A synonym for meditation, this refers to the state of deep meditative immersion that results from different modes of Buddhist practice.

A synonym for meditation, this refers to the state of deep meditative immersion that results from different modes of Buddhist practice.

A general term for the practice of meditative absorption aimed at developing profound states of concentration.

Also rendered as “meditative concentration.”

Also rendered in this translation as “meditation.”

A state of deep meditative absorption. There are numerous samādhis that can be entered into and sustained by realized beings.

Placing the mind on an object of attention, or sometimes more generally, a meditative state.

One of the synonyms for the meditative state, literally “a completely focused state.”

Concentration of total mental equanimity which is such a powerful mental state it can be turned to accomplish amazing results.

In general, the second of the three trainings (triśikṣā), and in this text and others the second of five qualities of the Saṅgha that are also described in other texts as the five undefiled (or beyond-worldly) aggregates (skandha) characteristic of noble ones.

Some readers may be familiar with the term samadhi, written without diacritics as it would appear in English dictionaries, where it is usually explained as referring to meditation or meditative states.

In a more restricted sense, and when understood as a mental state, samādhi is defined as the one-pointedness of the mind (cittaikāgratā), the ability to remain on the same object over long periods of time. In Vaibhāṣika abhidharma, samādhi is a mental state that accompanies each and every moment of mind; the practice of meditation and the like is for the purpose of making samādhi more powerful (samādhiś cittasyaikagrateti | agram ālambanam ity eko 'rthaḥ | yadyogāc cittaṃ prabandhena ekatrālambane vartate | sa samādhiḥ | yadi samādhiḥ sarva­cetasi bhavati | kim arthaṃ dhyāneṣu yatnaḥ kriyate | balavatsamādhiniṣpādanārthaṃ, Abhidharma­kośa­vyākhyā 2.24, Wogihara 1989, p. 128). Some forms of abhidharma (Yogācāra, for example) do not consider samādhi as a mental factor that accompanies every moment of mind.

In a slightly less technical sense, samādhi can describe a number of different meditative states, including the highest such as the “samādhi that is like a diamond” (vajropamasamādhi).

If we understand the term samādhi as derived from sam + ā + dhā, the sense is something like to “place together” or “collect.” In the Tibetan rendering of this term, the ’dzin represents, we think, the root dhā and matches one of the senses of this root, “to hold” (dhāraṇa). The possible etymology of ting nge is debated and possibly a complex matter; if we accept the hypothesis that ting nge is related to gting, then the sense is probably akin to “profound” or “deep,” which may indicate taking sam + ā more or less as intensifiers.

The sgra sbyor bam po gnyis pa commentary on the Mahāvyutpatti explains the term samādhi as referring to the instrument through which mind and mental states “get collected,” i.e., it is by the force of samādhi that the continuum of mind and mental states becomes collected on a single point of reference without getting distracted (samādhi zhes pa samādhiyante anena zhes bya ste | ting nge ’dzin gyi mthus sems dang sems las byung ba’i rgyud dmigs pa gcig la sdud cing mi g.yo bar ting nge ’dzin ’jog pas na ting nge ’dzin zhes bya).

In this sūtra, the eighth of the ten factors that lead to awakening.

A general term for the practice of meditative absorption aimed at developing profound states of concentration.

A general term for states of deep concentration. One of the synonyms for meditation, referring in particular to a state of complete concentration or focus.

A general term for states of deep concentration. One of the synonyms for meditation, referring in particular to a state of complete concentration or focus.

Also rendered as “absorption.”

A central term in Buddhism, generally denoting states of deep concentration or contemplations that foster wholesome states of mind. In this text (see Introduction UT22084-045-001-14670 et seq.) it most often refers, more broadly, to a wide range of teachings and practices that constitute the bodhisattva path.

One of the five powers, five abilities, and seven limbs of awakening.

See “absorption.”

A generic name for the meditative stabilities enumerated in the present sūtra. There are several sets of named meditative stabilities in the text: (a) an abbreviated set of 32 in chapter 4, UT22084-026-001-931; (b) a longer list of 119 in chapter 6, UT22084-026-001-1070; (c) a similar list in chapter 8, UT22084-026-001-1595, followed by an explanation of each; (d) a list of 51 manifested by Sadāprarudita in chapter 73, in UT22084-026-001-6505; and (e) a further 24 in which Sadāprarudita establishes certainty in chapter 75, UT22084-026-001-6579). Additional meditative stabilities are mentioned in other places in the text. These lists differ slightly from their equivalents in the other long Prajñā­pāramitā sūtras.

Also called “(meditative) concentration,” the ability of the mind to concentrate on a specific object of cognition for a length of time (Rigzin 144). Closely related to dhyāna. Also rendered here as “meditation.”

Also rendered in this translation as “samādhi.”