ධ්යානය, n. B., meditation, profound contemplation, concentration of the thought and purpose in order to obtain Nirvāna, such an intentness of mind that it is supposed to exclude objects of sense so that they are unperceived or make no impression. It is divided into five stages: the first, ප්රථම ධ්යා නය, is one of need, doubt or investigation (විතර්කය); the second, වීතීය ධ්යානය, as the result of the first, is one of seeking (විචාරය); the third, තෘතීය ධ්යානය, as the result of the Previous page Next page Back to the Search Page | Back to the DDSA Page Charles Carter: A Sinhalese-English dictionary. Previous page -- 312 -- second, is one of finding or joy (ප්රීතිය); the fourth, චතුථි ධ්යානය, as the result of the third, is one of sound condition or satisfaction (සුඛය); the fifth, පංචම ධ්යානය, as the result of the fourth, is one of perfect mental quietude and repose (ඒකාග්රතාව). The following may illustrate the different stages. The first may be compared to thirst; the second, to the seeking of water; the third, to the joy of finding it; the fourth, to the benefit and satisfection derived from drinking it; the fifth, to the quiet repose and rest in the shade after the want has been satisfied.
