Forty Meditation Subjects 

Lord Buddha taught 40 concentration devices or meditation subjects for tranquilizing the mind (Buddhaghosa, The Path of Purification). A meditator can select any one or combination of these 40 meditation subjects, according to his or her own character. For example, Kasina concentration is very suitable for those with sensual desire, restlessness of mind, or inclination toward anger, hatred or ill will. For those whose habits are intellectual thought, devotion or delusion, Mindfulness of Breathing (Anapanasati) and Recollection of Buddha’s virtues (Buddhanussati) are most suitable.

Based on the Path of Purification (Visuddhimagga), the following meditation subjects give rise to concentration which is the foundation of vipassana:

• Ten Kasina [Kasina means a Meditation Object]
• Ten meditations on corpses (Asubha)
• Six Recollections (Anussati)
• Mindfulness of Death (Maranassati)
• Mindfulness of Body or Contemplation on the 32 Impure Parts of the Body  (Kayagatasati)
• Mindfulness of Breathing (Anapanasati)
• Recollection of Nirvana or Contemplation on the Virtue of Nirvana  (Anussati)
• Four Divine Abidings or Sublime States of Mind (Brahmavihara)
• Four Arupa Jhanas or the Absorptions of the Formelss Spheres
• Perception of the Loathsomeness of Food (Aharepatikulasanna)
• Analysis of the Four Elements (Catudhatu-vavatthana)