Meditation consists of samatha and vipassanā meditation, which must both be based upon moral conduct of body and speech. In other words, meditation is the development and perfection of the Noble Eightfold Path (Ariya Aññhaïgika Magga). The Noble Eightfold Path is:
- Right understanding — sammā diṭṭhi
- Right thought — sammā saṅkappa
- Right speech — sammā vācā
- Right action — sammā kammanta
- Right livelihood — sammā ājīva
- Right effort — sammā vāyāma
- Right mindfulness — sammā sati
- Right concentration — sammā samādhi
- Right View is two types of view: Vipassanā Right-View (Vipassanā sammādiṭṭhi) and Path Right-View. Right View and Right Thought are together called the training of wisdom (paññā).
- Right Speech, Right Action, and Right Livelihood are together called the training of morality (sīla).
- Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration are together called the training of concentration (sāmadhi), which is samatha meditation (samatha bhāvanā).
Knowing and Seeing – Pa Auk Sayadaw
“Ṭhitena kāyena ṭhitena cetasā,
Tiṭṭhaṁ nisinno uda vā sayāno;
Etaṁ satiṁ bhikkhu adhiṭṭhahāno,
Labhetha pubbāpariyaṁ visesaṁ;
Laddhāna pubbāpariyaṁ visesaṁ,
Adassanaṁ maccurājassa gacche”ti.
“Steady in body, steady in mind,
standing, sitting or lying down:
a mendicant focusing on this mindfulness
gains an ever higher distinction.
And when they have done so,
they vanish from the King of Death.”
Ud 5.10: Panthakasuttaṃ
