Keeping the Breath in Mind & Lessons in Samadhi is a ‘how to’ book. It teaches the liberation of the mind, not as a mind-boggling theory, but as a fundamental skill that starts with keeping the breath in mind. The teachings here are drawn from the works of Ajaan Lee Dhammadharo (1906-61), one of Thailand’s most renowned teachers of Buddhist meditation practices. Ajaan Lee was a forest monk who prefers to live in the seclusion of the forest and makes meditation the central theme of his course—so his teachings grow out of personal, practical experience. However, he also makes a point of relating them to standard Buddhist doctrine. The book is in two parts: The first is an essential guide to breath meditation techniques—Ajaan Lee’s speciality—and gives two methods that he developed at separate points in his career. The second part consists of excerpts from five of his talks dealing with the issues that tend to arise during meditation. Download the free ebook here (45 pages/240Kb):
What is Samedhi in Buddhism?
In Buddhism, “Samadhi” is a term that refers to a state of intense concentration or deep meditation. It is one of the aspects of the Eightfold Path, which serves as a guide to leading a life that leads to enlightenment and the cessation of suffering.
Specifically, Samadhi is often translated as “right concentration,” and it relates to the mental discipline needed to develop mastery over one’s own mind. This is to help cultivate the conditions for understanding the true nature of reality and achieve enlightenment.
There are various stages and types of Samadhi in Buddhist teachings:
- Momentary concentration (khanika-samadhi): This is a brief state of focus that can arise during meditation.
- Preliminary concentration (upacāra-samadhi): A more stabilized concentration, closer to one-pointedness, but not fully absorbed.
- Absorption concentration (appanā-samadhi or jhāna): Deep states of absorption where the meditator is fully immersed in the object of meditation. These are further divided into four or more levels (or jhanas) with increasing depth and subtlety.
- Path and Fruition Samadhi: These are states of concentration directly associated with the attainment of the various stages of enlightenment.
- Nirodha-samāpatti: Sometimes referred to as the “cessation of perception and feeling.” It’s an advanced meditative state where all perceptions and feelings are temporarily suspended.
Samadhi isn’t just about deep concentration but about developing a clarity and mindfulness that allows one to see the true nature of reality. The ultimate goal is to use this profound state of concentration to cultivate wisdom (prajna) and thereby progress on the path to enlightenment.