| content | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
In Buddhism, samādhi (Pali; Skt.) is mental concentration.
In the Pali literature, samadhi is found in the following contexts:
- In the Noble Eightfold Path, "right concentration" (samma-samadhi) is the eighth path factor.
- Similarly, samadhi is the second part of the Buddha's threefold training: sila (conduct or virtue), samadhi or samatha (concentration), and pañña (wisdom).
- In the development of the four jhanas, the second jhana is "born" from samadhi (samādhija).
- According to the Visuddhimagga, samadhi is the "proximate cause" to the obtainment of wisdom.[1]
Contents |
Developing samadhi
In Buddhism, samadhi is traditionally developed by contemplating one of 40 different objects, such as mindfulness of breathing (anapanasati) and loving kindness (metta).
Upon development of samadhi, one's mind becomes purified of defilements, calm, tranquil, and luminous. Once the meditator achieves a strong and powerful concentration, his mind is ready to penetrate and see into the ultimate nature of reality, eventually obtaining release from all suffering.
Table: Uses of samādhi (based on AN IV.41) |
|
|---|---|
| object of concentration |
development |
| four jhānas | pleasant abiding (sukha-vihārāya) in this life (diţţhadhamma) |
| perception (sañña) of light (āloka) |
knowing (ñāṇa) and seeing (dassana) |
| arising, passing, fading of feelings (vedanā), perceptions (saññā) and thoughts (vitakkā) |
mindfulness (sati) and clear comprehension (sampajaññā) |
| arising and fading of the five aggregates of clinging (pañc'upādāna-khandha) |
extinction (khaya) of the taints (āsava) [Arahantship] |
In AN IV.41,[2] the Buddha identifies four types of concentration development, each with a different goal:
- a pleasant abiding in this current life - achieved through concentrative development of the four jhanas
- knowledge and the divine eye - achieved by concentration on light
- mindfulness and clear comprehension - achieved through concentrative mindfulness of the rise and fall of feelings, perceptions and thoughts.[3]
- the destruction of the taints - achieved through concentrative mindfulness of the rise and fall of the Five Aggregates.[4]
The Buddhist suttas mention that samadhi practitioners may develop supernormal powers (abhijna, cf. siddhis), and list several that the Buddha developed, but warn that these should not be allowed to distract the practitioner from the larger goal of complete freedom from suffering.
Right concentration
Table: Jhāna-related factors. |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| first jhāna |
second jhāna |
third jhāna |
fourth jhāna |
|
| sensuality (kāma), unskillful qualities (akusala dhamma) |
secluded from, withdrawn |
|||
| applied thought (vitakka) |
accom- panies jhāna |
stilled | ||
| sustained thought (vicāra) |
||||
| rapture (pīti) |
seclusion- born; pervades body |
samādhi- born; pervades body |
fades away (as does distress) |
|
| pleasure (sukha) |
pervades physical body |
aban- doned (as is pain) |
||
| pure, mindful equanimity (upekkhā- sati- pārisuddhi) |
[internal confidence, mental unification] |
equani- mous, mindful |
neither pleasure nor pain; permeates body with pure mind |
|
|
Table's sources:
|
||||
In the Buddhist Noble Eightfold Path, the Buddha explains that "Right Concentration" (Pali: sammā-samādhi; Skt.: samyak-samādhi) involves attainment of the successively higher meditative states known as the four jhanas.[5]
See also
Notes
- ^ Buddhaghosa & Ñāṇamoli (1999), p. 437.
- ^ Nyanaponika & Bodhi, 1999, pp. 88-89.
- ^ These appear to refer to three of the five aggregates.
- ^ This is similar to the instructions for mindfulness of the aggregates in the Satipatthana Sutta.
- ^ Brasington, 1997; and, Thanissaro, 1997.
Bibliography
- Brasington, Leigh (1997). Sharpening Manjushri's Sword: The Jhanas in Theravadan Buddhist Meditation. Retrieved 2007-10-04 from "Leigh Brasington's Web Site" at http://www.leighb.com/jhana2.htm.
- Buddhaghosa, Bhadantācariya and Bhikkhu Ñāṇamoli (trans.) (1999). The Path of Purification: Visuddhimagga. Seattle, WA: BPS Pariyatti Editions. ISBN 1-928706-00-2.
- Nyanaponika Thera & Bhikkhu Bodhi (trans.) (1999). Numerical Discourses of the Buddha: An Anthology of Suttas from the Anguttara Nikaya. Kandy, Sri Lanka: Buddhist Publication Society. ISBN 0-7425-0405-0.
- Thanissaro Bhikkhu (1997). One Tool Among Many: The Place of Vipassana in Buddhist Practice. Retrieved 2007-10-04 from "Access to Insight" at http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/thanissaro/onetool.html.
External links
- Samma Samadhi - by Ajahn Chah
- Samadhi for Liberation - by Ajahn Anand Akincano
- Wisdom Develops Samadhi - by Maha Boowa
- Developing Samadhi - by Lama Gelek Rinpoche
