<p>My favorite sutta on meditation is <a href="http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.121.than.html" rel="noreferrer">Cula-suññata Sutta</a> (The Lesser Discourse on Emptiness). Thanissaro Bhikkhu provides a good commentary on this in his article <a href="http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/thanissaro/integrityofemptiness.html" rel="noreferrer">The Integrity of Emptiness</a>, the section called "Emptiness as an Approach to Meditation".</p>

<p>The two other suttas everyone else mentions - Anapanasati and Satipatthana suttas - are very good too.</p>

<p>There are also nice tidbits in the Northern recording of the Anapanasati Sutta, called <a href="http://lapislazulitexts.com/tripitaka/T0125_LL_17-01_anapanasmrti" rel="noreferrer">Ānāpānasmṛti Sutra</a> from Ekottarika Āgama.</p>

<p>Also, if you are specifically into Jhana meditation, then <a href="http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an05/an05.028.than.html" rel="noreferrer">Samadhanga Sutta</a> provides the canonical definitions of the Four Jhanas.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-05T01:52:48.937Z
2016-01-05T04:00:56.483Z
2016-01-05T04:00:56.483Z
Andriy Volkov
<p>Two notable suttas in which Buddha provided meditation instructions are:</p>

<ol>
<li><a href="http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/soma/wayof.html" rel="nofollow">Satipatthana Sutta</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.118.than.html" rel="nofollow">Anapanasati Sutta</a></li>
</ol>

<p>Additionally, the <a href="http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/buddharakkhita/wheel365.html#ch1" rel="nofollow">Karaniya Metta Sutta</a> addresses the practice of mettā meditation.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-05T00:11:51.953Z
2016-01-05T03:54:19.363Z
2016-01-05T03:54:19.363Z
newbold
<p>Gelanna Sutta is the sutta through which Buddha provides instructions on how to meditate. Other forms of meditations are Anapanasati sutta,Satipatthana sutta, Bhikkhunuppasaya Sutta.</p>

<p>In Buddhism, the Tripitaka (in Pali) is earliest collection of Buddhist teachings and the only text recognized as canonical by Theravada Buddhists. Tripitaka means 'three baskets' from the way in which it was originally recorded: text was written on long, narrow leaves, which were sewn at edges and grouped into bunches and stored in baskets.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-05T04:37:10.440Z
The [Gelanna Sutta](http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn36/sn36.007.than.html) which you mentioned is recommended for people who are sick or dying. Another is the [Anathapindikovada Sutta](http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.143.than.html).
ChrisW
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2016-01-05T03:41:54.813Z
2016-01-05T04:34:44.980Z
2016-01-05T04:34:44.980Z
jyoti
<p>majjhima nikāya 20. Vitakkasaṇṭhānasutta --&gt; I use/belive this to be sutta about samma voyamma. After reading the suttas I am not convinced/sure about any explanation about what is samma sati or samma samdhi.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-01-16T10:19:06.870Z
samma sati or samma samdhi are explained in majjhima nikāya 117
Dhamma Dhatu
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-01-16T09:44:33.810Z
2024-01-16T09:44:33.810Z
Paulo Moreira
<p>To straighten view before meditation: <a href="http://www.themindingcentre.org/dharmafarer/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/11.14-Sammaditthi-S-m9-piya.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Samma,ditthi Sutta</a></p>

<ul>
<li>Anapana

<ul>
<li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anapanasati_Sutta" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Anapanasati Sutta</a></li>
</ul></li>
<li>Satipatthana

<ul>
<li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satipatthana_Sutta" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Satipatthana Sutta and Mahāsatipaṭṭhāna Sutta</a></li>
<li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kayagatasati_Sutta" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Kayagatasati Sutta</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.themindingcentre.org/dharmafarer/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/46.6-Sankhitta-Dhamma-S-a8.63-piya.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Saṅkhitta Dhamma Sutta</a></li>
</ul></li>
<li>Elements / properties

<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.themindingcentre.org/dharmafarer/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/4.17-Dhatu-Vibhanga-S-m140-piya.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Dhātu Vibhaṅga Sutta</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.themindingcentre.org/dharmafarer/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/6.8-Titthayatana-S-a03.61-piya.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Titth’ayatana Sutta</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.themindingcentre.org/dharmafarer/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/6.16-Maha-Hatthipadopama-S-m028-piya.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Maha Hatthi,padapama Sutta</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.themindingcentre.org/dharmafarer/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/29.1a-Bahudhatuka-S-m115-piya.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Bahu Dhātuka Sutta</a></li>
</ul></li>
<li>Reflective / perception based

<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.themindingcentre.org/dharmafarer/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/19.16-Girimananda-S-a10.60-piya.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Giri-m-ananda Sutta</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.themindingcentre.org/dharmafarer/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/17.13-Indriya-Bhavana-S-m152-piya.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Indriya Bhāvanā Sutta</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.themindingcentre.org/dharmafarer/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/3.10-Ambalatthika-Rahulovada-S-m061-piya.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Amba,latthika Rahul’ovada Sutta</a></li>
</ul></li>
<li>Metta, Karuna, Mudita, Upekka

<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.themindingcentre.org/dharmafarer/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/46.6-Sankhitta-Dhamma-S-a8.63-piya.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Saṅkhitta Dhamma Sutta</a></li>
</ul></li>
</ul>

