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samatha meditation: How to Practice Shamatha Meditation Gen Lamrimpa, 2011-10-16 In 1988, Gen Lamrimpa, a Tibetan monk, led a one-year retreat in the Pacific Northwest, during which a group of Western meditators devoted themselves to the practice of meditative quiescence (shamatha). This book is a record of the oral teachings he gave to this group at the outset of the retreat. The teachings are brought to life by Gen Lamrimpa's warmth, humor, and extensive personal experience as a contemplative recluse. An invaluable practical guide for those seeking to develop greater attentional stability and clarity, this work will be of considerable interest to meditators, psychologists, and all others who are concerned with the potentials of the human mind. |
samatha meditation: Practicing the Jhanas Stephen Snyder, Tina Rasmussen, 2009-12-01 Two experienced American meditators explain the stages and techniques of concentration meditation, as taught by the Buddhist master Pa Auk Sayadaw This is a clear and in-depth presentation of the traditional Theravadin concentration meditation known as jhāna practice, from two authors who have practiced the jhānas in retreat under the guidance of one of the great living meditation masters, Pa Auk Sayadaw. The authors describe the techniques and their results, based on their own experience. |
samatha meditation: Śamatha Meditation Gen Lamrimpa, 1992 |
samatha meditation: The Mind Illuminated John Yates, Matthew Immergut, Jeremy Graves, 2017-01-03 The Mind Illuminated is the first how-to meditation guide from a neuroscientist who is also an acclaimed meditation master. This innovative book offers a 10-stage program that is both deeply grounded in ancient spiritual teachings about mindfulness and holistic health, and also draws from the latest brain science to provide a roadmap for anyone interested in achieving the benefits of mindfulness. Dr. John Yates offers a new and fascinating model of how the mind works, including steps to overcome mind wandering and dullness, extending your attention span while meditating, and subduing subtle distractions. This groundbreaking manual provides illustrations and charts to help you work through each stage of the process, offering tools that work across all types of meditation practices. |
samatha meditation: Wisdom Wide and Deep Shaila Catherine, 2011-11-15 A valuable work as both a practice guide and a reference manual.---Guy Armstrong, insight meditation teacher --Book Jacket. |
samatha meditation: Meditation Kamalashila (Dharmachari.), Kamalashila, 1996 a truly practical guide to read, enjoy and use.--Yoga and Health Covers all you need to know to establish a meditation practice, with helpful advice and greater detail for those wishing to deepen their experience. A very valuable resource. |
samatha meditation: Love and Rage Lama Rod Owens, 2020-06-16 A LOS ANGELES TIMES BESTSELLER In the face of systemic racism and state-sanctioned violence, how can we metabolize our anger into a force for liberation? White supremacy in the United States has long necessitated that Black rage be suppressed, repressed, or denied, often as a means of survival, a literal matter of life and death. In Love and Rage, Lama Rod Owens, coauthor of Radical Dharma, shows how this unmetabolized anger--and the grief, hurt, and transhistorical trauma beneath it--needs to be explored, respected, and fully embodied to heal from heartbreak and walk the path of liberation. This is not a book about bypassing anger to focus on happiness, or a road map for using spirituality to transform the nature of rage into something else. Instead, it is one that offers a potent vision of anger that acknowledges and honors its power as a vehicle for radical social change and enduring spiritual transformation. Love and Rage weaves the inimitable wisdom and lived experience of Lama Rod Owens with Buddhist philosophy, practical meditation exercises, mindfulness, tantra, pranayama, ancestor practices, energy work, and classical yoga. The result is a book that serves as both a balm and a blueprint for those seeking justice who can feel overwhelmed with anger--and yet who refuse to relent. It is a necessary text for these times. |
samatha meditation: Samatha, Jhana, and Vipassana Hyun-Soo Jeon, 2018-08-21 A clear and comprehensive handbook to a revered path of meditation. This step-by-step meditator’s guide walks the reader through practices that can hold the key to unlocking new levels of concentration and insight. A student of the famed Pa-Auk Monastery and a practicing psychiatrist, Jeon Hyun-soo, MD, PhD, uses these two paths to guide the reader to a new understanding of themselves and the world around them. Drawing both from Jeon’s own experience with Pa-Auk Sayadaw and from the words of the Buddha, this is an authentic and practical guide to samatha, materiality, mentality, dependent origination, and vipassana. |
samatha meditation: Calming the Mind Gen Lamrimpa, 1992-01-01 To stabilize the mind in one-pointed concentration is the basis of all forms of meditation. Gen Lamrimpa was a meditation master who lived in a meditation hut in Dharamsala and who had been called to teach by the Dalai Lama. He leads the meditator step-by-step through the stages of meditation and past the many obstacles that arise along the way. He discusses the qualities of mind that represent each of nine levels of attainment and the six mental powers. This book was previously titled Shamatha Meditation. |
