Bhavana

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This article is about the Sanskrit term. For the film actress, see Bhavana (actress).

Bhavana (Sanskrit and Pali) means "becoming" or "development". In Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism it is often used in a compound form such as citta-bhavana which means the cultivation or development of the heart or mind. This particular compound is often translated into English as 'meditation' because the development of the mind or heart requires reflection as well as application and effort. Meditation as a state of absorbed concentration on the reality of the present moment is properly called dhyana or samadhi.