Let’s Learn Meditation Subjects – The 40 Meditation Subjects
In Buddhism, kammaṭṭhāna is a Pali word (Sanskrit: karmasthana) which literally means the place of work. Its original meaning was someone's occupation (farming, trading, cattle-tending, etc.). It has several distinct but related usages, all having to do with Buddhist meditation. Its most basic meaning is as a word for meditation. The senior meditation practitioners are known as "kammatthanacariyas" (meditation masters). These 40 meditation subjects are mentioned in the Visuddhimagga composed by Buddhaghosa. Buddhaghosa uses "kammatthana" to refer to each of his forty meditation objects listed in the third chapter of the Visuddhimagga, which are partially derived from the Pāli Canon.
These 40 meditation subjects cannot be practised by all. It is necessary to identify the suitable meditation subject depending on the character of a practitioner. Each kammatthana can be suggested, especially by a spiritual friend (kalyāṇa-mitta), to a certain individual student at some specific point, by assessing what would be best for that student's temperament and the present state of his or her mind. Accordingly, there are two types.
01. Sabbatthaka Kammaṭṭhāna – can be practised by all
02. Parihāriya Kammaṭṭhāna – especially for different characters
The forty Meditation Subjects
Kasina (things that one can behold directly) - 10
Asubha (objects of repulsion) - 10
Anussati (recollections) - 10
Brahmavihāra (Four sublime qualities) - 04
Āruppa (formless states) - 04
Saňňā (perception) - 01
Vavatthāna (analysis of the four elements) - 01
· The first ten are 'things that one can behold directly', 'kasina', or 'a whole':
(1) earth, (2) water, (3) fire, (4) air, wind, (5) blue, (6) yellow, (7) red, (8) white, (9) enclosed space, (10) bright light.
· The next ten is objects of repulsion (asubha):
(1) swollen corpse, (2) discoloured, bluish, corpse, (3) festering corpse, (4) fissured corpse, (5) gnawed corpse, (6,7) dismembered, or hacked and scattered, corpse, (8) bleeding corpse, (9) worm-eaten corpse, (10) skeleton.
· Ten are recollections (anussati):
The first three recollections are of the virtues of the Three Jewels:
(1) Buddha
(2) Dharma
(3) Sangha
The next three are recollections of the virtues of:
(4) morality (Śīla)
(5) liberality (cāga)
(6) the wholesome attributes of Devas
Recollections of:
(7) the body (kāya)
(8) death
(9) the breath or breathing (ānāpāna)
(10) peace
· Four are stations of Brahma (Brahma-vihara):
(1) unconditional kindness and goodwill (mettā)
(2) compassion (karuna)
(3) sympathetic joy over other's success (mudita)
(4) evenmindedness, equanimity (upekkha)
· Four are formless states (four arūpajhānas):
(1) infinite space
(2) infinite consciousness
(3) infinite nothingness
(4) neither perception nor non-perception.
· One is of perception of disgust of food (aharepatikulasanna).
· The last is an analysis of the four elements (catudhatuvavatthana): earth (pathavi), water (apo), fire (tejo), air (vayo).
The Meditation Subjects can be grouped into three as thus.
01. Meditation subjects on natural objects
02. Meditation subjects on bodily parts of the human
03. Meditation subjects on thoughts
Dhammānussati Meditaion
Contemplating the qualities of the Dhamma is known as Dhammānussati meditation. It cannot be achieved to the mental concentration, by contemplating the all qualities at once. It should be practice one quality by one.
01. Svakkhato means the dhamma is well proclaimed by the Enlightened One and is excellent at the beginning concerning morality (sila), excellent in the middle concerning the development of concentration (samadhi), and excellent in the end concerning the development of wisdom (panna).
02. The quality of sanditthiko means dhamma is to be self-realized through personal effort and experience by following the Noble Eightfold Path. It will lead one to the final goal of liberation from suffering and the cycle of birth and death by attaining the state of Nibbana. Thus, the results are visible here and now.
03. The quality of akaliko means dhamma is timeless and the results of dhamma practice can be achieved immediately in this life itself without having to wait for any future lives.
04. Ahipassiko means dhamma is open and transparent as there is nothing mysterious or mythical about the Buddha’s teaching. Anyone can be invited to see, investigate, practise and experience the results of dhamma which is pure and clear.
05. The quality of opanayiko means dhamma is suitable to be brought inside oneself and to be experienced within oneself. Dhamma is also worthy of being followed as a part of one’s life to attain Nibbana or liberation from suffering.
06. Dhamma is to be practised and realized individually by each person depending on the maturity of one’s wisdom. Only those who knew, understood and practised the dhamma as instructed by the Buddha will be able to realize the Truth.
Sanghānussati Meditation
01. The quality of supatipanno means, the members of the community of Sangha practise the threefold path of liberation consisting of morality (sila), concentration (samadhi), and wisdom (panna), which is the right or the perfect way to attain Nibbana.
02. The quality of ujupatipanno means, the members of the community of Sangha practise the three-fold path, which is the Middle Path that avoids the extremes of sensual pleasures and self-mortification. The practice of this path will lead one straight to the state of Nibbana and liberation from the cycle of death and rebirth (samsara)
03. The quality of nyayapatipanno means the members of the community of Sangha practise the three-fold path or the Noble Eight-fold Path which is the only path that will lead one to Nibbana.
04. The quality of samicipatipanno means, the members of the community of Sangha practise the threefold path to be worthy of veneration by others.
05 The quality of Ahuneyyo means, the members of the community of Sangha are worthy of receiving offerings that are brought even from faraway places. The offerings may include the four basic requisites of food, robes, lodgings and medicines.
06 The quality of Pahuneyyo means, the members of the community of Sangha are worthy of receiving even the offerings that are specially prepared for visiting relatives and friends who travel from faraway places.
07 The quality of Dakkhineyyo means, the members of the community of Sangha are worthy of receiving the offerings that are offered by devotees with the expectation of receiving benefits in their future lives.
08 The quality of anjalikaraneyyo means, the members of the community of Sangha are worthy of receiving reverential salutations from others, for example by holding both hands over one’s head.
09 Anuttaram punnakkhettam lokassa means, the members of the community of Sangha are an incomparable fertile field in the world where devotees can plant the seeds of merit.
Comments