Meditative concentration is defined as one-pointed abiding in an undistracted state of mind, free from afflicted mental states. Four states of meditative concentration are identified as being conducive to birth within the world system of form, each of which has three phases of intensity. In the context of the Mahāyāna, meditative concentration is the fifth of the six transcendent perfections.

Designates both the mental state of deep concentration and the meditative practices leading to it. These states are characterized by a gradual withdrawal of consciousness from external sense data. Two broad distinctions are made: rūpāvacara­dhyāna, or the meditative concentration associated with the form realm, and ārūpyāvacara­dhyāna, or the meditative concentration associated with the formless or immaterial realm. Each of the two dhyānas is subdivided into four stages. This kind of mental concentration by itself does not lead to lasting insight, but it is generally regarded as a prerequisite‍—a state of mental concentration from which it is possible to cultivate insight, destroy the mental afflictions, and attain liberation. Fixation on dhyāna by itself can be said to lead to rebirth in the form or formless realm.

Meditative concentration in which the mind achieves stable attention or one-pointed focus.

Meditative states, often associated with the modes of existence within the form realm.

One-pointed mental stability.

Generally one of the synonyms for meditation, referring to a state of mental stability. The specific four concentrations are four successively subtler states of meditation that are said to lead to rebirth into the corresponding four levels of the form realm. One of the six perfections.

The fifth of the six perfections.

Meditative concentration. Fifth of the six perfections.

One of the six perfections.

One of the six or ten perfections.

One of the terms for meditation, referring specifically to states of mental stability or one-pointed focus in an undistracted state of mind free from mental obscurations. Dhyāna can also refer to the specific states of meditative fixation of the form and formless realms (eight in total). It is also the fifth of the six perfections of the bodhisattva.

The fifth of the six perfections.

Fifth of the six perfections.

The fifth of the six perfections. Generally one of the synonyms for meditation, referring to a state of mental stability. The specific four concentrations are four successively subtler states of meditation that are said to lead to rebirth into the corresponding four levels of the form realm.

Generally one of the synonyms for meditation, referring to a state of mental stability. The specific four concentrations are four successively subtler states of meditation that are said to lead to rebirth into the corresponding four levels of the form realm. One of the six perfections.

A kind of meditation, often enumerated in terms of increasingly more subtle states of concentration.

Generally, one of the synonyms for meditation referring to a state of mental stability. The specific four dhyānas are four successively subtler states of meditation that are said to lead to rebirth into the corresponding four levels of the form realm, which are composed of seventeen paradises.

Generally one of the synonyms for meditation, referring to a state of mental stability. Specifically, as in this sūtra, it refers to the four dhyānas, which are responsible for rebirth in the four levels‍—composed of seventeen paradises‍—of the form realm, and the four dhyānas that bring rebirth in the four levels of the formless realm, which, though called a “realm,” has no cosmological location.

Generally one of the synonyms for meditation, referring to a state of mental stability. The specific four dhyānas are four successively subtler states of meditation that are said to lead to rebirth into the corresponding four levels of the form realm, which are composed of seventeen paradises.

One of the synonyms for meditation, referring to a state of mental stability.

Sometimes translated as “absorption” or “meditative absorption,” this is one of several similar but specific terms for particular states of mind to be cultivated. Dhyāna is the term often used in the context of eight successive stages, four of form and four formless.

One of the synonyms for meditation, referring specifically to states of mental stability or one-pointed abiding in an undistracted state of mind free from afflicted mental states. The term also refers to the specific states of absorption of the form and formless realms. Abiding in these absorptions can cause one to be reborn into these realms, and the states themselves also seem to have a spatial correlation to the form and formless realms. In this way there are eight progressive dhyānas; the first four rūpāvacara­dhyāna correspond to the form realm and the latter ārūpāvacara­dhyāna corrspond to the formless realms. See also UT22084-060-001-46.

