Bhavana is an ancient discipline. The Buddha developed another form of meditation, called vipassana or vipashyana, which means "insight." [Walpola Rahula, What the Buddha Taught (Grove Press, 1974), p. 68]. [13] Subsequently, Theravada teachers have made use of the following compounds: 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'. Buddhist meditation takes many forms, but all of them are Bhavana. For people with same name, see, Rhys Davids & Stede (1921-25), p. 503, entry for "Bhāvanā," retrieved 9 December 2008 from "U. Chicago" at, Monier-Williams (1899), p. 755, see "Bhāvana" and "Bhāvanā", retrieved 9 December 2008 from "U. Cologne" at. By using Learn Religions, you accept our. When used on its own, bhavana signifies contemplation and 'spiritual cultivation' generally. Meditation is properly called dhyana (Sanskrit; Pali: jhāna), as practiced in samādhi, the 8th limb of the eightfold path. Dr. Rahula wrote in What the Buddha Taught (p. 69), that is the Buddhist mental culture. This page was last edited on 12 October 2020, at 01:06. The term also suggests hope: no matter how fallow it has become, or damaged it may be, a field can always be cultivated — endlessly enhanced, enriched, developed — to produce a favorable and nourishing harvest.[6]. Some Buddhists think it is incorrect to call Bhavana "meditation." Some Buddhists think it is incorrect to call Bhavana "meditation." To explain the cultural context of the historical Buddha's employment of the term, Glenn Wallis emphasizes bhavana's sense of cultivation. The Buddhist Bhavana, properly speaking, is a mental culture in the full sense of the term. Toward oneself. Meditation as a state of fixed or absorption concentration by which the mind becomes completely absorbed into and therefore unmove-ably fixed upon the meditation object is properly called dhyana (Sanskrit; Pali: jhāna) or samādhi. Further, just as Theravada and Mahayana practice Bhavana somewhat differently, so do the various schools of Mahayana practice them somewhat differently. She is the author of "Rethinking Religion" and has covered religion for The Guardian, Tricycle.org, and other outlets. Unlike our words 'meditation' or 'contemplation,' Gotama’s term is musty, rich, and verdant. For instance, in the Pali Canon and post-canonical literature one can find the following compounds: In addition, in the Canon, the development (bhāvanā) of samatha-vipassana is lauded. Bhavana derives from the word Bhava meaning becoming or the subjective process of arousing mental states. Nor is it about "blissing out" or having visions or out-of-body experiences. The term also suggests hope: no matter how fallow it has become, or damaged it may be, a field can always be cultivated — endlessly enhanced, enriched, developed — to produce a favorable and nourishing harvest.[6]. Bhavana: An Introduction to Buddhist Meditation. He writes that a farmer performs bhavana when he or she prepares soil and plants a seed. Nyanaponika Thera (trans.) He writes that a farmer performs bhavana when he or she prepares soil and plants a seed. Wallis infers the Buddha's intention with this term by emphasizing the terrain and focus on farming in northern India at the time in the following passage: I imagine that when Gotama, the Buddha, chose this word to talk about meditation, he had in mind the ubiquitous farms and fields of his native India. Glenn Wallis, Bhavana: A Guide to Classical Buddhist Meditation, 2009, draft copy, p. 7, http://www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de/scans/MWScan/MWScanpdf/mw0755-bhAvodaya.pdf, http://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/philologic/getobject.pl?c.2:1:3558.pal, http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/iti/iti.intro.irel.html, http://www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de/scans/MWScan/index.php?sfx=pdf, http://dsal.uchicago.edu/dictionaries/pali/, http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an01/an01.049.than.html, http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an04/an04.041.than.html, http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.044.than.html, http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an04/an04.170.than.html, http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/snp/snp.1.08.than.html, http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an01/an01.021-040.than.html, Basic points unifying Theravāda and Mahāyāna, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bhavana&oldid=983062359, Articles with dead external links from June 2019, Articles with permanently dead external links, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. [5] It is an important concept in Buddhist praxis (Patipatti). It smells of the earth. However, Mahayana considers both to be necessary for the realization of enlightenment. The self is considered to be the easiest place, psychologically speaking, in which … See various translations cited in the notes below. Wallis infers the Buddha's intention with this term by emphasizing the terrain and focus on farming in northern India at the time in the following passage: I imagine that when Gotama, the Buddha, chose this word to talk about meditation, he had in mind the ubiquitous farms and fields of his native India. To explain the cultural context of the historical Buddha's employment of the term, Glenn Wallis emphasizes bhavana's sense of cultivation. Bhāvanā (Pali;[1] Sanskrit, also bhāvana[2]) literally means "development"[3] or "cultivating"[4] or "producing"[1][2] in the sense of "calling into existence. Of the two commonly practiced forms of zazen (Zen Buddhist Bhavana), koan study often is associated with vipashyana, while shikantaza ("just sitting") appears to be more of a shamatha practice. See various translations cited in the notes below. & Bhikkhu Bodhi (trans., ed.) It is this insight meditation, the Ven. 