samatha meditation: Profound Meditation Practices in Tibetan Buddhism Prof. (Dr.) Jai Paul Dudeja, 2023-03-14 There have been reports of the amazing capacity of some of the Tibetan Buddhist Monks practicing Tummo meditation in Tibetan Buddhism at temperatures of around -250 C in the Himalayas. A team of scientists from USA and Israel went to these spots by carrying some dry towels with them. When these towels were made wet in the snow and spread on the naked bodies of the semi-nude meditating monks practicing Tummo meditation, to the surprise of these scientists, these towels were getting dried up in no time. Subsequently the analysts came to the conclusion that this meditation generated a lot of heat (inner fire) in the bodies of these meditators who were using it for the spiritual purpose. This incident triggered me to go deep in not only about Tummo meditation but many other profound meditation practices in Tibetan Buddhism in this book. |
samatha meditation: Buddho Venerable Acariya Thoon Khippapanyo, 2022-12 I have written this book, Buddho, so that readers will come to understand the correct meaning and use of the word “Buddho.” There are those who wrongly believe that by just reciting the word “Buddho” they are able to rid defilements and cravings (kilesa) from their minds, then expecting wisdom to arise which will enable them to realize how thing really are (the Truth). However, just reciting repetitiously the parikamma word “Buddho” does not make one reach purity of mind (citta) and gain Noble Fruitions, and Nibbana. The use of the word “Buddho” has two distinct applications in these Dhamma practices: Samatha (tranquility meditation) Vipassana (gaining wisdom) These two types of Dhamma practice, samatha and vipassana, have different purposes and ways to practice. You will know and understand those differences by reading this book. Please read with rational discernment and come to the correct understanding. Once you understand the correct meaning and use of “Buddho,” Dhamma practice will not be confusing. In your present life, if you have accumulated sufficient merit and virtue (parami), you shall reach one of the four stages of Noble Fruitions. If not, you will reincarnate in the era of the next Lord Buddha, Buddha Metteyya.” You will listen to his Dhamma, develop wisdom and see the Truth. You will reach the ultimate state of Nibbana, becoming an arahant. In the present life, consider yourself as a lucky person to become a Buddhist disciple. Do not let this good opportunity go by. Put forth great effort to practice Dhamma and strive to accumulate merit and virtue. If you miss this good opportunity in the present life, it is uncertain that you will reincarnate to become a Buddhist again as in the present life. In this life, you have responsibilities and work to do, so just keep doing them as your duty. As your special task, keep practicing Dhamma and accumulate virtue and merit, for these will go with you when you pass away from this world. It will be the benefit of life and your real treasure. Finally, my wish for you is that you gain discernment and wisdom to see the real view of the Truth in this present life. Phra Acariya Thoon Khippapanno |
samatha meditation: Radical Dharma Rev. angel Kyodo williams, Lama Rod Owens, Jasmine Syedullah, Ph.D., 2016-06-14 Igniting a long-overdue dialogue about how the legacy of racial injustice and white supremacy plays out in society at large and Buddhist communities in particular, this urgent call to action outlines a new dharma that takes into account the ways that racism and privilege prevent our collective awakening. The authors traveled around the country to spark an open conversation that brings together the Black prophetic tradition and the wisdom of the Dharma. Bridging the world of spirit and activism, they urge a compassionate response to the systemic, state-sanctioned violence and oppression that has persisted against black people since the slave era. With national attention focused on the recent killings of unarmed black citizens and the response of the Black-centered liberation groups such as Black Lives Matter, Radical Dharma demonstrates how social transformation and personal, spiritual liberation must be articulated and inextricably linked. Rev. angel Kyodo williams, Lama Rod Owens, and Jasmine Syedullah represent a new voice in American Buddhism. Offering their own histories and experiences as illustrations of the types of challenges facing dharma practitioners and teachers who are different from those of the past five decades, they ask how teachings that transcend color, class, and caste are hindered by discrimination and the dynamics of power, shame, and ignorance. Their illuminating argument goes beyond a demand for the equality and inclusion of diverse populations to advancing a new dharma that deconstructs rather than amplifies systems of suffering and prepares us to weigh the shortcomings not only of our own minds but also of our communities. They forge a path toward reconciliation and self-liberation that rests on radical honesty, a common ground where we can drop our need for perfection and propriety and speak as souls. In a society where profit rules, people's value is determined by the color of their skin, and many voices—including queer voices—are silenced, Radical Dharma recasts the concepts of engaged spirituality, social transformation, inclusiveness, and healing. |
