Grammatical Analysis
Dhammānussati: [f.] recollection of the Dhamma. Formed by Dhamma (The Teaching/Reality) + anussati (recollection).
Orthodox Definition
Dhammānussati is the second of the ten classical Recollections. The practitioner focuses their concentration on the six supreme qualities of the Buddha’s Teaching and the nine supramundane states (the four paths, four fruitions, and Nibbāna).
The object of meditation is the standard canonical formula: “Svākkhāto Bhagavatā dhammo, sandiṭṭhiko, akāliko, ehipassiko, opaneyyiko, paccattaṃ veditabbo viññūhī’ti.” (Well-expounded is the Dhamma, visible here and now, timeless, inviting inspection, leading onward, to be experienced by the wise for themselves).
Like recollection of the Buddha, this practice suppresses all five hindrances and fills the mind with unshakeable faith (saddhā), but caps out at Access Concentration (upacāra-samādhi) due to the profound depth and variety of the Dhamma’s qualities. It causes the practitioner to revere the truth above all worldly gains.
Textual References
- Sutta: Mahānāma Sutta (AN 11.12) – The Buddha instructing the lay follower Mahānāma to practice this recollection while walking, standing, sitting, or lying down, to purify the mind of greed, hatred, and delusion.
- Canonical: Dhammapada (v. 373) – Noting the superhuman joy of a monk who clearly perceives the Dhamma.
- Commentary: Visuddhimagga (Chapter VII) – Providing the exact technical definitions for terms like akāliko (timeless/immediate) in the context of the supramundane path producing its fruition without any delay.