Temperament and Right Meditation (Kammatthana)

Meditation is gaining popularity, as it has proved its impact on individual’s physical, mental, psychological, social, and cognitive nurturance. As a result, many kinds of meditations are suggested by the yoga gurus and professionals. In Theravada Buddhism too, meditation is the core of philosophy. But unlike other thoughts, it cannot be taken up just as per liking of an individual. It has to be taken up according to one’s carita. The meaning of carita in Pāli literature is behavior, the state of arising, good conduct or bad conduct. The carita is a predominant nature in one’s behavior pattern. It can be related to personality, or temperament means personal nature, the character of a person as revealed by his or her natural attitudes and conduct, that makes a person different from others and unique. There are many kinds of caritas, as mentioned by the Buddha, i.e., Raga, Dosa, Moha, Saddha, Buddhi, and Vitakka. Human being has always been inclined to achieve purity of carita. In order to relieve oneself from one’s impurities, one needs to select appropriate carita, as right type of carita for that personality will only be able to take one toward Nibbana.