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Bhāvanā

Bhāvanā (lit. "development through meditation") is the Pāli term that most broadly describes the practice of meditation. It it divided into the disciplines of tranquility meditation (samatha-bhāvanā) and insight meditation (vipassanā-bhāvanā).

Tranquility Meditation

This practice trains the ability of mind to be calm and focused and thereby develops samādhi — concentration.

Insight Meditation

This practice trains the ability of mind to perceive reality as it is and thereby develops paññā — understanding.

Practice

Bhāvanā is practiced by sitting down, closing the eyes, and concentrating at a single point, typically the breath. Tranquility and insight meditation differ only by the "narrowness" of the focus. In tranquility meditation, the focus is kept strictly on the single point, while in insight meditation, there is enough mental space left to register a secondary object of meditation.

See the Meditation FAQ for details.


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