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Prīti (Sanskrit; Pali: pīti) is a mental factor (Pali:cetasika) associated with the concentrative absorption (Sanskrit: dhyana; Pali: jhana) of Buddhist meditation. Piti is a very specific joy associated with a state of deep tranquillity. It is often translated with the English words "joy" or "rapture" and is distinguished from the longer-lasting meditative "pleasure" or "happiness" (sukha) that arises along with pīti.

Absorption factor

Table: Rūpa jhāna
Cetasika
(mental factors)
First
jhāna
Second
jhāna
Third
jhāna
Fourth
jhāna
Kāma / Akusala dhamma(sensuality / unskillful qualities) secluded from;
withdrawn
does not occur does not occur does not occur
Pīti(rapture) seclusion-born;
pervades body
samādhi-born;
pervades body
fades away
(along with distress)
does not occur
Sukha(non-sensual pleasure) pervades
physical body
abandoned
(no pleasure nor pain)
Vitakka("applied thought") accompanies
jhāna
unification of awareness
free from vitakka and vicāra
does not occur does not occur
Vicāra("sustained thought")
Upekkhāsatipārisuddhi(pure, mindful equanimity) does not occur internal confidence equanimous;
mindful
purity of
equanimity and mindfulness
Sources: This box:

In Buddhist meditation, the development of concentrative absorption (Sanskrit: dhyāna; Pali: jhāna) is canonically described in terms of the following five factors:

  • applied thought (vitakka)
  • sustained thought (vicāra)
  • joy/rapture/happiness (pīti)
  • happiness/pleasure/bliss (sukha)
  • equanimity (upekkhā)

Both pīti and sukha are born of bodily seclusion and mental quietude. The 5 c. CE Visuddhimagga distinguishes between pīti and sukha in the following experiential manner:

And wherever the two are associated, happiness is the contentedness at getting a desirable object, and bliss is the actual experiencing of it when got. Where there is happiness there is bliss (pleasure) ; but where there is bliss there is not necessarily happiness . Happiness is included in the formations aggregate; bliss is included in the feeling aggregate. If a man exhausted in a desert saw or heard about a pond on the edge of a wood, he would have happiness; if he went into the wood's shade and used the water, he would have bliss....

Fivefold classification

As the meditator experiences tranquillity (samatha), one of five kinds of joy (piti) will arise. These are:

  • Weak rapture only causes piloerection.
  • Short rapture evocates some thunder "from time to time".
  • Going down rapture explodes inside the body, like waves.
  • Exalting rapture "makes the body jump to the sky".
  • Fulfilling rapture seems to be a huge flood of a mountain stream.

Note only the last two are considered specifically piti. The first four are just a preparation for the last one, which is the jhanic factor.

See also

  • Dhyāna/Jhāna (absorption)
  • Sukha (happiness/bliss, conascent with piti during first two jhanas)
  • Rapture (Christian use of the term "rapture")

Notes

  1. Bodhi, Bhikku (2005). In the Buddha's Words. Somerville: Wisdom Publications. pp. 296–8 (SN 28:1-9). ISBN 978-0-86171-491-9.
  2. "Suttantapiñake Aïguttaranikàyo § 5.1.3.8". MettaNet-Lanka (in Pali). Archived from the original on 2007-11-05. Retrieved 2007-06-06.
  3. Bhikku, Thanissaro (1997). "Samadhanga Sutta: The Factors of Concentration (AN 5.28)". Access to Insight. Retrieved 2007-06-06.
  4. See, for instance, Samādhaga Sutta (a/k/a, Pañcagikasamādhi Sutta, AN 5.28) (Thanissaro, 1997).
  5. Vsm. IV, 100 (Ñāamoli, 1999, p. 142). Similarly, see also the Abhidhamma's commentary, Atthasalini (Bodhi, 1980).
  6. Vsm. IV, 94-99 (Ñāamoli, 1999, pp. 141-2).

Sources

  • Ñāamoli, Bhikkhu (trans.) (1999). The Path of Purification: Visuddhimagga. Seattle, WA: BPS Pariyatti Editions. ISBN 1-928706-00-2.


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