samatha meditation: 修習止觀坐禪法要 Zhiyi, 2009 The Essentials of Buddhist Meditation is a classic Buddhist meditation instruction manual deeply rooted in the Indian Buddhist calming-and-insight meditation tradition. Within its tradition, it is the universally-acknowledged standard beginning-to-intermediate meditation manual, one which offers perhaps the most reliable, comprehensive, and practically-useful Buddhist meditation instruction currently available in English. The author of The Essentials is the sixth-century monk and meditation master, Shramana Zhiyi (Chih-i), one of the most illustrious figures in the history of Chinese Buddhism. Master Zhiyi is famous for his role in the founding of the Tiantai teachings lineage and for his authorship of a quartet of meditation manuals of which this is one. The translator of this volume is the American monk, Bhikshu Dharmamitra, a translator of numerous classic works from the Indian and Chinese Buddhist traditions. |
samatha meditation: Mindfulness, Bliss, and Beyond Brahm, 2006-08-11 Better than sex! That's how Ajahn Brahm describes meditation, and his enthusiasm is contagious. A self-described meditation junkie, Brahm, the author of the popular Who Ordered This Truckload of Dung?, shares his recipe for bliss in this practical, energizing new book. The Meditator's Handbook is a complete, stem-to-stern guide to the subject, with precise step-by-step instructions for traversing the stages of practice and overcoming obstacles. Drawing on his working-class roots, Brahm explains difficult concepts clearly and easily, so that beginners understand them, while those who already meditate gain new insight. Full of surprises, delightfully goofy humor, and entertaining stories that inspire, instruct, and illuminate, The Meditator's Handbook encourages novices and gives a shot in the arm to more experienced practitioners. |
samatha meditation: Tibetan Buddhism from the Ground Up B. Alan Wallace, Steven Wilhelm, 2016-04-26 As long as our minds are dominated by the conditions of the external world, we are bound to remain in a state of dissatisfaction, always vulnerable to grief and fear. How then can we develop an inner sense of well-being and redefine our relationship to a world that seems unavoidably painful and unkind? Many have found a practical answer to that question in the teachings of Tibetan Buddhism. Here at last is an organized overview of these teachings, beginning with the basic themes of the sutras--the general discourses of the Buddha--and continuing through the esoteric concepts and advanced practices of Tantra. Unlike other introductions to Tibetan Buddhism, this accessible, enjoyable work doesn't stop with theory and history, but relates timeless spiritual principles to the pressing issues of modern life, both in terms of our daily experience and our uniquely Western world view. This fascinating, highly readable book asks neither unquestioning faith nor blind obedience to abstract concepts or religious beliefs. Rather, it challenges us to question and investigate life's issues for ourselves in the light of an ancient and effective approach to the sufferings and joys of the human condition. |
samatha meditation: Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha Daniel Ingram, 2020-01-20 The very idea that the teachings can be mastered will arouse controversy within Buddhist circles. Even so, Ingram insists that enlightenment is an attainable goal, once our fanciful notions of it are stripped away, and we have learned to use meditation as a method for examining reality rather than an opportunity to wallow in self-absorbed mind-noise. Ingram sets out concisely the difference between concentration-based and insight (vipassana) meditation; he provides example practices; and most importantly he presents detailed maps of the states of mind we are likely to encounter, and the stages we must negotiate as we move through clearly-defined cycles of insight. Its easy to feel overawed, at first, by Ingram's assurance and ease in the higher levels of consciousness, but consistently he writes as a down-to-earth and compassionate guide, and to the practitioner willing to commit themselves this is a glittering gift of a book.In this new edition of the bestselling book, the author rearranges, revises and expands upon the original material, as well as adding new sections that bring further clarity to his ideas. |
samatha meditation: Meditations of the Pali Tradition L. S. Cousins, 2022-09-27 A groundbreaking and detailed presentation of the rich system of meditation traditions that have come to us through the Pali tradition of Buddhism. Meditations of the Pali Tradition, from consummate scholar of Pali Buddhism L. S. Cousins, explores the history of meditation practice in early or Pali Buddhism, which was established in various parts of South and Central Asia from the time of the Buddha and developed until at least the fourteenth century CE. Ranging in discussion of jhana (absorption) meditation in ancient India to the Buddhist practice centers of the Silk Road to the vipassana (insight) practices of our modern world, this rigorous and insightful work of scholarship sheds new light on our understanding of the practices that are today associated with the Theravada school of Buddhism and the insight meditation movement. Cousins demonstrates that there is much more to Buddhist meditation than mindfulness alone—concentration and joy, for example, are equally important. |
