Tag Archives: shamatha

advancing meditation: The why’s of shamatha training (video)

Posted on March 4, 2018 by Donna Mitchell-Moniak

This short video encapsulates why the steps in shamatha practice are what they are – no matter who’s teaching it. Shamatha is the only ground for meditation. In fact, shamatha is the closest experience that one can have of buddha … Continue reading →

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advancing meditation: the exaltation and purity of peace

Posted on February 18, 2018 by Donna Mitchell-Moniak

There’s a line in the Prajnaparamita Sutra in 150 lines that states that one demonstration of Perfect Wisdom is called the “Consummation of awakening to the calm true nature of all the Buddhas (tathagathas).” Underline the word calm, and then … Continue reading →

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advancing meditation: enlightenment is the ultimate shamatha

Posted on February 10, 2018 by Donna Mitchell-Moniak

As said in the introduction, all meditation practice amounts to the detachment from arisings, thus a decrease of of them, thus the cessation of their preponderance, thus eventually the cessation of reaction and response to that which appears and appears … Continue reading →

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The mother of all meditation states and of samadhi

Posted on November 30, 2016 by Donna Mitchell-Moniak

In the recent meditation retreats (Autumn 2016), two points were investigated and experienced with fullness: Shamatha is the foundation of all meditation practices. It also is the mother-source that produces all subsequent meditative capacities, states, and samdhis. Additionally, it is … Continue reading →

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The sky is the sky. Awareness is awareness.

Posted on March 14, 2016 by Donna Mitchell-Moniak

Interlude is the space between, between in-breath and out-breath, between out-breath and in, it is the space between thoughts. Interlude is the space – the empty non-action – before action is engaged. Often action is engaged robotically, habitually. Just as … Continue reading →

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