Bhavana - Buddhism

Buddhism

In the Pali Canon bhāvanā is often found in a compound phrase indicating personal, intentional effort over time with respect to the development of that particular faculty. For instance, in the Pali Canon and post-canonical literature one can find the following compounds:

• citta-bhāvanā, translated as "development of mind" or "development of consciousness."
• kāya-bhāvanā, translated as "development of body."
• mettā-bhāvanā, translated as the "cultivation" or "development of loving-kindness."
• paññā-bhāvanā, translated as "development of wisdom" or "development of understanding."
• samādhi-bhāvanā, translated as "development of tranquil-wisdom." It means the cultivation (bhavana) of a broad range of skills, covering everything from worldview, to ethics, livelihood and mindfulness.

In addition, in the Canon, the development (bhāvanā) of samatha-vipassana is lauded. Subsequently, Theravada teachers have made use of the following compounds:

• samatha-bhāvanā, meaning the development of tranquility.
• vipassanā-bhāvanā, meaning the development of insight.

The word bhavana is sometimes translated into English as 'meditation' so that, for example, metta-bhavana may be translated as 'the meditation on loving-kindness'. Meditation as a state of absorbed concentration on the reality of the present moment is properly called dhyana (Sanskrit; Pali: jhana) or samadhi.