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. "[5] It is an important concept in Buddhist praxis (Patipatti). It smells of the earth. The word bhavana normally appears in conjunction with another word forming a compound phrase such as citta-bhavana (the development or cultivation of the heart/mind) or metta-bhavana (the development/cultivation of lovingkindness). Glenn Wallis, Bhavana: A Guide to Classical Buddhist Meditation, 2009, draft copy, p. 7, http://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/philologic/getobject.pl?c.2:1:3558.pali, http://www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de/scans/MWScan/MWScanpdf/mw0755-bhAvodaya.pdf, http://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/philologic/getobject.pl?c.2:1:3558.pal, http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/iti/iti.intro.irel.html, http://www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de/scans/MWScan/index.php?sfx=pdf, http://dsal.uchicago.edu/dictionaries/pali/, http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an01/an01.049.than.html, http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an04/an04.041.than.html, http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.044.than.html, http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an04/an04.170.than.html, http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/snp/snp.1.08.than.html, http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an01/an01.021-040.than.html, https://encyclopediaofbuddhism.org/index.php?title=Bhavana&oldid=51269, Articles with dead external links from July 2017, Articles with permanently dead external links, CC by 3.0 - Creative Commons Share Alike (see Attribute Encyclopedia of Buddhism). Bhāvanā (Pali;[1] Sanskrit, also bhāvana[2]) literally means "development"[3] or "cultivating"[4] or "producing"[1][2] in the sense of "calling into existence". Unlike our words 'meditation' or 'contemplation,' Gotama’s term is musty, rich, and verdant. It aims at cleansing the mind of impurities and disturbances, such as lustful desires, hatred, ill-will, indolence, worries and restlessness, sceptical doubts, and cultivating such qualities as concentration, awareness, intelligence, will, energy, the analytical faculty, confidence, joy, tranquility, leading finally to the attainment of highest wisdom which sees the nature of things as they are, and realizes the Ultimate Truth, Nirvana." The word bhavana normally appears in conjunction with another word forming a compound phrase such as citta-bhavana (the development or cultivation of the heart/mind) or metta-bhavana (the development/cultivation of lovingkindness). Mahayana Buddhism also recognizes the two types of Bhavana, which are shamatha and vipashyana. The esoteric (Vajrayana) schools of Mahayana, which includes Tibetan Buddhism, think of shamatha practice as a prerequisite for vipashyana. For instance, in the Pali Canon and post-canonical literature one can find the following compounds: In addition, in the Canon, the development (bhāvanā) of samatha-vipassana is lauded. Zen Buddhists generally aren't given to shoving Bhavana forms into separate conceptual boxes, however, and will tell you that the illumination of vipashyana arises naturally from the stillness of shamatha. Bhavana derives from the word Bhava meaning becoming or the subjective process of arousing mental states. When used on its own bhavana signifies 'spiritual cultivation' generally. Samatha is not, he said, a Buddhist practice and Theravada Buddhists do not consider it necessary. Learn Religions uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. The commonness of his chosen term suggests naturalness, everydayness, ordinariness. "Zhiguan" is derived from the Chinese translation of "shamatha-vipashyana." When used on its own bhavana signifies contemplation and 'spiritual cultivation' generally. Bhavana derives from the word Bhava meaning becoming or the subjective process of arousing mental states. It is based in part of the discipline of the historical Buddha, who lived more than 25 centuries ago and in part on even older forms of yoga. [13] Subsequently, Theravada teachers have made use of the following compounds: 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'. In Jainism, bhāvana refers to "right conception or notion" or "the moral of a fable". He writes that a farmer performs bhavana when he or she prepares soil and plants a seed. & Bhikkhu Bodhi (trans., ed.) Just so, zhiguan includes both shamatha and vipashyana techniques. The commonness of his chosen term suggests naturalness, everydayness, ordinariness. Nyanaponika Thera (trans.) 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. History of Buddhism in China: The First Thousand Years. Walpola Rahula's definition ought to distinguish Buddhist meditation from many other practices that get lumped under the English word meditation. For instance, in the Pali Canon and post-canonical literature one can find the following compounds: Dr. Rahula wrote that in Theravada Buddhism, there are two forms of meditation. Barbara O'Brien is a Zen Buddhist practitioner who studied at Zen Mountain Monastery. Bhavana is an ancient discipline. What Do Buddhists Mean by 'Enlightenment'? More advanced forms of Vajrayana meditation are a unification of shamatha and vipashyana. (1999). It is based in part of the discipline of the historical Buddha, who lived more than 25 centuries ago and in part on even older forms of yoga. 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. The Theravada monk and … (1999). One is the development of mental concentration, called samatha (also spelled shamatha) or samadhi. Buddhist meditation is not primarily about reducing stress, although it can do that. To explain the cultural context of the historical Buddha's employment of the term, Glenn Wallis emphasizes bhavana's sense of cultivation. [2], Concept in Buddhism, signifying contemplation and spiritual cultivation, This article is about the Pali term. Dhamma Bhavana – Dhamma.org Vipassana, which means to see things as they really are, is one of India's most ancient techniques of meditation. This page was last edited on 7 October 2020, at 06:27. The Theravada monk and scholar Walpola Rahula wrote, "The word meditation is a very poor substitute for the original term Bhavana, which means 'culture' or 'development', i.e., mental culture or mental development.