In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Access to Insight: A Glossary of Pali and Buddhist TermsLiterally, "basis of work" or "place of work." The word refers to the "occupation" of a meditating monk: namely, the contemplation of certain meditation themes by which the forces of defilement (kilesa), craving (tanha), and ignorance (avijja) may be uprooted from the mind. In the ordination procedure, every new monk is taught five basic kammatthana that form the basis for contemplation of the body: hair of the head (kesa), hair of the body (loma), nails (nakha), teeth (danta), and skin (taco). By extension, the kammatthana include all the forty classical meditation themes. Although every meditator may be said to engage in kammatthana, the term is most often used to identify the particular Thai forest tradition lineage that was founded by Phra Ajaan Mun and Phra Ajaan Sao.Source: Dhamma Dana: Pali English Glossary

Kammatthana (N, “subjet of meditation”).—Support for concentration. Sustained training into meditation or contemplation.

Source: Journey to Nibbana: Patthana Dhama

Kammatthana means the object where the bhavana kamma or manokamma or kusalacitta attend.

So kammatthana is simply an object.

There are two type of object of bhavana kamma as stated above namely samatha and vipassana.

Source: Pali Kanon: Manual of Buddhist Terms and Doctrines

Kammatthāna (lit. “working-ground”, i.e. for meditation), is the term in the Com. for 'subjects of meditation'; s. bhāvanā.

Vis.M. III-XI gives full directions how to attain full concentration and the absorptions (jhāna) by means of the following 40 meditation subjects (kammatthāna):

• 10 kasina-exercises (s. kasina). These produce the 4 absorptions

• 10 loathsome subjects (asubha). These produce the 1st absorption.

• 10 recollections (anussati):

  • of the Buddha (buddhānussati),
  • the Doctrine (dhammānussati),
  • the Brotherhood of the Noble Ones (sanghānussati),
  • morality,
  • liberality,
  • the heavenly beings,
  • death (maranasati),
  • the body (kāyagatāsati),
  • in-and-out breathing (ānāpāna-sati)
  • peace (upasamānussati).

  Among these, the recollection (or mindfulness) of in-and-out breathing may produce all the 4 absorptions, that of the body the 1st absorption, the rest only neighbourhood-concentration (upacāra-samādhi, s. samādhi).

• 4 sublime abodes (brahma-vihāra):

  • loving-kindness (mettā)
  • compassion (karunā)
  • altruistic joy (muditā)
  • equanimity (upekkhā).

  Of these, the first 3 exercises may produce 3 absorptions, the last one the 4th absorption only.

• 4 immaterial spheres (arūpāyatana, s. jhāna):

  • of unbounded space,
  • unbounded consciousness,
  • nothingness,
  • neither-perception-nor-non-perception.

  These are based upon the 4th absorption.

• 1 perception of the loathsomeness of food (āhāre patikkūla-saññā), which may produce neighbourhood-concentration

• 1 analysis of the 4 elements (catudhātu-vavatthāna, s. dhātu-vavatthāna), which may produce neighbourhood-concentration.

Mental development forms one of the 3 kinds of meritorious action (puñña-kiriya-vatthu).

'Delight in meditation' (bhāvanā-rāmatā) is one of the noble usages (ariya-vamsa) .

context information

Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).

Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionary

kammaṭṭhāna : (nt.) a subject for meditation; a branch of industry.

Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English Dictionary

Kammaṭṭhāna refers to: (2) 1. a branch of industry or occupation, profession, said of diff. occupations as farmer, trader, householder and mendicant M. II, 197; A. V, 83. 2. occasion or ground for (contemplating) kamma (see ṭhāna II. 2. c.), kamma-subject, a technical term referring to the instruments of meditation, esp. objects used by meditation to realize impermanence. These exercises (“stations of exercise” Expos. 224) are highly valued as leading to Arahantship DhA. I, 8 (yāva arahattaṃ kamma-ṭṭhānaṃ kathesi), 96; PvA. 98 (catu-saccakamma-ṭṭhāna-bhāvanā meditation on the 4 truths and the objects of meditation). frequent in phrase kammaṭṭhāne anuyutto (or anuyoga vasena) na cirass’eva arahattaṃ pāpuṇi: J. III, 36; Sāsv 49; see also J. I, 7, 97, 182, 303, 414; Sdhp. 493. These subjects of meditation are given as 38 at DhsA. 168 (cp. Cpd. 202), as 32 (dvattiṃs’ākāra-k°) at Vism. 240 sq. , as 40 at Vism. 110 sq. (in detail); as pañca-sandhika at Vism. 277; some of them are mentioned at J. I, 116; DhA. I, 221, 336; IV, 90;

Note: kammaṭṭhāna is a Pali compound consisting of the words kamma and ṭṭhāna.

context information

Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Tthana, Kamma, Thana, Tana.

Starts with: Kammatthanamala, Kammatthanaparayana, Kammatthanaparipalaka, Kammatthanaviruddha.

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Full-text (+27): Dhatumanasikarakammatthana, Vipassana-kammatthana, Asubhakammatthana, Kammatthanaviruddha, Mulakammatthana, Maricikammatthana, Kammatthanamala, Middhavinodanakammatthana, Kammatthanaparipalaka, Kammatthanaparayana, Tacapancaka-kammatthana, Samatha Kammatthana Bhavana, Anussati Kammatthana, Aruppa Kammatthana, Kasina Kammatthana, Asubha Kammatthana, Patibhaga Nimitta, Kayagatasati Kammatthana, Anapanassati Kammatthana, Aharepatikulasanna.

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Search found 24 books and stories containing Kammatthana, Kamma-thana, Kamma-ṭhāna, Kamma-tthana, Kamma-ṭṭhāna, Kammaṭṭhāna; (plurals include: Kammatthanas, thanas, ṭhānas, tthanas, ṭṭhānas, Kammaṭṭhānas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Patipada (path of practice)

Chapter I - Kammatthana

Chapter X - The Practice Of The Dhutangas

Chapter XVI - The Customs Of Kammatthana Bhikkhus

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Patthana Dhamma (by Htoo Naing)

Chapter 1 - Citta (or consciousness)

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Yoga-sutra with Bhashya Vivarana (study) (by Susmi Sabu)

Non-Vedic origin of Yoga < [Chapter 2 - Origin and Development of Yoga Philosophy]

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Apadana commentary (Atthakatha) (by U Lu Pe Win)

Introduction (commentary on the first stanza) < [Commentary on biography of Silent Buddhas (Paccekabuddha)]

Commentary on the Biography of the thera Khadiravaniya < [Chapter 1 - Buddhavagga (Buddha section)]

Commentary on the stanza relating to bamboo shoot (vaṃsa) < [Commentary on biography of Silent Buddhas (Paccekabuddha)]

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Visuddhimagga (the pah of purification) (by Ñāṇamoli Bhikkhu)

Chapter VIII - Other Recollections as Meditation Subjects < [Part 2 - Concentration (Samādhi)]

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Abhidhamma in Daily Life (by Ashin Janakabhivamsa) (by Ashin Janakabhivamsa)

Domain 3 - Bhávaná (meditation) < [Chapter 6 - Ten domains of meritorious actions (ten punna kiriyavatthu)]

Part 1 - The nature of hells (niraya) < [Chapter 11 - Planes Of Existence]

Part 8 - Reciprocal Effect Of Bhávaná < [Chapter 7 - Kamma]

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