Dhyana paramita, or meditation, is the ability to sustain the focus of mind on an object of concentration, whether physical or mental. The paramita is when the concentration is effortless and unwavering.
Meditation at this level leads to realization or perfect understanding of the object.
Table of Contents
What are the six paramitas in Buddhism?
| 6 Paramitas or Transcendent / perfected Virtues | |
| Sanskrit / Pali | English |
| Dana paramita | Transcendent Generosity |
| Sila, Shila paramita | Transcendent discipline, moral character |
| Kshanti, ksanti paramita | Perfect Patience |
| Virya paramita | Perfect Exertion |
| Dhyana paramita | Perfect Meditation |
| Prajna paramita | Transcendent Wisdom, insight |
The function of meditation in Buddhism
How to meditate like a yogi
and enter profound samadhi
Meditation in buddhism, especially as dhyana-paramita, functions to focus the mindfulness and stabilize that focus. This allows the practitioner to engage in vipashyana objects, emptiness, for example. After a sustained period of time, with proper view backing it, the dhayana can achieve direct perception of emptiness. This will appear with greater profundity and depth depending on the meditators proficiency in view and dhyana paramita.
The 2 types of dhyana in Buddhism are called shamatha and vipashyana. Shamatha, dwelling in peace, is the common idea of meditation, if vaguely understood. It means concentrating the mind on the object without wandering.
Vipassana (Vipashyana) is utilizing good shamatha and engaging in insight as an object of meditation. The form of insight depends on what the practitioner is working with and their level of skill. It ranges from non-self of the Shravaka to the shunyata or emptiness of the bodhisattva and lands at the ultimate endpoint of the Great Perfection of Ati Yoga.
What does dhyana paramita mean in Buddhism?
Dhyana paramita refers to meditation transcending the ordinary world. It goes beyond the 9 stages of resting the mind. The 4 jhanas, in Buddhism, are leveled as follows:
- Detachment from phenomena
- Focus on the object
- Abandonment of elation or joy (destabilizing factors)
- Equanimity
The concept of paramita means a virtue that transcends ordinary versions of the virtue. Faults in performing the virtue are overcome. The bodhisattva reaches the ‘other shore’ or paramita of the virtue.
The 5th paramita of dhyana – transcendent concentration
Meditation is the 5th paramita. It is the ultimate tool of the path, as would be expected. The swiss army knife or leatherman multi-tool to solve all problems with dharma, to fix any broken approach, to dismantle any obstacle or reconfigure any obstacle so that it becomes the path or a means to enlightenment.
Without developing meditation it is virtually impossible to walk a genuine path of dharmic realization. You can, of course, accumulate merit through non-meditative means, but there will be limits to how far this will take you. The first four paramitas are considered relative. Meditation is the bridge to the ultimate. It operates in both spheres. Dhyana Paramita carries one from the relative to the ultimate.
It is extremely difficult to perfect or create transcendent forms of the four relative virtues without a meditative component to development. They must be understood meditatively, directly, to know what paramita, the other shore, means. They must be seen as vividly working in a profound and meaningful way inside the mind stream. They must also be seen as empty in and of themselves. Otherwise they become reified, things, which limits their capacity.
Meditating on objects of knowing can increase depth of understanding very rapidly and take it beyond the conventional level. Meditation combined with the other paramitas is the best method from a Mahayana perspective.
Flow, the profound mental state, also called Peak Performance, can be attained with meditation and can be ‘triggered’ at will, with enough discipline. Guide to Flow Mastery will teach you how.
Methods to establish dhyana-paramita
9 Stages of resting the mind
One of the best instructions for developing meditation is the 9 stages of resting the mind. (See the meditation series for a thorough explanation.) This is a graduated method of establishing, clarifying, deepening, stabilizing, and strengthening shamatha, basic concentration, so that it becomes more and more potent and powerful. From there, meditations generally turn to vipashyana objects, or wisdom. Wisdom, jnana, is the 6th paramita.
- Placing the mind (on the object)
- Repeated placement (again and again)
- Continuous placement (sustained periods of not forgetting)
- Stable placement (mind can sustain concentration indefinitely)
- Taming (coarse distractions no longer arise)
- Pacifying (subtle thoughts cease)
- Thorough pacifying (underlying tendencies to laxity and elation subside)
- One-pointedness (mind is strongly engaged with the object, minimal effort)
- Equanimity (mind and object are essentially integrated, meditation is effortless)
The 9 stages also include the 6 powers that bring about shamatha, the 5 obstacles, 8 antidotes, and the 5 stages of meditative experience.
Meditation Course
Four Foundations of mindfulness
The four foundations of mindfulness comes from the Satipatthana sutra and similar sutras given by the Buddha. By concentrating on these four foundations, in sequence, then in aggregate, the meditator can establish a samadhi (concentrated state) that settles into the overall reality of phenomena altogether. This creates a deep and broad shamatha that flows easily into vipashyana or insight meditation. The key components for selflessness meditation are, in fact, embedded into these four foundations.
- Mindfulness of body (the form, posture, components and movements of body)
- Mindfulness of feelings (pleasant, unpleasant and neutral responses to phenomena)
- Mindfulness of mind (Seeing one’s neurotic and enlightened mental activities as they are in a detailed, precise manner)
- Mindfulness of phenomena / Dharma (can be either – mindfulness of the external world or of Buddhist doctrine as experiential reality)
For a detailed explanation – see this. Solid application of the four foundations lays the necessary support for Dhyana Paramita.
Lojong Slogans for Dhyana Paramita
Point Five: Evaluation of Mind Training.
- Slogan 19. All dharma agrees at one point—decreasing ego.
- Slogan 20. Of the two witnesses, hold the principal one— Trust yourself and your insight into your own state of mind
- Slogan 21. Always maintain only a joyful mind.
- Slogan 22. If you can practice even when distracted, you are well trained.
Secrets of Meditation for Anxiety
Like millions of people, you may have suffered from anxiety for years. Meditation, yoga, peaceful music – it never works. It takes too long, and it’s not stable. Why? Because peace is treated as a cause for freedom, but it’s not – it’s the result. The cause to free yourself from anxiety is completely different.
Click now to Overcome Anxiety for good.
faq
What is Dyana paramita perfection of meditation?
Dhyana paramita – the perfection of meditation – is the 5th of 6 paramitas. It indicates surpassing and stable concentration, unbreakable. Mind is focused in formal meditation and in ordinary life.
What are the six paramitas mantra?
The six paramitas mantra usually refers to the 6-syllable mantra of Aviloketeshvara: Om Mani Padme Hum. Each syllable represents a paramita in this understanding.
What is the most famous Buddhist chant?
The most famous Buddhist chant is the Heart Sutra (or the refuge chant).
What is dhyana in Buddhism?
Jhana or Dhyana in Buddhism is the four levels of profound concentration succeeding the 9th stage of meditation. These are also equated with the realm of the form gods.
Conclusion
The Dhyana paramita – meditation – is the cornerstone of the entire path, the indispensable tool, and the crossroads between merit and insight, compassion and wisdom. Most of the path relies on meditation as the means to understanding and more importantly, the means to destructure and positively restructure the mind to overcome negative tendencies and cultivate virtues.
May all beings be happy
May all beings be peaceful
May all beings be safe
May all beings awaken to the light of their true nature
May all beings be free
