Samadhi - Buddhism

Buddhism

Samādhi, or concentration of the mind, is the 3rd division of the eightfold path of the Buddha's threefold training: wisdom (pañña), conduct (sīla), Samādhi (Buddhism) (samādhi) - within which it is developed by samatha meditation. Some Buddhist schools teach of 40 different object meditations, according to the Visuddhimagga, an ancient commentarial text. These objects include meditations on the breath (anapanasati), loving kindness (metta) and various colours, earth, fire, etc. (kasiṇa).

Important components of Buddhist meditation, frequently discussed by the Buddha, are the successively higher meditative states known as the four jhānas which in the language of the eight-fold path, are "right concentration". Right concentration has also been characterised in the Maha-cattarisaka Sutta as concentration arising due to the previous seven steps of the noble eightfold path.

Four developments of samādhi are mentioned in the Pāli Canon:

1. Jhāna
2. Increased alertness
3. Insight into the true nature of phenomena (knowledge and vision)
4. Final liberation

Post-canonical Pali literature identifies three different types of samādhi:

1. momentary samādhi (khaṇikasamādhi)
2. access concentration (upacārasamādhi)
3. fixed concentration (appaṇāsamādhi)

Not all types of samādhi are recommended either. Those which focus and multiply the five hindrances are not suitable for development.

The Buddhist suttas also mention that samādhi practitioners may develop supernormal powers (abhijñā, also see 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.

The bliss of samādhi is not the goal of Buddhism; but it remains an important tool in reaching the goal of enlightenment. Samatha/samādhi meditation and vipassana/insight meditation are the two wheels of the chariot of the noble eightfold path and the Buddha strongly recommended developing them both.