abhibhāyatana (Skt.). The ‘eight masteries’, or eight fields of the mastery or control of perception. These are meditational exercises described in the Pāli Canon similar to those using coloured objects ( kasiṇa ) but in this case based on features or areas of one's own body as the focus of concentration in order to transcend the Desire Realm ( kāma-dhātu ). The eight masteries are: (1) perception of forms (colours and shapes) externally on one's body and limited forms beyond it; (2) perception of ...