samatha meditation: Samādhi Stuart Ray Sarbacker, 2012-02-01 A historical and comparative study grounded in close readings of important works, this book explores the dynamics of the theory and practice of yoga in Hindu and Buddhist contexts. Author Stuart Ray Sarbacker explores the fascinating, contrasting perceptions that meditation leads to the attainment of divine, or numinous, power, and to complete escape from worldly existence, or cessation. Sarbacker demonstrates that these two dimensions of spiritual experience have affected the doctrine and cultural significance of yoga from its origins to its contemporary practice. He also integrates sociological and psychological perspectives on religious experience into a larger phenomenological model to address the multifaceted nature of religious experience. Speaking to a broad range of methodological and contextual issues, Samadhi provides numerous insights into the theory and practice of yoga that are relevant to both scholars of religious studies and practitioners of contemporary yoga and meditation traditions. |
samatha meditation: Focused and Fearless Shaila Catherine, 2010-07-16 Now ordinary meditators (and non-meditators) can understand how to attain non-ordinary states with relative ease. Blended with contemporary examples, pragmatic exercises, and ''how to'' instructions that anyone can try, Focused and Fearless provides a wealth of tools to cultivate non-distracted attention in daily life and on retreat. Shaila Catherine has a friendly, wise approach to the meditative states (jhanas) that lead to liberating insight. Focused and Fearless is about much more than merely meditation or concentration. It offers a complete path towards bliss, fearlessness, and true awakening. |
samatha meditation: The Authority of Experience John Pickering, 2013-12-02 This collection of writings presents contemporary views on the integration of Buddhism in the West. Over the past few decades Buddhism has deepened its presence in the West and as a result teachings and practices are becoming integrated with those of Western psychology in a more productive way. The decline of mechanism and positivism offers new opportunities to bring together Western Buddhist views of the mind and its relationship to its surroundings. Written by psychologists and scholars, the essays discuss many of the difficult questions raised by Buddhism’s increased presence. In particular the issue of the balance between authenticity and accessibility is examined. Buddhist traditions are often perceived as inaccessible and too firmly fixed to a cultural framework with some people, especially women, left feeling alienated and undervalued. However, by responding to this by attempting to synthesise Buddhism with the values of contemporary culture can lead to doubts about authenticity and dilution. Examining these issues and many more, the contributors seek to bring Buddhism into a realistic and informed relationship with contemporary Western thought. |
samatha meditation: How to Meditate Pema Chödrön, 2013-05-01 “When something is bothering you—a person is bugging you, a situation is irritating you, or physical pain is troubling you—you must work with your mind, and that is done through meditation. Working with our mind is the only means through which we’ll actually begin to feel happy and contented with the world that we live in.” —Pema Chödrön Pema Chödrön is treasured around the world for her unique ability to transmit teachings and practices that bring peace, understanding, and compassion into our lives. With How to Meditate, the American-born Tibetan Buddhist nun presents her first book exploring in depth what she considers the essentials for a lifelong practice. More and more people are beginning to recognize a profound inner longing for authenticity, connection, and aliveness. Meditation, Pema explains, gives us a golden key to address this yearning. This step-by-step guide shows readers how to honestly meet and openly relate with the mind, embrace the fullness of our experience, and live in a wholehearted way as we discover: The basics of meditation, from getting settled and the six points of posture to working with your breath and cultivating an attitude of unconditional friendlinessThe Seven Delights—how moments of difficulty can become doorways to awakening and loveShamatha (or calm abiding), the art of stabilizing the mind to remain present with whatever arisesThoughts and emotions as “sheer delight”—instead of obstacles—in meditation “I think ultimately why we practice is so that we can become completely loving people, and this is what the world needs,” writes Pema Chödrön. How to Meditate is an essential book from this wise teacher to assist each one of us in this virtuous goal. |
samatha meditation: Buddhist Meditation Kamalashila, 2013-03-28 This book is a comprehensive and practical guide to Buddhist meditation, providing a complete introduction for beginners, as well as detailed advice for experienced meditators seeking to deepen their practice. Kamalashila explores the primary aims of Buddhist meditation: enhanced awareness, true happiness, and liberating insight into the nature of reality. This third edition includes new sections on the importance of the imagination, on Just Sitting, and on reflection on the Buddha. |
