Samādhi — Immersion

This is part 22 of a course going through the similes and metaphors of the Buddha. Course home 1: Introduction to Imagery in the EBTs2: Taṇhā — Craving3: Rāga — Passion4: Vyāpāda — Hatred and Aversion5: Thīnamiddha — Sloth and Torpor6: Uddhaccakukkuca — Restlessness and Worry7: Vicikicchā — Doubt8: Vedanā — Feelings9: Vedanānupassanā — Investigating Feelings10: Sukha — Happiness11: Upekkhā — Equanimity12: Yathābhūtañāṇadassana — Knowledge and Vision of the Way Things Are13: Vimutti — Liberation14: Upādāna – Grasping15: Sakkāyadiṭṭhi - Self View16: Sammādiṭṭhi - Right View17: Saṅkhāra — Activity18: Vitakka — Thought19: Yoniso Manasikāra — Wise Attention20: Vipassanā — Insight21: Samatha & Vipassanā — Tranquility & Insight22: Samādhi — Immersion23: Viveka — Seclusion24: Vossagga — Letting Go25: Suññatā — Emptiness26: Conclusion

Illustration by Ayya Vimalayani aka "Ven Yodha"

Also sometimes translated as "concentration," samādhi is a special state of consciousness where the mind is unbiased by greed, aversion, sloth, restlessness, or doubt.

Textbook

Read Chapter 9 of:

From Grasping to Emptiness: Excursions into the Thought-world of the Pāli Discourses Volume 2 – Bhikkhu Anālayo (.pdf)

Suttas

SN 22.5 Samādhi Sutta: Concentration (.pdf)

AN 4.41 Samādhibhāvanā Sutta: Ways of Developing Immersion Further (.pdf)

Thag 1.50 Vimala Theragāthā: Vimala’s Verse (.pdf)

Thag 2.3 Valliya Theragāthā: Valliya (2)

Snp 1.1 Uraga Sutta: The Serpent (.pdf)

Similes

Hecker similes: 26, 62, and 74.

Reflection

Taming the monkey mind is no simple feat!

Continue to Part 23, Viveka — Seclusion

...or go back to part 21