Overview
Theravāda mental development (bhāvanā) is categorized into two distinct but complementary streams. While they cultivate different mental faculties and suppress different defilements, both are essential in the orthodox path, working in tandem to liberate the mind.
The List
- Samatha - Tranquility / Serenity: The development of deep, unified concentration (samādhi). This practice suppresses the hindrances, develops the absorptions (jhāna), and removes the defilement of lust (rāga).
- Vipassanā - Insight: The direct observation of physical and mental phenomena to realize their impermanence, unsatisfactoriness, and non-self nature. This practice develops wisdom (paññā) and eradicates the defilement of ignorance (avijjā).
Textual References
- Canonical: Vijjābhāgiya Sutta (AN 2.30) – The Buddha explains that samatha abandons lust and vipassanā abandons ignorance.
- Commentary: Visuddhimagga – Serves as the ultimate manual detailing the specific meditation subjects (kammaṭṭhāna) suitable for each of these two developments.