Buddha Abhidhamma - Ultimate Science - BuddhaNet

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ànàpànassati the in-breathing and the out-breathing have
to be noted rhythmically. So ànàpànassati can control and
calm down the restless minds.
4 The faithful-natured persons should practise Buddhànussati,
dhammànussati, saïghànusssati, sãlànussati,
càgànussati and devatànussati. Saddhà (faith) is already
strong in these persons and it will be further strengthened
to great benefits by practising these anussatikammaññhànas.
5 The intelligent-natured persons should practise maranànussati,
upasamànusssati, àhàre-pañikåla-sa¤¤à and catudhàtu-vavatthàna.
The subjects of these kammaññhànas are
deep and subtle, and thus they can stimulate and
strengthen the wisdom of the intelligent-natured persons.
6 The kammaññhànas which are suitable to all types of
persons are pathavã-kasiõa, àpo-kasiõa, tejo-kasiõa, vàyokasiõa,
aloka-kasiõa, àkàsa-kasiõa and the four àruppas.
Three Stages of Bhàvanà
Bhàvanà (meditation) may be divided into three classes in accordance
with the degrees of concentration or mental culture they
can give rise to.
1 Parikamma-bhàvanà – the preparatory stage of meditation.
The kammaññhàna-objects such as kasiõas are called
parikamma-nimitta, meaning, preparatory immage. By
observing an earth circle, one may meditate: “Pathavã,
pathavã” repeatedly either by murmuring it slowly or
by just noting it in the mind. This early stage of
meditation, that can develop ‘parikamma-samàdhi’ is
called parikamma-bhàvanà. It paves the way for the
arising of higher-bhàvanàs later on.