samatha meditation: Samatha Vipassana Meditation in Accordance with the Four Foundations of Mindfulness to Reach Lord Buddha's Dhammakayas and Nirvana Phra Thepyanmongkol, 2012 The explanation Dhammakaya meditation practice based on the Four Foudations of Mindfulness (satipatthana) to reach Lord Buddha's Dhammakayas and Nirvana. |
samatha meditation: Just Practice J. Thomas, 2013-10-29 Just Practice is an introduction to meditation and Buddhism. This book gives practical instruction for posture, breath and dealing with the thinking mind. |
samatha meditation: Gelug Mahamudra Zasep Tulku Rinpoche, 2019-02-15 Mahamudra is the Buddhist meditation practice in which the mind investigates the mind itself. The Gelug tradition of Tibetan Buddhism has a rich tradition of Mahamudra meditation in both the Samatha and Vipassana aspects, as well as in its Tantric aspects. In this book by Tibetan Buddhist master Zasep Tulku Rinpoche, each aspect is explored fully, with the preminary practices spelt out in detail, and with a full exploration of Gelug lineage masters' advice. |
samatha meditation: A STUDY GUIDE FOR SAMATHA-VIPASSANA MEDITATION BASED ON THE FIVE MEDITATION TECHNIQUES Phra Thepyanmongkold, The National Coordination Center of Provincial Meditation Institutes of Thailand was established with the commitment of Directors from 338 Meditation Centers (out of over 400) invited by the National Buddhism Organization to a conference at Wat Yannawa, Bangkok, April 23-25, B.E. 2551 (2008). There were fi ve objectives. Three were established at the conference and the last two were added later. 1. To support the Sangha Body’s Provincial Meditation Centers to administer Buddhist Education effectively, 2. To cooperate with Provincial Meditation Centers to teach meditation at the same high standard for all people at all levels, 3. To assist Provincial Meditation Centers with academic scholarship. 4. To cooperate with the Chiefs of the Sangha Regions and Directors of the Provincial Meditation Centers to raise academic training techniques to the same high standard. 5. To support the Sangha in stabilizing, protecting and developing Buddhism under the rules of the Discipline, the Law and the Sangha Rules. The committee members agreed to publish A Study Guide for Samatha-Vipassanā Meditation based on the Five Meditation Techniques, as a book. Those fi ve techniques are the Triple Gem Meditation (buddho), Mindfulness of Breathing (ānāpānasati), Rising-Falling (infl ating-contracting), Mind (nāma) and Body (rūpa), and Dhammakaya Meditation (sammā arahang). The purposes for this publication were for disseminating the Right Dhamma Practice to the directors and meditation masters of Meditation Centers across Thailand and Buddhists worldwide who study and practice the Right Practice of Lord Buddha, and, most importantly, for all meditators independently practicing any one of these based on one’s own temperament. The book has been translated by Phra Maha Natpakanan Gunanggaro, and edited by Phra Maha Wannapong Wannavanso, David Dale Holmes, Eunice E. Cerezo, Mr. Sakrapan Eamegdool, Mr. Watcharapol Daengsubha, and Ms. Jessica Dawn Ogden. Please address any questions or comments to www.dhammacenter.org. I would like to thank everyone for their strenuous efforts and to congratulate them on this successful contribution to the promulgation of the Dhamma. May these meritorious actions lead all to have prosperity of life and to achieve the Paths, Fruits and Nibbana. May Lord Buddha bless you all, as well as your meritorious work. |
samatha meditation: Beyond Mindfulness in Plain English Gunaratana, 2009-09-08 Gunaratana offers basic instruction on the meaning of insight meditation through concepts that can be applied to any tradition. His focus here is on the Jhanas, those meditative states of profound stillness in which the mind becomes fully immersed in the chosen object of attention. |
samatha meditation: Sacred Tensions Raymond L. M. Lee, Susan Ellen Ackerman, 1997 This text examines the development and practice of Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism and Christianity in Malaysia. Its analyses provide an insight into how established and charismatic religions fit into the framework of modernization and secularization throughout the world. |
samatha meditation: The Workaholic's Detox Dr. Kara Larson, 2023-12-25 A must-read for anyone seeking a more fulfilling, efficient lifestyle, The Workaholic's Detox is a transformative guide for busy professionals seeking balance with their work obligations. Offering a unique blend of biomedical engineering, project management, and holistic wellness, this book reveals the secrets to balancing productivity with personal wellbeing and intimate relationships. The book explores prioritizing, setting boundaries, effective communication, habit-building, and much more. With insights into mindset's role in personal development, the book emphasizes action over mere knowledge, aiming to shift readers from work-centric habits to balanced living with practical steps for transformation. In this book, you will learn: Understanding Workaholism: Insights into the psychological and emotional aspects of workaholism and its impact on personal and professional life. Setting Boundaries: Strategies for establishing healthy work-life boundaries to improve overall wellbeing and relationships. Effective Communication: Techniques for communicating needs and expectations in the workplace to reduce stress and over-commitment. Building Healthy Habits: Guidance on developing habits that promote a balanced lifestyle, focusing on personal health and happiness. The 60-Day Challenge: A structured program designed to help transition from a work-centered life to one that prioritizes balance and efficiency. |
