The Buddha describes the nine progressive meditations—from the four absorptions through the formless dimensions to the cessation of perception and feeling.
“Navayime, bhikkhave, anupubbavihārā. Katame nava? Paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ, dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ, tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ, catutthaṁ jhānaṁ, ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ, viññāṇañcāyatanaṁ, ākiñcaññāyatanaṁ, nevasaññānāsaññāyatanaṁ, saññāvedayitanirodho— ime kho, bhikkhave, nava anupubbavihārā”ti.
Paṭhamaṁ.
Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).
“Navayime, bhikkhave, anupubbavihārā.
“Mendicants, there are these nine progressive meditations.
Katame nava?
What nine?
Paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ, dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ, tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ, catutthaṁ jhānaṁ, ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ, viññāṇañcāyatanaṁ, ākiñcaññāyatanaṁ, nevasaññānāsaññāyatanaṁ, saññāvedayitanirodho—
The first absorption, the second absorption, the third absorption, the fourth absorption, the dimension of infinite space, the dimension of infinite consciousness, the dimension of nothingness, the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception, and the cessation of perception and feeling.
ime kho, bhikkhave, nava anupubbavihārā”ti.
These are the nine progressive meditations.”
Paṭhamaṁ.
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Last updated on July 27, 2026