40 meditation subjects

The 40 meditation subjects are topics for contemplation and meditation, primarily for samatha, tranquility, one-pointed concentration. The subjects are for access to the jhanas, although insight can be attained as well.

List of the 40 meditation subjects

1. Earth device
2. Water device
3. Fire device
4. Air or wind device
5. Blue device
6. Yellow device
7. Red device
8. White device
9. Space device
10. Consciousness device
11. A corpse that is bloated
12. A corpse that is livid (has patchy discoloration)
13. A corpse that is festering (trickling with pus in broken places)
14. A corpse that is cut up
15. A corpse that is gnawed
16. A corpse that is scattered
17. A corpse that is hacked and scattered
18. A corpse that is bleeding
19. A corpse that is worm-infested
20. A corpse that is a skeleton
21. Contemplation of the Buddha
22. Contemplation of the Dhamma
23. Contemplation of the Sangha
24. Contemplation of Virtue
25. Contemplation of Charity
26. Contemplation of the Devas
27. Mindfulness of Death
28. Mindfulness of the Physical Body
29. Mindfulness of Breathing
30. Contemplation of Calmness
31. Loving-kindness
32. Compassion
33. Sympathy
34. Equanimity
35. Sphere of Infinity of Space
36. Sphere of Infinite Consciousness
37. Sphere of No-thingness
38. Sphere of Neither Perception nor Non-Perception
39. Contemplation of the loathsomeness of food
40. Analysis of the four physical elements

The Visudhimagga discusses the 40 subjects at length and provides instruction.

See also

• Four Foundations of Mindfulness

References

• The Complete Book of Buddha's Lists -- Explained. David N. Snyder, Ph.D., 2006.
• http://www.thedhamma.com/