samatha meditation: Change Your Mind Paramananda, 2012-04-30 To take up meditation is to introduce a powerful force for change into our lives. If we change our mind the world changes too. Whatever our religious belief, meditation can be the beginning of life's greatest adventure. Using the simple traditional practices introduced in Change Your Mind you can learn how to exchange stress and anxiety for calm and clarity of mind, and transform anger and fear into kindness and self confidence. |
samatha meditation: Mindfulness Meditation and The Art of Reiki Steve Robert Gooch, 2022-07-29 Beyond the concept of energy healing, the system of Reiki was engineered as a powerful spiritual development practice built on the bedrock of mindfulness meditation. Unpacking the esoteric Buddhist heart of the practice, this book will guide you to a more fulfilling, healthy and spiritually dynamic life by showing you how to approach the system from a mindfulness perspective. New information and insights into the methods, mechanics and philosophy of Reiki make this an essential read for anyone interested in the system’s original purpose. As Reiki comes under increasing scrutiny over its health-supportive characteristics, now is the time to shine a light on its symbiotic relationship with mindfulness practice in helping to alleviate the suffering of the human condition. |
samatha meditation: Mindfulness with Breathing Ngư̄am, 1997 Here is a clear explanation of the meditation technique of anapanasati, or mindfulness with in-breaths & out-breaths. If you have yet to sit down & watch your breath, this book will point out why you should & how to do it. |
samatha meditation: Shambhala Chogyam Trungpa, 2019-06-04 The classic guide to enlightened living that first presented the Buddhist path of the warrior to Western readers—with a new foreword and cover presentation. This timeless classic presents a vision of basic human wisdom that synchronizes the mind and body—what Chögyam Trungpa called the sacred path of the warrior. This discipline embodies characteristics that many cultures, regions, and spiritual traditions throughout time have found valuable. The sacred warrior conquers the world not through violence or aggression but through gentleness, courage, and self-knowledge, discovering the basic goodness of human life and radiating that goodness out into the world for the peace and sanity of others. That’s what the Shambhala teachings are all about, and this is the book that has been presenting them to a wide and appreciative audience for more than thirty years. This book is part of the Shambhala Pocket Library series. The Shambhala Pocket Library is a collection of short, portable teachings from notable figures across religious traditions and classic texts. The covers in this series are rendered by Colorado artist Robert Spellman. The books in this collection distill the wisdom and heart of the work Shambhala Publications has published over 50 years into a compact format that is collectible, reader-friendly, and applicable to everyday life. |
samatha meditation: The Practice of Tranquillity and Insight Khenchen Thrangu, 1998-01-01 The two types of meditation that form the core of Buddhist spiritual practice are: tranquillity (samatha) meditation aims at stilling the mind, while insight (vipasyana) meditation produces clear vision or insight into the nature of all phenomena. With masterful scholarship, Rinpoche explains this unified system of meditation—what to do, what to avoid, and the stages of deepening meditation—so the practitioner can gauge progress. His teaching is a commentary on the eighth chapter of the Treasury of Knowledge by Jamgon Kongtrul. |
samatha meditation: Clarifying the Natural State Dakpo Tashi Namgyal, 2004 A Buddhist Classic A practical manual for both teacher and student alike, Clarifying the Natural State covers the path from mindfulness to complete enlightenment, simply and methodically. Presenting the profound and ultimate instructions of Mahamudra, it embodies the realization of India and Tibet's greatest masters. The words of Dakpo Tashi Namgyal are unique. Adorned with plenty of pithy advice out of his personal experience, practitioners are greatly benefited by his instructions on how to remove hindrances and progress further. His methods for practicing Mahamudra are preeminent. This book is indispensable as it focuses exclusively on practice. -Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche Elevate your experience and remain wide open like the sky. Expand your mindfulness and remain pervasive like the earth. Steady your attention and remain unshakable like a mountain. Brighten your awareness and remain shining like a flame. Clear your thought free wakefulness and remain lucid like a crystal. - Dakpo Tashi Namgyal 16th Century |
samatha meditation: The Attention Revolution B. Alan Wallace, 2010-10-08 Shamatha meditation is a method for achieving previously inconceivable levels of concentration. Author B. Alan Wallace, an active participant in the much-publicized dialogues between Buddhists and scholars, has more than 20 years' practice in the discipline, some of it under the guidance of the Dalai Lama. This book is a definitive presentation of his knowledge of shamatha. It is aimed at the contemporary seeker who is distracted and defocused by the dizzying pace of modern life, as well as those suffering from depression and other mental maladies. Beginning by addressing the inherent problems. |
samatha meditation: Mindfulness in Positive Psychology Itai Ivtzan, Tim Lomas, 2016-03-17 Mindfulness in Positive Psychology brings together the latest thinking in these two important disciplines. Positive psychology, the science of wellbeing and strengths, is the fastest growing branch of psychology, offering an optimal home for the research and application of mindfulness. As we contemplate mindfulness in the context of positive psychology, meaningful insights are being revealed in relation to our mental and physical health. The book features chapters from leading figures from mindfulness and positive psychology, offering an exciting combination of topics. Mindfulness is explored in relation to flow, meaning, parenthood, performance, sports, obesity, depression, pregnancy, spirituality, happiness, mortality, and many other ground-breaking topics. This is an invitation to rethink about mindfulness in ways that truly expands our understanding of wellbeing. Mindfulness in Positive Psychology will appeal to a readership of students and practitioners, as well as those interested in mindfulness, positive psychology, or other relevant areas such as education, healthcare, clinical psychology, counselling psychology, occupational psychology, and coaching. The book explores cutting edge theories, research, and practical exercises, which will be relevant to all people interested in this area, and particularly those who wish to enhance their wellbeing via mindfulness. |
samatha meditation: Awakening Patrick S. Bresnan, 2021-12-27 Awakening: An Introduction to the History of Eastern Thought provides the reader with a thorough and valuable overview of the historical development of the major Eastern religious and philosophical traditions, primarily in India, China, and Japan. The book is written in an engaging style that contains a variety of anecdotes, analogies, definitions, and supporting quotes from primary and secondary sources. Awakening helps the reader to recognize the interrelationships that exist among the various traditions, to appreciate the relevance of these traditions to the concerns of modern times, and to understand the major issues of interpretation regarding these traditions. The primary focus of Awakening is Hinduism and Buddhism, and they serve as the broad umbrellas that include a number of specific schools, each of which is treated individually. Other schools–such as Confucianism, Daoism, and Shinto–are included at the appropriate place. Awakening is for all students and interested readers, whether new to the study of Eastern thought or not. New to the Seventh Edition: - A new Introduction - A clearer definition and explanation of Yoga (throughout Part 1) - A rewrite of the Aryan Migration section in Chapter 1, bringing it in line with current research - An added sub-chapter to Chapter 6, dealing with Kundalini Yoga - Further clarification of the meaning of Anatman in Chapter 10 - Emphasis on the contribution of Daoism to Chan Buddhism - Clearer presentation of the Life of Buddha (Legend vs. Reality) - Updated Study Questions - Two new videos added to the companion website Key Features: - An historical overview that attempts to show the development of Eastern philosophies, both within the individual traditions as well as within a broad but loosely unified system of thought - Abundantly uses stories in chapter overviews to engage student readers and to better explain Eastern thought - No background in Asian studies, philosophy, or religious studies is presumed, allowing any student to greatly benefit from reading this book - A functional, visually attractive web site www.patrickbresnan.com with author-produced videos on the content of the book, scores of pictures, and a comprehensive section on meditation |
samatha meditation: Buddhism: Practical Meditations for Balance & Harmony to Become Stress & Anxiety (A Basic Introduction to the Foundations of Buddhism) Kelly Ferraro, 2021-12-16 Many people hear the word buddhism and they think it is a religion. However, a person of any religion can bring buddhist principles into their life without giving up their religious beliefs. Buddhism is a simple and practical philosophy, practiced by more than 300 million people worldwide, that can make your life better and help you find inner peace and happiness. Through this book, you will know: • Some of the earliest recorded sayings of the buddha on the practice of freedom • Passages from later indian scriptures on the perfection of wisdom • Verses from tibetan masters on the enlightened mind • Songs in praise of meditation by zen teachers • New selections on the role of women in early buddhism An ancient and deeply revered practice, buddhism is even more popular now than it has been in decades. The secret behind its steady rise is due in part to the plethora of benefits buddhism reaps upon those who practice it and apply its teachings to their lives. Through mindfulness and meditation, buddhism injects peace and clarity into the minds and lives of those who dedicate themselves to it. |
