Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

The Role of Mindfulness in the Cultivation of Absorption

  • ORIGINAL PAPER
  • Published:
Mindfulness Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This article explores the role performed by mindfulness in the cultivation of states of meditative absorption. Although this dimension of mindfulness is probably of less relevance to its employment in current Mindfulness-Based Interventions, it is perhaps still of interest to explore the operation of mindfulness in such contexts in order to better appreciate the multifunctionality of mindfulness in its original Buddhist setting. Such exploration points in particular to a monitoring role of mindfulness that is of continuous relevance, from overcoming obstacles all the way through the different levels of absorptions, all of which involve deep experiences of mental unification. Throughout, mindfulness has the task of establishing and maintaining the kind of mental presence that enables a precise appraisal of the current condition of the body and the mind.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

AN:

Aṅguttara-nikāya

EĀ:

Ekottarika-āgama (T 125)

EĀ2 :

partial Ekottarika-āgama (T 150A)

MĀ:

Madhyama-āgama (T 26)

MN:

Majjhima-nikāya

SN:

Saṃyutta-nikāya

T:

Taishō edition

Up:

Abhidharmakośopāyikā-ṭīkā

Vism:

Visuddhimagga

References

  • Anālayo, Bh. (2003). Nimitta. In W.G. Weeraratne (ed.), Encyclopaedia of Buddhism, 7(1), (pp. 177–179). Sri Lanka: Department of Buddhist Affairs.

  • Anālayo, Bh. (2006). Samādhi. In W.G. Weeraratne (ed.), Encyclopaedia of Buddhism, 7(4), (pp. 650–655). Sri Lanka: Department of Buddhist Affairs.

  • Anālayo, Bh. (2009). Yonisomanasikāra. In W.G. Weeraratne (ed.), Encyclopaedia of Buddhism, 8(3), (pp. 809–815). Sri Lanka: Department of Buddhist Affairs.

  • Anālayo, Bh. (2011). A comparative study of the Majjhima-nikāya. Taipei: Dharma Drum Publishing Corporation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anālayo, Bh. (2012a). The Chinese parallels to the Dhammacakkappavattana-sutta (1). Journal of the Oxford Centre for Buddhist Studies, 3, 12–46.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anālayo, Bh. (2012b). The historical value of the Pāli discourses. Indo-Iranian Journal, 55, 223–253. https://doi.org/10.1163/001972412X620187.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anālayo, Bh. (2013a). The Chinese parallels to the Dhammacakkappavattana-sutta (2). Journal of the Oxford Centre for Buddhist Studies, 5, 9–41.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anālayo, Bh. (2013b). Perspectives on Satipaṭṭhāna. Cambridge: Windhorse Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anālayo, Bh. (2014a). The dawn of Abhidharma. Hamburg: Hamburg University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anālayo, Bh. (2014b). The first absorption (dhyāna) in early Indian Buddhism, a study of source material from the Madhyama-āgama. In H. Eifring (Ed.), Hindu, Buddhist and Daoist meditation cultural histories (pp. 69–90). Oslo: Hermes Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anālayo, Bh. (2017a). Early Buddhist meditation studies. Barre: Barre Center for Buddhist Studies.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anālayo, Bh. (2017b). A meditator’s life of the Buddha, based on the early discourses. Cambridge: Windhorse Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anālayo, Bh. (2019a). How mindfulness came to plunge into its objects. Mindfulness, 10(6), 1181–1185. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-019-01152-4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anālayo, Bh. (2019b). Meditation on the breath: mindfulness and focused attention. Mindfulness, 10(8), 1684–1691. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-019-01169-9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anālayo, Bh. (2019c). Mindfulness-based interventions and the four satipaṭṭhānas. Mindfulness, 10(4), 611–615. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-019-1097-2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anālayo, Bh. (2019d). Open monitoring and mindfulness. Mindfulness, 10(7), 1437–1442. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-019-01181-z.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anālayo, Bh. (2020). Comparing the Tibetan and Chinese parallels to the Cūḷavedalla-sutta. In L. Shravak & S. Roy (Eds.), Investigating principles: international aspects of Indian cultures. Mumbai: Somaiya Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bucknell, R. S. (1989). Buddhist jhāna as mystical experience. In G. K. Zollschan, J. F. Schumaker, & G. F. Walsh (Eds.), Exploring the paranormal: perspectives on belief and experience (pp. 131–149). Bridport: Prism Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bucknell, R. S. (1993). Reinterpreting the jhānas. Journal of the International Association of Buddhist Studies, 16(2), 375–409.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bucknell, R. S. (2019). What is the first jhāna? The central question in Buddhist meditation theory. In D. Goldston (Ed.), Engaging Asia, essays on Laos and beyond in honour of Martin Stuart-Fox (pp. 392–415). Copenhagen: Nordic Institute of Asian Studies Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cousins, L. S. (1973). Buddhist jhāna: its nature and attainment according to the Pali sources. Religion, 3, 115–131.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cousins, L. S. (1992). Vitakka/vitarka and vicāra, stages of samādhi in Buddhism and Yoga. Indo-Iranian Journal, 35, 137–157.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Griffiths, P. J. (1983). Buddhist jhāna: a form-critical study. Religion, 13, 55–68.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gunaratana, H. (1985/1996). The path of serenity and insight, an explanation of the Buddhist jhānas. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harvey, P. (2018). The four jhānas and their qualities in the Pali tradition. Buddhist Studies Review, 35(1/2), 3–27.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kuan, T. (2005). Clarification on feelings in Buddhist dhyāna/jhāna meditation. Journal of Indian Philosophy, 33, 285–319.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mittal, K. (1957). Dogmatische Begriffsreihen im älteren Buddhismus, I, Fragmente des Daśottarasūtra aus zentralasiatischen Sanskrit-Handschriften. Berlin: Akademie Verlag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Monier-Williams, M. (1899/1999). A Sanskrit-English dictionary, etymologically and philologically arranged, with special reference to cognate Indo-European languages. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rhys Davids, T. W., & Stede, W. (1921/1993). Pali-English dictionary. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shankman, R. (2008). The experience of samādhi, an in-depth exploration of Buddhist meditation. Boston: Shambala.

    Google Scholar 

  • Skilling, P. (1994). Mahāsūtras: great discourses of the Buddha. Oxford: Pali Text Society.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stache-Rosen, V. (1968). Dogmatische Begriffsreihen im älteren Buddhismus II; das Saṅgītisūtra und sein Kommentar Saṅgītiparyāya. Berlin: Akademie Verlag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stuart-Fox, M. (1989). Jhāna and Buddhist scholasticism. Journal of the International Association of Buddhist Studies, 12(2), 79–110.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sujato, Bh. (2005). A history of mindfulness, how insight worsted tranquility in the Satipatthana Sutta. Taipei: The Corporate Body of the Buddha Education Foundation.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Barre Center for Buddhist Studies, 149 Lockwood Road, Barre, MA, 01005, USA

    Bhikkhu Anālayo

Authors
  1. Bhikkhu Anālayo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Ethics declarations

Ethical Approval

This article does not contain any studies performed by the author with human participants or animals.

Conflict of Interest

The author declares that he has no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Anālayo, B. The Role of Mindfulness in the Cultivation of Absorption. Mindfulness 10, 2341–2351 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-019-01206-7

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-019-01206-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation