How many different types of Buddhist meditations are there?

General discussion of issues related to Theravada Meditation, e.g. meditation postures, developing a regular sitting practice, skillfully relating to difficulties and hindrances, etc.
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Padmist
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How many different types of Buddhist meditations are there?

Post by Padmist »

Insight, Vipassana, Shamata, Kasina, Mindfulness, Metta?

What is the purpose/point/goal of/for each? Where does it lead one?

What is recommended for beginners to start with?

Is PRACTICAL INSIGHT MEDITATION by Mahasi Sayadaw a good book?
SarathW
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Re: How many different types of Buddhist meditations are there?

Post by SarathW »

Insight = Vipassan (Satipathana)
Vipassana = Insight or mindfulness
Shamata= Samatha has 52 meditation objects
Kasina = is one of the 52 Samatha meditaion objects
Mindfulness = Vipassana or mindfulness
Metta = one of the 52 Samatha meditation objects

In summary, Thearavada has two main mediations namely Samatha (Which lead to Jhana) and Vipassana (Satipathana which lead to Nibbana)
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
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pitithefool
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Re: How many different types of Buddhist meditations are there?

Post by pitithefool »

Padmist wrote: Sun Feb 21, 2021 7:26 am Insight, Vipassana, Shamata, Kasina, Mindfulness, Metta?

What is the purpose/point/goal of/for each? Where does it lead one?

What is recommended for beginners to start with?

Is PRACTICAL INSIGHT MEDITATION by Mahasi Sayadaw a good book?
To add a little to SarathW's post, I would recommend studying some suttas, namely DN 22 (mahasatipatthana sutta)

For beginners, I think you can't go wrong practicing breath meditation and metta.

Practical Insight Meditation is a great book, I'd definitely recommend trying it and seeing if it works for you.
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Padmist
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Re: How many different types of Buddhist meditations are there?

Post by Padmist »

SarathW wrote: Sun Feb 21, 2021 11:44 am Insight = Vipassan (Satipathana)
Vipassana = Insight or mindfulness
Shamata= Samatha has 52 meditation objects
Kasina = is one of the 52 Samatha meditaion objects
Mindfulness = Vipassana or mindfulness
Metta = one of the 52 Samatha meditation objects

In summary, Thearavada has two main mediations namely Samatha (Which lead to Jhana) and Vipassana (Satipathana which lead to Nibbana)


Thank you Sarath, how do Ajahn Brahm's editation guides/retreats and the book Mindfulness in Plain English fit in that list?
SarathW
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Re: How many different types of Buddhist meditations are there?

Post by SarathW »

Padmist wrote: Mon Feb 22, 2021 8:53 pm
SarathW wrote: Sun Feb 21, 2021 11:44 am Insight = Vipassan (Satipathana)
Vipassana = Insight or mindfulness
Shamata= Samatha has 52 meditation objects
Kasina = is one of the 52 Samatha meditaion objects
Mindfulness = Vipassana or mindfulness
Metta = one of the 52 Samatha meditation objects

In summary, Thearavada has two main mediations namely Samatha (Which lead to Jhana) and Vipassana (Satipathana which lead to Nibbana)


Thank you Sarath, how do Ajahn Brahm's editation guides/retreats and the book Mindfulness in Plain English fit in that list?
Sorry.
I have not read Ajahn Brahm's books.
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
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Eko Care
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Re: How many different types of Buddhist meditations are there?

Post by Eko Care »

