Overview
The Ten Recollections (Anussati) are core meditation subjects designed to inspire faith, generate joy, and overcome fear. While some of these (like the first six) generally only lead to Access Concentration (upacāra-samādhi), others (like mindfulness of breathing and the body) can propel the meditator all the way to the deepest jhānas.
The List
- Buddhānussati - Recollection of the Buddha: Reflecting on the 9 supreme qualities of the Awakened One.
- Dhammānussati - Recollection of the Dhamma: Reflecting on the perfect, timeless nature of the Teaching.
- Saṅghānussati - Recollection of the Saṅgha: Reflecting on the purity and worthiness of the Noble Disciples.
- Sīlānussati - Recollection of Virtue: Reflecting on the unbroken, unblemished purity of one’s own moral precepts.
- Cāgānussati - Recollection of Generosity: Reflecting on one’s own acts of selfless giving.
- Devatānussati - Recollection of Deities: Reflecting on the faith and virtue that caused devas to be reborn in heaven, and verifying that those same qualities exist within oneself.
- Maraṇānussati - Mindfulness of Death: Reflecting on the absolute certainty and unpredictability of one’s own death.
- Kāyagatāsati - Mindfulness of the Body: Meditating on the 32 anatomical parts of the body (hair, nails, teeth, skin, etc.) to destroy lust.
- Ānāpānasati - Mindfulness of Breathing: Meditating on the in-breath and out-breath.
- Upasamānussati - Recollection of Peace: Reflecting on the supreme, cooling, unconditioned peace of Nibbāna.
Textual References
- Canonical: Ekadhamma Suttas (AN 1.296-305) – The Buddha lists these ten subjects, stating that their cultivation leads to the realization of the deathless.
- Commentary: Visuddhimagga (Chapters VII & VIII) – The complete manual for practicing all ten recollections.