This set of slides is from the Satipatthana Workshop conducted by Venerable Aggacitta at Sasanarakkha Buddhist Sanctuary between July 26-29, 2012. Permission is given to redistribute without any modifications, for non-commercial purposes only. These slides explores the meaning of samadhi and how satipatthana is linked to samadhi.

1. Satipaṭṭhāna Leads to Samādhi
Having said this, Bhante, Brahmā Sanaṅkumāra
addressed the Devas of Tāvatiṃsa thus:
“ ... As he thus dwells contemplating the
body as body internally, he becomes
perfectly composed and perfectly serene.
Being thus perfectly composed and
serene, he produces knowledge and vision
externally in respect of another body ...
Janavasabha Sutta (DN 18) 1

2. Satipaṭṭhāna Leads to Samādhi
contemplating feelings as feelings internally
... mind as mind internally ... dhammas as
dhammas internally, he becomes perfectly
composed and perfectly serene.
Being thus perfectly composed and serene,
he produces knowledge and vision
externally in respect of other dhammas.
”
Janavasabha Sutta (DN 18)
2

3. Satipaṭṭhāna Leads to Samādhi
“ Friend Visākha, the ‘one place-ness’
(ekaggatā) of the mind—this is samādhi;
the four satipaṭṭhānas are the basis
(nimitta) of samādhi; the four right
kinds of strivings are the equipment of
samādhi; the repetition, development,
and cultivation of these same dhammas
is the development of samādhi therein.
”
Cūḷavedalla Sutta (MN 44) 3

4. Translation of Ekaggatā
Word Analysis
ekaggatā eka + agga + tā
(one) (-ness)
agga tip, point, topmost, foremost,
beginning, best; place
Translation
Popular one-pointed-ness
Preferred one place-ness = focused state
4

5. Definition of “Focus” & “Focused”
focus verb
1. to give attention, effort, etc. to one particular
subject, situation or person rather than another
2. to adapt or be adjusted so that things can be
seen clearly; to adjust sth so that you can see
things clearly
focused adjective
with your attention directed to what you want to
do; with very clear aims
The Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary, 7th Edition
5

6. Definition of Samādhi
Definition in Pāli
Yā cittassa ekaggatā—ayaṃ samādhi
Popular Translation
The mind’s one-pointedness—this is concentration
Preferred Translation
The mind’s focused state—this is composure
6

7. Definition of “Composure”
composure noun
the state of being calm and in control of your
feelings or behaviour
The Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary, 7th Edition
Word Analysis of “Samādhi”
samādhi is a noun derived from sam (together;
thoroughly) + ā (bring) + √dhā (to put, place)
which has a verb in passive voice samādhīyati (to
be thoroughly brought together and put/placed)
7

8. 4 Types of Samādhi·bhāvanā
Type Goal
Four Jhānas Comfortable dwell-
ing here and now
Perception of Light Knowledge and
vision
Awareness of Feelings, Mindfulness and
Perceptions and Thoughts clear knowing
Contemplating Rise and Destruction of all
Fall of the 5 Aggregates mental defilements
Samādhi·bhāvanā Sutta (AN 4:41)
8

9. Bhante Henepola
Gunaratana’s
Radical
Change of View
about Jhāna

10. Translation of “Jhāna”
“ ... The Pāli word jhāna has been rendered
by translators into English in various
ways... The word “absorption”... is the
most suitable of the lot...
The jhānas themselves are states of deep
mental unification characterised by a
total immersion of the mind in its object.
A Critical Analysis of the Jhānas
”
in Therāvāda Buddhist Meditation
Phd thesis submitted in 1980 and published in 1999 10

11. Right Jhāna
“ ... when we become absorbed into our object
of focus, what we are practicing is “wrong”
Jhāna. When we practice “right” Jhāna we
will be able to see things as they really are.
... If you are absorbed in the subject you will
not understand, nor remember anything.
”
“Should we come out of Jhāna to practice Vipassanā?”
2007 paper in
Buddhist Studies in Honour of
Venerable Kirindigalle Dhammaratana 11