Padmist wrote: Sun Feb 21, 2021 7:26 am What is recommended for beginners to start with?
Traditionally:
THE PATH OF PURIFICATION
Part II—Concentration (Samádhi)
CH. III TAKING A MEDITATION SUBJECT .................................................................... 81
[A. Development in Brief] ......................................................................... 86
[B. Development in Detail] ....................................................................... 87
[The Ten Impediments] ............................................................................ 87
CH. IV THE EARTH KASIÓA ..................................................................................... 113
[The Eighteen Faults of a Monastery] ................................................. 113
[The Five Factors of the Resting Place] ................................................ 116
[The Lesser Impediments] ..................................................................... 116
[Detailed Instructions for Development] ............................................ 117
[The Earth Kasióa]................................................................................... 117
[Making an Earth Kasióa] ..................................................................... 118
[Starting Contemplation] ....................................................................... 119
[The Counterpart Sign] .......................................................................... 120
[The Two Kinds of Concentration] ....................................................... 121
[Guarding the Sign] ................................................................................ 122
[The Ten Kinds of Skill in Absorption] ............................................... 124
[The Five Similes] ..................................................................................... 130
[Absorption in the Cognitive Series] ................................................... 131
[The First Jhána] ...................................................................................... 133
[Extension of the Sign] ........................................................................... 145
vi
[The Second Jhána] ................................................................................. 148
[The Third Jhána] .................................................................................... 151
[The Fourth Jhána] .................................................................................. 156
[The Fivefold Reckoning of Jhána] ....................................................... 160
CH. V THE REMAINING KASIÓAS ............................................................................ 162
[The Water Kasióa]................................................................................... 162
[The Fire Kasióa] ...................................................................................... 163
[The Air Kasióa] ....................................................................................... 163
[The Blue Kasióa] .................................................................................... 164
[The Yellow Kasióa] ................................................................................ 164
[The Red Kasióa] ..................................................................................... 165
[The White Kasióa] .................................................................................. 165
[The Light Kasióa]................................................................................... 165
[The Limited-Space Kasióa] .................................................................. 166
[General] ................................................................................................... 166
CH. VI FOULNESS AS A MEDITATION SUBJECT .......................................................... 169
[General Definitions] .............................................................................. 169
[The Bloated]............................................................................................. 170
[The Livid] ................................................................................................ 179
[The Festering] ......................................................................................... 179
[The Cut Up] ............................................................................................. 179
[The Gnawed] ........................................................................................... 180
[The Scattered] .......................................................................................... 180
[The Hacked and Scattered] .................................................................. 180
[The Bleeding] .......................................................................................... 180
[The Worm-Infested] ................................................................................ 180
[A Skeleton] .............................................................................................. 180
[General] ................................................................................................... 182
CH. VII SIX RECOLLECTIONS ..................................................................................... 186
[(1) Recollection of the Enlightened One] .......................................... 188
[Accomplished] ................................................................................ 188
[Fully Enlightened] ......................................................................... 192
[Endowed With Clear Vision and Virtuous Conduct] ............. 193
[Sublime] ............................................................................................ 196
[Knower of Worlds] .......................................................................... 198
[Incomparable Leader of Men to be Tamed] ............................... 202
[Teacher of Gods and Men] ........................................................... 203
[Enlightened] .................................................................................... 204
[Blessed]............................................................................................. 204
[(2) Recollection of the Dhamma] ........................................................ 209
[Well Proclaimed] ............................................................................. 210
[Visible Here and Now] .................................................................. 212
[Not Delayed] .................................................................................... 213
[Inviting of Inspection] ................................................................... 213
[Onward-Leading] ........................................................................... 214
[Is Directly Experienceable by the Wise] ..................................... 214
vii
CONTENTS (GENERAL)
[(3) Recollection of the Saògha] ........................................................... 215
[Entered on the Good, Straight, True, Proper Way] ................... 215
[Fit for Gifts] ...................................................................................... 216
[Fit for Hospitality] .......................................................................... 217
[Fit for Offering] ............................................................................... 217
[Fit for Salutation] ............................................................................ 217
[As an Incomparable Field of Merit for the World] ................... 217
[(4) Recollection of Virtue] .................................................................... 218
[(5) Recollection of Generosity] ............................................................ 220
[(6) Recollection of Deities] ................................................................... 221
[General] ............................................................................................ 222
CH. VIII OTHER RECOLLECTIONS AS MEDITATION SUBJECTS ...................................... 225
[(7) Mindfulness of Death] .................................................................... 225
[(8) Mindfulness Occupied with the Body] ....................................... 236
[(9) Mindfulness of Breathing] ............................................................. 259
[(10)Recollection of Peace] ..................................................................... 286
CH. IX THE DIVINE ABIDINGS .................................................................................. 291
[(1) Loving-Kindness] ............................................................................ 291
[(2) Compassion] ..................................................................................... 308
[(3) Gladness] .......................................................................................... 309
[(4) Equanimity] ...................................................................................... 310
CH. X THE IMMATERIAL STATES ............................................................................ 321
[(1) The Base Consisting of Boundless Space] .................................. 321
[(2) The Base Consisting of Boundless Consciousness] ................. 326
[(3) The Base Consisting of Nothingness] ......................................... 328
[(4) The Base Consisting of Neither Perception nor Non-Perception]
330
[General] ............................................................................................ 333
CH. XI CONCENTRATION—CONCLUSION:
NUTRIMENT AND THE ELEMENTS ................................................................. 337
[Perception of Repulsiveness in Nutriment] ...................................... 337
[Defining of The Elements: Word Definitions] .................................. 344
[Texts and Commentary in Brief] ......................................................... 345
[In Detail] .................................................................................................. 346
[Method of Development in Brief] ........................................................ 348
[Method of Development in Detail] ..................................................... 349
[(1) With Constituents in Brief] ..................................................... 349
[(2) With Constituents by Analysis] ............................................ 349
[(3) With Characteristics in Brief] ................................................. 357
[(4) With Characteristics by Analysis] ........................................ 358
[Additional Ways of Giving Attention] ............................................... 358
[Development of Concentration—Conclusion] ................................. 367
[The Benefits of Developing Concentration] ...................................... 367
CH. XII THE SUPERNORMAL POWERS ........................................................................ 369
[The Benefits of Concentration (Continued)] ..................................... 369
[(1) The Kinds of Supernormal Power] ......................................... 369
viii
CH. XIII OTHER DIRECT-KNOWLEDGES ....................................................................... 400
[(2) The Divine Ear Element].......................................................... 400
[(3) Penetration of Minds]............................................................... 402
[(4) Recollection of Past Lives] ....................................................... 404
[(5) The Divine Eye—Knowledge of Passing Away and
Reappearance of Beings] ............................................................. 415
[General] ............................................................................................ 421
Part III — Understanding (Paññá) is excluded here because the post becomes too long.
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Coëmgenu
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Re: How many different types of Buddhist meditations are there?

