bhavana

bhāvanā

bhāvanā (Skt., cultivation). The general term used in Buddhism for any type of meditational practice involving continuous attention by the mind to any suitable object. The two main kinds of meditation practised in Buddhism are calming meditation (śamatha) and insight meditation (vipaśyanā). See also samādhi; sādhana.

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

DAMIEN KEOWN. "bhāvanā." A Dictionary of Buddhism. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

DAMIEN KEOWN. "bhāvanā." A Dictionary of Buddhism. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O108-bhvan.html

DAMIEN KEOWN. "bhāvanā." A Dictionary of Buddhism. 2004. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O108-bhvan.html

Learn more about citation styles

Bhāvanā

Bhāvanā (Pāli, Skt., ‘to make become’, ‘to nurture’, ‘to develop’, √bhu = ‘to be’). In early Buddhism, meditation in the broadest sense: methods of mental training and discipline leading to mind-control and spiritual insight.

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

JOHN BOWKER. "Bhāvanā." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JOHN BOWKER. "Bhāvanā." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Bhvan.html

JOHN BOWKER. "Bhāvanā." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Bhvan.html

Learn more about citation styles

Free newspaper and magazine articles

The production of unpleasurable rasas in the Sanskrit dramas of Arya Ksemisvara.
Magazine article from: The Journal of the American Oriental Society; 7/1/2010
The Production of Unpleasurable Rasas in the Sanskrit Dramas of Arya Ksemisvara
Magazine article from: The Journal of the American Oriental Society; 7/1/2010
V the formulas and the texts as practice vehicles.(OUR MAHAYANA INHERITANCE)
Newspaper article from: Middle Way; 11/1/2006

Facts and information from other sites

Pictures from Google Image Search

Click to see an enlarged picture
Click to see an enlarged picture
Click to see an enlarged picture

See more pictures of bhavana