Grammatical Analysis
Sammāsamādhi: [m.] Right Concentration; Correct Meditative Integration. Formed by sammā (correctly) + samādhi (concentration/one-pointedness). Doctrinally identical to the mental factor of one-pointedness (ekaggatā-cetasika) when unified with beautiful states.
Orthodox Definition
Sammāsamādhi is the eighth and final limb of the Noble Eightfold Path, serving as the absolute climax of the concentration division (samādhi-sikkhā). It represents the mind brought into a state of flawless, unmoving unification, entirely anchored to a wholesome focus.
In the canonical suttas, the Buddha explicitly defines Sammāsamādhi as the attainment and mastery of the four material-sphere absorptions: the First, Second, Third, and Fourth Jhānas.
The Visuddhimagga explains that concentration is crowned as “Right” when it is supported by the previous seven path factors. It transforms the mind into a luminous, workable laser of attention. At the supramundane level (lokuttara), this one-pointedness fixes the attention onto Nibbāna with such immense intensity that the underlying defilements are permanently incinerated by the co-arising wisdom factor.
Textual References
- Sutta: Mahāsatipaṭṭhāna Sutta (DN 22) – The definitive text providing the standard formulaic description of the four jhānas as Right Concentration.
- Abhidhamma: Vibhaṅga (Magga-vibhaṅga clinical catalog).
- Commentary: Visuddhimagga (Chapters IV and V) – The exhaustive reference mapping out the manual requirements to fulfill Right Concentration.