Specific states of meditative stability related to the form and formless realms. Remaining in these meditative states can cause one to be reborn into these realms, and the states themselves also seem to have a spatial correlation to the form and formless realms. In this way there are eight progressive dhyānas: the first four correspond to the form realm and the latter correspond to the formless realms.

Translated here as “comtemplation” and “meditation.” It can also mean “visualization.”

Four levels of meditation within the Form Realm.

See also UT22084-044-005-208.

See Hayal 1978, p. 221.

A state of one-pointed mental concentration. Fifth of the six or ten perfections.

One of the synonyms for meditation, referring specifically to states of mental stability or one-pointed abiding in an undistracted state of mind free from afflicted mental states. bsam gtan/dhyāna can refer to the specific states of absorption of the form and formless realms (eight in total). One of the six perfections of the bodhisattva.

One of the synonyms for meditation, referring specifically to states of mental stability or one-pointed abiding in an undistracted state of mind free from afflicted mental states. bsam gtan/dhyāna can refer to the specific states of absorption of the form and formless realms (eight in total). One of the six perfections of the bodhisattva.

Designates mental states of deep concentration and the specific meditative practices leading to them. These states are characterized by a gradual withdrawal of one’s awareness from external sense data. There are four meditative absorptions associated with the form realm and four meditative absorption associated with the formless realm. In the course of the four meditative absorptions associated with the form realm, the meditator gradually eliminates the five hindrances (sensuous desire, ill will, sloth and torpor, restlessness and worry, and doubt) and cultivates the seven constituents of enlightenment (Skt. bodhyaṅga). In the four meditative absorptions associated with the formless realm, the meditator gradually refines the object of the fourth meditative absorption associated with the form realm to the point of the complete dissolution of subject-object differentiation.

Designates both the mental state of deep concentration and the meditative practices leading to it. These states are characterized by a gradual withdrawal of consciousness from external sense data. Two broad distinctions are made: rūpāvacara­dhyāna or the meditative absorption associated with the form realm, and ārūpyāvacara­dhyāna or the meditative absorption associated with the formless or immaterial realm. Each of the two dhyānas is subdivided into four stages. See also “four states of imperturbability.”

A general term for meditation, as well as the term for one of the perfections (pāramitā). Also a series of four specific states of meditation.

One of the five perfections, the six perfections, and the ten powers. Also refers here to the “four states of meditation.”

Literally “stability of mind,” denotes specific levels of concentration attained by the sustained practice of calm abiding (śamatha).

Also called “(meditative) concentration,” “meditative state,” and a state of mind in which one is able to focus one’s attention single-pointedly on any suitable virtuous object without wavering (Rigzin 455). Closely related to meditative stabilization (samādhi).

The term “meditation” has also been used in this translation to render sgom pa (meditation training) and ting nge ’dzin (meditative stabilization).

The fifth of the six perfections. Generally one of the synonyms for meditation, referring to a state of mental stability. The specific four concentrations are four successively subtler states of meditation that are said to lead to rebirth into the corresponding four levels of the form realm.

The fifth of the six perfections. Generally one of the synonyms for meditation, referring to a state of mental stability. The specific four concentrations are four successively subtler states of meditation that are said to lead to rebirth into the corresponding four levels of the form realm.

Meditative concentration is defined as the one-pointed abiding in an undistracted state of mind free from afflicted mental states. It is an advanced form of calm abiding, where often both calm abiding and penetrative insight may be present in perfect union. Four states of meditative concentration are identified as being conducive to birth within the realm of form, each of which has three phases of intensity. However, in the context of the Great Vehicle, meditative concentration is the fifth of the six perfections. See also “four meditative concentrations” and UT22084-026-001-1638.

The fifth of the six perfections (Skt. pāramitā).

The fifth of the six perfections.

One of several common terms that are used to describe meditative states. The four meditative concentrations are the four concentrations of the form realm.

A type of meditative absorption with four stages.

See “four concentrations.”

See “absorption.”

The fifth of the six or ten perfections, the term refers to the ability of the mind to remain undistracted in a state free of afflicted mental states. See also the entry for “dhyāna.”