutras encapsulate samatha and vipassana practices. For example the Anapansati Sutra begins with body contemplation but end up in the forth tetrad contemplating the very stuff of existence 

Contemplating impermanence   
Contemplating fading of lust
Contemplating cessation
Contemplating relinquishment

The Satipatthana sutra also start with calming practices but ultimately the practioner is asked to comtemplate the four noble truths

Here, O bhikkhus, a bhikkhu understands: 'This is suffering,'
  according to reality; he understands: 'This is the origin of
  suffering,' according to reality; he understands: 'This is the
  cessation of suffering,' according to reality; and he understands:
  'This is the road leading to the cessation of suffering,' according to
  realty.

You can't get much more vipassana than that!
If I can also take the opportunity to recommend the book Satipaṭṭhāna: The Direct Path to Realization by Analayo. This is a tremendous book for anyone interested in really drilling into the Satipaṭṭhāna sutra and getting to grips with meditation as the Buddha taught it. It's heavy on the footnotes and is more of a heady read other Dharma books but I've read it once and it's certainly on my list to go through again. 

579: <p>What type of meditation is proposed by the Buddha for attaining self realization? Is it Vipassanna medition? Is Mindfulness meditation the same as Vipassanna? Which scripture mentions these techniques? </p>
 408: <p>Popular belief is that the Buddha taught two types of meditation; samatha and vipassana. There are several texts that refer to this, but there has been debate whether these references qualify as 'teaching' them or if the Buddha just mentioned that 'tranquility' and 'insight' can be beneficial (e.g. see <a href="http://meditationasheville.blogspot.nl/2011/09/what-kind-of-meditation-did-buddha.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this article</a> or <a href="http://www.dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?f=17&amp;t=1210" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this discussion</a>)</p>
<blockquote>
<p>The Blessed One said, &quot;Monks, Sariputta is wise, of great discernment, deep discernment, wide... joyous... rapid... quick... penetrating discernment. For half a month, Sariputta clearly saw insight[1] into mental qualities one after another.</p>
<p>Notes [1] &quot;Clearly saw insight&quot;: In Pali, this is vipassanam vipassi, which could be translated literally as &quot;clearly saw clear seeing&quot; or &quot;insighted insight.&quot; <sub><a href="http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.111.than.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">source: Anupada Sutta</a></sub></p>
</blockquote>
<p>and</p>
<blockquote>
<p>&quot;As for the individual who has attained both internal tranquillity of awareness &amp; insight into phenomena through heightened discernment, his duty is to make an effort in establishing ('tuning') those very same skillful qualities to a higher degree for the ending of the (mental) fermentations. <sub><a href="http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an04/an04.094.than.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">source: Samadhi Sutta</a></sub></p>
</blockquote>
<p>and</p>
<blockquote>
<p>&quot;These two qualities have a share in clear knowing. Which two? Tranquillity (samatha) &amp; insight (vipassana).</p>
<p>&quot;When tranquillity is developed, what purpose does it serve? The mind is developed. And when the mind is developed, what purpose does it serve? Passion is abandoned.</p>
<p>&quot;When insight is developed, what purpose does it serve? Discernment is developed. And when discernment is developed, what purpose does it serve? Ignorance is abandoned.</p>
<p>&quot;Defiled by passion, the mind is not released. Defiled by ignorance, discernment does not develop. Thus from the fading of passion is there awareness-release. From the fading of ignorance is there discernment-release.&quot; <sub><a href="http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an02/an02.030.than.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">source: Vijja-bhagiya Sutta</a></sub></p>
</blockquote>
<p>A list of other references to vipassana in the scriptures can be found <a href="http://www.accesstoinsight.org/index-subject.html#vipassana" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a>, and to samatha <a href="http://www.accesstoinsight.org/index-subject.html#samatha" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a></p>
 610: <p>Here is a simple answer.
There is only 2 Main Techniques.</p>

<ol>
<li>Samatha Meditation Technique</li>
<li>Vipassana Meditation Technique</li>
</ol>

<p>Samatha Meditation Technique
 This is the base to all meditation. According to buddhas teaching this will make the path for vipassana Meditation Technique.</p>

<p>Vipassana Meditation Technique
 This mainly include Anapanasathi. For Enlightnment and Ultimate truth this is the way.</p>

<p>This is the simplest answer I can give. If you have questions leave a Comment </p>
 157: <p>If we take the Pali Canon as been the closest we have to the word of the Buddha then there isn't a wealth of specific meditation advice in there when compared to other types of advice such as ethical.</p>

<p>However there are two sutras that do give specific advice these being</p>

<ol>
<li><a href="http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.118.than.html">Anapanasati Sutra</a> (Mindfulness of breathing)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/soma/wayof.html">Satipatthana Sutra</a> (The Way of Mindfulness)</li>
</ol>

<p>Both these sutras encapsulate samatha and vipassana practices. For example the Anapansati Sutra begins with body contemplation but end up in the forth tetrad contemplating the very stuff of existence </p>

<ol>
<li>Contemplating impermanence   </li>
<li>Contemplating fading of lust</li>
<li>Contemplating cessation</li>
<li>Contemplating relinquishment</li>
</ol>

<p>The Satipatthana sutra also start with calming practices but ultimately the practioner is asked to comtemplate the <a href="http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/soma/wayof.html#four">four noble truths</a></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Here, O bhikkhus, a bhikkhu understands: 'This is suffering,'
  according to reality; he understands: 'This is the origin of
  suffering,' according to reality; he understands: 'This is the
  cessation of suffering,' according to reality; and he understands:
  'This is the road leading to the cessation of suffering,' according to
  realty.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>You can't get much more vipassana than that!</p>

<p>If I can also take the opportunity to recommend the book <a href="http://windhorsepublications.com/satipatthana_the_direct_path_to_realization">Satipaṭṭhāna: The Direct Path to Realization</a> by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhikkhu_Analayo">Analayo</a>. This is a tremendous book for anyone interested in really drilling into the Satipaṭṭhāna sutra and getting to grips with meditation as the Buddha taught it. It's heavy on the footnotes and is more of a heady read other Dharma books but I've read it once and it's certainly on my list to go through again. </p>