samatha meditation: Effortless Mindfulness Lisa Dale Miller, 2014-03-21 Effortless Mindfulness promotes genuine mental health through the direct experience of awakened presence—an effortlessly embodied, fearless understanding of and interaction with the way things truly are. The book offers a uniquely modern Buddhist psychological understanding of mental health disorders through a scholarly, clinically relevant presentation of Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhist teachings and practices. Written specifically for Western psychotherapeutic professionals, the book brings together traditional Buddhist theory and contemporary psychoneurobiosocial research to describe the conditioned and unconditioned mind, and its in-depth exploration of Buddhist psychology includes complete instructions for psychotherapists in authentic, yet clinically appropriate Buddhist mindfulness/heartfulness practices and Buddhist-psychological inquiry skills. The book also features interviews with an esteemed collection of Buddhist teachers, scholars, meditation researchers and Buddhist-inspired clinicians. |
Buddhist meditation in the Samatha tradition
Samatha meditation is a gentle but effective way of training the mind to develop inner strength and freedom from restlessness, leading on to clarity and understanding. This path from calm …
Samatha meditation
Samatha means calm. Samatha meditation is an effective but gentle way of training the mind to develop inner strength and freedom from turmoil. This produces a happier and more unified …
Learn Samatha Buddhist Meditation At Home
Using a comprehensive range of written and audio material, the course leads you through the stages of Samatha and introduces aspects of theory that are helpful in guiding the practice. …
Samatha Meditation - lineage and origins
The immediate background to the formation of this first specifically samatha tradition in England was a wide-ranging and politically inspired suppression, or “reforms”, of centuries-old samatha …
Learn Samatha meditation
Learning Samatha Buddhist meditation is a gradual process and it usually takes about 9 months to learn all the stages of the practice. What will I learn? Samatha meditation has a number of …
Weekend or longer courses in meditation - Samatha
As well as weekly local meditation classes, weekend or longer residential courses for newcomers to Samatha meditation are held regularly. The courses are held at The Samatha Centre, …
Find Out About Samatha Meditation
Samatha means calm. Samatha meditation is an effective but gentle way of training the mind to develop inner strength and freedom from turmoil. This produces a happier and more unified …
Milton Keynes - The Samatha Meditation Centre
The Samatha Meditation Centre offers courses, which are open to all, on the development of mindfulness of breathing meditation. The method we teach has been practised in a tradition …
Book a residential meditation course - Samatha
The meditation retreats, or courses, generally run from Friday evening until Sunday after lunch, roughly 2pm. It helps if people can arrive on the Friday between about 6pm and 9pm. We …
Manchester Centre for Buddhist Meditation - Samatha
Samatha meditation is an effective but gentle way of training the mind to develop inner strength and freedom from turmoil, leading on to clarity and understanding. This path from calm to …
Buddhist meditation in the Samatha tradition
Samatha meditation is a gentle but effective way of training the mind to develop inner strength and freedom from restlessness, leading on to clarity and understanding. This path from calm to …
Samatha meditation
Samatha means calm. Samatha meditation is an effective but gentle way of training the mind to develop inner strength and freedom from turmoil. This produces a happier and more unified state …
Learn Samatha Buddhist Meditation At Home
Using a comprehensive range of written and audio material, the course leads you through the stages of Samatha and introduces aspects of theory that are helpful in guiding the practice. Also …
Samatha Meditation - lineage and origins
The immediate background to the formation of this first specifically samatha tradition in England was a wide-ranging and politically inspired suppression, or “reforms”, of centuries-old samatha …
Learn Samatha meditation
Learning Samatha Buddhist meditation is a gradual process and it usually takes about 9 months to learn all the stages of the practice. What will I learn? Samatha meditation has a number of stages …
Weekend or longer courses in meditation - Samatha
As well as weekly local meditation classes, weekend or longer residential courses for newcomers to Samatha meditation are held regularly. The courses are held at The Samatha Centre, Greenstreete.
Find Out About Samatha Meditation
Samatha means calm. Samatha meditation is an effective but gentle way of training the mind to develop inner strength and freedom from turmoil. This produces a happier and more unified state …
Milton Keynes - The Samatha Meditation Centre
The Samatha Meditation Centre offers courses, which are open to all, on the development of mindfulness of breathing meditation. The method we teach has been practised in a tradition …
Book a residential meditation course - Samatha
The meditation retreats, or courses, generally run from Friday evening until Sunday after lunch, roughly 2pm. It helps if people can arrive on the Friday between about 6pm and 9pm. We provide …
Manchester Centre for Buddhist Meditation - Samatha
Samatha meditation is an effective but gentle way of training the mind to develop inner strength and freedom from turmoil, leading on to clarity and understanding. This path from calm to insight was …