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==
#Earth device
#Water device
#Fire device
#Air or wind device
#Blue device
#Yellow device
#Red device
#White device
#Space device
#Consciousness device
#A corpse that is bloated
#A corpse that is livid (has patchy discoloration)
#A corpse that is festering (trickling with pus in broken places)
#A corpse that is cut up
#A corpse that is gnawed
#A corpse that is scattered
#A corpse that is hacked and scattered
#A corpse that is bleeding
#A corpse that is worm-infested
#A corpse that is a skeleton
#Contemplation of the Buddha
#Contemplation of the Dhamma
#Contemplation of the Sangha
#Contemplation of Virtue
#Contemplation of Charity
#Contemplation of the Devas
#Mindfulness of Death
#Mindfulness of the Physical Body
#Mindfulness of Breathing
#Contemplation of Calmness
#Loving-kindness
#Compassion
#Sympathy
#Equanimity
#Sphere of Infinity of Space
#Sphere of Infinite Consciousness
#Sphere of No-thingness
#Sphere of Neither Perception nor Non-Perception
#Contemplation of the loathsomeness of food
#Analysis of the four physical elements
The Visuddhimagga 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/
Category:Buddha's Lists