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2016-01-05T02:43:46.623Z
2016-01-05T02:43:46.623Z
2018-08-14T22:06:13.773Z
Suminda Sirinath S. Dharmasena
<p>What are the actual suttas in which the Buddha described how to meditate? A list of all such suttas would be greatly appreciated. </p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<the-buddha><sutras><texts><meditation><practice>
What are the suttas in which the Buddha provides instruction on how to meditate?
# What are the suttas in which the Buddha provides instruction on how to meditate?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-01-04)

What are the actual suttas in which the Buddha described how to meditate? A list of all such suttas would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

**Tags:** the-buddha, sutras, texts, meditation, practice


---

## 5 answers

### Answer by username_7 on 2016-01-05. Score: 9 | Accepted answer

To straighten view before meditation: [Samma,ditthi Sutta](http://www.themindingcentre.org/dharmafarer/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/11.14-Sammaditthi-S-m9-piya.pdf)

* Anapana
  + [Anapanasati Sutta](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anapanasati_Sutta)
* Satipatthana
  + [Satipatthana Sutta and Mahāsatipaṭṭhāna Sutta](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satipatthana_Sutta)
  + [Kayagatasati Sutta](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kayagatasati_Sutta)
  + [Saṅkhitta Dhamma Sutta](http://www.themindingcentre.org/dharmafarer/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/46.6-Sankhitta-Dhamma-S-a8.63-piya.pdf)
* Elements / properties
  + [Dhātu Vibhaṅga Sutta](http://www.themindingcentre.org/dharmafarer/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/4.17-Dhatu-Vibhanga-S-m140-piya.pdf)
  + [Titth’ayatana Sutta](http://www.themindingcentre.org/dharmafarer/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/6.8-Titthayatana-S-a03.61-piya.pdf)
  + [Maha Hatthi,padapama Sutta](http://www.themindingcentre.org/dharmafarer/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/6.16-Maha-Hatthipadopama-S-m028-piya.pdf)
  + [Bahu Dhātuka Sutta](http://www.themindingcentre.org/dharmafarer/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/29.1a-Bahudhatuka-S-m115-piya.pdf)
* Reflective / perception based
  + [Giri-m-ananda Sutta](http://www.themindingcentre.org/dharmafarer/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/19.16-Girimananda-S-a10.60-piya.pdf)
  + [Indriya Bhāvanā Sutta](http://www.themindingcentre.org/dharmafarer/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/17.13-Indriya-Bhavana-S-m152-piya.pdf)
  + [Amba,latthika Rahul’ovada Sutta](http://www.themindingcentre.org/dharmafarer/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/3.10-Ambalatthika-Rahulovada-S-m061-piya.pdf)
* Metta, Karuna, Mudita, Upekka
  + [Saṅkhitta Dhamma Sutta](http://www.themindingcentre.org/dharmafarer/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/46.6-Sankhitta-Dhamma-S-a8.63-piya.pdf)


---

### Answer by username_1 on 2016-01-05. Score: 6

My favorite sutta on meditation is [Cula-suññata Sutta](http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.121.than.html) (The Lesser Discourse on Emptiness). Thanissaro Bhikkhu provides a good commentary on this in his article [The Integrity of Emptiness](http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/thanissaro/integrityofemptiness.html), the section called "Emptiness as an Approach to Meditation".

The two other suttas everyone else mentions - Anapanasati and Satipatthana suttas - are very good too.

There are also nice tidbits in the Northern recording of the Anapanasati Sutta, called [Ānāpānasmṛti Sutra](http://lapislazulitexts.com/tripitaka/T0125_LL_17-01_anapanasmrti) from Ekottarika Āgama.

Also, if you are specifically into Jhana meditation, then [Samadhanga Sutta](http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an05/an05.028.than.html) provides the canonical definitions of the Four Jhanas.


---

### Answer by username_2 on 2016-01-05. Score: 4

Two notable suttas in which Buddha provided meditation instructions are:

1. [Satipatthana Sutta](http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/soma/wayof.html)
2. [Anapanasati Sutta](http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.118.than.html)

Additionally, the [Karaniya Metta Sutta](http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/buddharakkhita/wheel365.html#ch1) addresses the practice of mettā meditation.


---

### Answer by username_3 on 2016-01-05. Score: 3

Gelanna Sutta is the sutta through which Buddha provides instructions on how to meditate. Other forms of meditations are Anapanasati sutta,Satipatthana sutta, Bhikkhunuppasaya Sutta.

In Buddhism, the Tripitaka (in Pali) is earliest collection of Buddhist teachings and the only text recognized as canonical by Theravada Buddhists. Tripitaka means 'three baskets' from the way in which it was originally recorded: text was written on long, narrow leaves, which were sewn at edges and grouped into bunches and stored in baskets.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: The [Gelanna Sutta](http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn36/sn36.007.than.html) which you mentioned is recommended for people who are sick or dying. Another is the [Anathapindikovada Sutta](http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.143.than.html).  

---

### Answer by username_5 on 2024-01-16. Score: 0

majjhima nikāya 20. Vitakkasaṇṭhānasutta --> I use/belive this to be sutta about samma voyamma. After reading the suttas I am not convinced/sure about any explanation about what is samma sati or samma samdhi.

> **Comments:**
> **username_6**: samma sati or samma samdhi are explained in majjhima nikāya 117  

---

