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Chapter 8 - Concentration

from Part III - The Practice

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 October 2022

Roderick S. Bucknell
Affiliation:
University of Queensland
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Summary

Concentration is the final stage of the noble eightfold path but is followed by insight and liberation in the tenfold series. It is usually described as achieved through practice of a series of four ever deeper states of mental one-pointedness known as jhānas. This series is often extended to five in later texts and may be followed by a second series of so-called “formless states” culminating in complete “cessation”. This chapter identifies key discrepancies between the fourfold and fivefold series, focussing particularly on the description of first jhāna and how this should be understood. The discussion critically examines the conclusions of other Buddhist scholars as to how differing accounts are likely to have arisen. It concludes that concentration as understood in early Buddhism originally consisted only of the set of four jhānas and that the sequence of “formless states” is therefore almost certainly a late doctrinal addition.

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

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  • Concentration
  • Roderick S. Bucknell, University of Queensland
  • Book: Reconstructing Early Buddhism
  • Online publication: 13 October 2022
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009236539.012
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  • Concentration
  • Roderick S. Bucknell, University of Queensland
  • Book: Reconstructing Early Buddhism
  • Online publication: 13 October 2022
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009236539.012
Available formats
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Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Concentration
  • Roderick S. Bucknell, University of Queensland
  • Book: Reconstructing Early Buddhism
  • Online publication: 13 October 2022
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009236539.012
Available formats
×