Overview
Concentration (Samādhi) is not a uniform state. As a meditator develops their mind, concentration deepens through distinct levels of intensity. The commentarial tradition categorizes the entirety of mental unification into these progressive and functional types.
The List
- Parikammasamādhi - Preliminary Concentration: The initial, fragile focus applied when a meditator first begins looking at an object (like a kasina or the breath).
- Khaṇikasamādhi - Momentary Concentration: The dynamic, rapidly shifting concentration used exclusively in insight (vipassanā) meditation, where the mind locks onto changing phenomena moment by moment with absolute clarity.
- Upacārasamādhi - Access / Neighborhood Concentration: Deep concentration where the five hindrances are fully suppressed and the counterpart sign (paṭibhāganimitta) arises, but the jhāna factors are not yet fully stabilized.
- Appanāsamādhi - Absorption Concentration: Full entry into the jhānas. The mind is completely and unshakeably unified with its object.
- Lokuttarasamādhi - Supramundane Concentration: The concentration strictly associated with the four supramundane Paths and Fruits, taking Nibbāna as its sole object.
Textual References
- Commentary: Visuddhimagga (Chapters III, IV, & VIII) – Details the precise requirements for moving from preliminary focus to full absorption.