Post by Coëmgenu »

Padmist wrote: Sun Feb 21, 2021 7:26 amWhat is recommended for beginners to start with?

Is PRACTICAL INSIGHT MEDITATION by Mahasi Sayadaw a good book?
Instruction from the Saṅgha IMO is the best place for a beginner to "start" with. It depends how much of a beginner the beginner is. A more experienced and wise person can respond to you proactively in a way that a meditation manual cannot. Similarly, a lot can be read into a meditation manual that originates from the reader, not the writer. Seeking instruction from the Saṅgha of course does not mean uncritically accepting and practicing and obeying any old instruction or teaching you get from anyone who wears robes.
What is the Uncreated?
Sublime & free, what is that obscured Eternity?
It is the Undying, the Bright, the Isle.
It is an Ocean, a Secret: Reality.
Both life and oblivion, it is Nirvāṇa.
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frank k
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Re: How many different types of Buddhist meditations are there?

Post by frank k »

I've noticed a pattern. LBT (late buddhist texts) tends to double what's in the EBT to give an impression twice as much as twice as good!

in EBT, we have 20 meditation subjects given in SN 46:
20 meditation subjects fed into 7sb☀️ engine
Ānāpāna Vagga 7
SN 46.57 Aṭṭhika: 💀☠️ Skeleton-(perception/sañña)
SN 46.58 Puḷavaka: 🐛🧟 worm-infested
SN 46.59 Vinīlaka: 🧟🏿 black-and-blue-[corpse]
SN 46.60 Vicchiddaka: 🕸️🧟 fissured-[corpse]
SN 46.61 Uddhumātaka: 🧟🏻♀️ bloated-[corpse]
SN 46.62 Mettā: 4☮️→1.🤝🤗 friendly-kindness
SN 46.63 Karuṇā: 4☮️→2.👐😊 compassion
SN 46.64 Muditā: 4☮️→3.😊 virtuous-mirth
SN 46.65 Upekhā: 4☮️→4.🛆👁️equanimous-observation
SN 46.66 Ānā-pāna-sati: 16APS🌬️😤 breath-remembering
Nirodha Vagga 8
SN 46.67 A-subha: 31asb 🧟non-beautiful [body parts]
SN 46.68 Maraṇa: 💀⚰️ death-(perception/sañña)
SN 46.69 Paṭikkūla: 🍲💩 loathesome: āhāre paṭikūla-saññā, food repulsiveness-perception
SN 46.70 Sabba-loke: 🌐😞 entire world: Sabba-loke an-abhi-rati-saññā, The-entire-world; non-delight-(in that)-perception
SN 46.71 A-nicca: ⏳ im-permanence (perception)
SN 46.72 Dukkha ⏳💩: pain-&-suffering: A-nicce dukkha-saññā, (the)-im-permanent (as) pain-&-suffering-perception
SN 46.73 An-atta: 💩🚫🏃 not-self: dukkhe an-atta-saññā, pain-&-suffering (as) not-self-perception
SN 46.74 Pahāna: abandonment (perception/sañña)
SN 46.75 Vi-rāga: 🚫💑 dis-passion (perception/sañña)
SN 46.76 Nirodha: cesssation (perception/sañña)


In Vism., it becomes 40 meditation subjects.
In Abhidhamma, instead of 12 links in depedent origination, they have 24 paccaya.

More is better! (sarcasm)
www.lucid24.org/sted : ☸Lucid24.org🐘 STED definitions
www.audtip.org/audtip: 🎙️🔊Audio Tales in Pāli: ☸Dharma and Vinaya in many languages
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confusedlayman
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Re: How many different types of Buddhist meditations are there?

Post by confusedlayman »

Metta for beginner
I may be slow learner but im at least learning...
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