Meditation Objects in Pali Buddhist Texts
Asian Traditions of Meditation October 31, 2016 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.21313/hawaii/9780824855680.003.0007
Summary
The essay examines early Pāli texts on meditation objects used in Southern Buddhism, highlighting their variety and the importance of tailoring practices to individual needs. It notes that different objects are recommended for inducing calm or insight, with some serving both purposes. The Dhammapada narratives illustrate a gradual, adaptable approach to meditation that prioritizes personal experience and support from others over strict methods.
Study at a glance
| Key finding | Early Pāli literature emphasizes the variety of meditation objects and the need for individualized approaches in practice. |
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Abstract
What makes a meditation object? This essay explores early Pāli accounts of objects still used in modern practice, especially in Southern Buddhism. Their very variety reflects this tradition’s stress on a graduated path, where different stages and individuals require different teaching approaches, at different times. Usually, in practice, objects inducing “calm” and various states known as jhāna, are recommended, before those producing “insight”. Some objects produce both calm and insight; others balance, ensuring health of mind. So, early Pāli literature describes many meditative routes: variety and skillful combinations for individuals are considered key. What is essential, however, is how objects are given and used. Dhammapada narratives in particular, describing a gradual path, a movement between internal and external, “shocks” in chance occurrences in the world, and skilled interventions by friends or teachers, demonstrate a pedagogy striking for its stress on individual need rather than rigid imposition and structure.