《八勝處 The Eight Abode of Superiority》

有聽過八勝處嗎？

其實就是精通八種的禪定，佛陀在DN16中提過的

第一種，就是以身體的部份作為修色遍的對象。例如自己的皮膚那樣，專注它的肉色，然後在腦海中想像那個美醜混雜的肉色，但不擴展那個肉色的範圍，只局限於一個小範圍。不斷專注直至取得、精通這個方式的禪那。

第二種，就是以身體的部份作為修色遍的對象。例如自己的皮膚那樣，專注它的肉色，然後在腦海中想像那個美醜混雜的肉色，這次擴展那個肉色的範圍，擴展成為無邊際的肉色。不斷專注直至取得、精通這個方式的禪那。

第三種，就是不取身體的部份作為修色遍的對象，而是直接取外面的顏色作為培育禪定的對象。見到美醜混雜的色彩，例如看到紫色的花，就直接專注/在腦海中專注那個花朵影像的紫色，不擴大這個顏色的範圍，直至取得、精通這個方式的禪那。

第四種，就是不取身體的部份作為修色遍的對象，而是直接取外面的顏色作為培育禪定的對象。見到外面美醜混雜的色彩，例如看到紫色的花，就直接專注/在腦海中專注那個花朵影像的紫色，這次擴大這個顏色的範圍到無邊無際，直至取得、精通這個方式的禪那。

第五種，就是不取身體的部份作為修色遍的對象，而是直接取外面純青色的物件作為修禪定的對象。例如西瓜，然後可以選擇在腦海中擴大或不擴大那個青色，不斷專注直到證得禪那。

第六種，就是不取身體的部份作為修色遍的對象，而是直接取外面純黃色的物件作為修禪定的對象。例如乒乓球，然後可以選擇在腦海中擴大或不擴大那個黃色，不斷專注直到證得禪那。

第七種，就是不取身體的部份作為修色遍的對象，而是直接取外面純紅色的物件作為修禪定的對象。例如西瓜肉，然後可以選擇在腦海中擴大或不擴大那個紅色，不斷專注直到證得禪那。

第八種，就是不取身體的部份作為修色遍的對象，而是直接取外面純白色的物件作為修禪定的對象。例如鋼琴鍵，然後可以選擇在腦海中擴大或不擴大那個白色，不斷專注直到證得禪那。

這八種禪定的方式被稱為八勝處

Have you heard of the Eight Bases of Superiority (八勝處)?

They refer to mastery of eight kinds of meditative attainment, which the Buddha mentioned in DN 16.

The first kind uses a part of the body as the object for color-kasiṇa practice. For example, take one’s own skin, focus on its flesh color, then visualize that mixed beautiful-and-ugly flesh color in the mind—without expanding the range of that color, keeping it confined to a small area. Continue focusing until jhāna is attained and mastered through this method.

The second kind also uses a part of the body as the object for color-kasiṇa practice. For example, take one’s own skin, focus on its flesh color, then visualize that mixed beautiful-and-ugly flesh color in the mind—this time expanding the range of that flesh color until it becomes boundless. Continue focusing until jhāna is attained and mastered through this method.

The third kind does not take a part of the body as the object for color-kasiṇa. Instead, one directly takes an external color as the object for developing samadhi (undistractability of mind). Upon seeing mixed beautiful-and-ugly colors—for example a purple flower—one directly focuses on, or visualizes in the mind, the purple of that flower’s image, without expanding the range of this color, until jhāna is attained and mastered through this method.

The fourth kind likewise does not take a part of the body as the object. One directly takes an external color as the object. Upon seeing mixed beautiful-and-ugly external colors—for example a purple flower—one directly focuses on, or visualizes in the mind, the purple of that flower’s image, this time expanding the range of the color until it becomes boundless, until jhāna is attained and mastered through this method.

The fifth kind does not take a part of the body as the object. One directly takes an external object of pure cyan-blue/green/black as the object for developing jhāna. For example, a watermelon. One may then choose whether or not to expand that cyan-blue/green color in the mind, and continues focusing until jhāna is attained.

The sixth kind does not take a part of the body as the object. One directly takes an external object of pure yellow as the object. For example, a ping-pong ball. One may then choose whether or not to expand that yellow color in the mind, and continues focusing until jhāna is attained.

The seventh kind does not take a part of the body as the object. One directly takes an external object of pure red as the object. For example, the flesh of a watermelon. One may then choose whether or not to expand that red color in the mind, and continues focusing until jhāna is attained.

The eighth kind does not take a part of the body as the object. One directly takes an external object of pure white as the object. For example, piano keys. One may then choose whether or not to expand that white color in the mind, and continues focusing until jhāna is attained.

These eight methods of meditative attainment are called the Eight Bases of Superiority.