Practice Library

Discover Shamatha Meditation

A twelve-session course in shamatha meditation with Glen Svensson, covering helpful tools, the faults that can arise and the nine stages of progress.

Glen Svensson introduces the theory and practice of shamatha, the cultivation of a calm, clear and focused mind, across four days and twelve sessions. Together we work through a number of shamatha techniques from the Buddhist tradition, including mindfulness of breathing, observing the mind, resting in awareness and merging the mind with space. The course also covers the qualities to cultivate in meditation, the tools we use, the faults that can arise in practice and how to overcome them, along with the stages of progress described in the classic nine-stage shamatha model. Each session includes both teaching and guided meditation, so there is a chance to understand the theory and to get an experience of each method. It is suitable for those new to the practice and for those already well established in it. The course is in four parts of three sessions each, and each session builds on the last. It was recorded as part of a wider course with Glen Svensson, Shamatha, Vipashyana and Compassion Meditation. The other two parts, Discover Vipashyana Meditation and Discover Compassion Meditation, are also in the library.

What this course covers

• Mindfulness of breathing at the full body, the abdomen and the nostrils
• Observing the mind, observing emotions, and open awareness
• Resting in awareness, and merging the mind with space
• The qualities to cultivate in meditation, and the tools that support it
• The faults that arise in practice, and how to overcome them
• The classic nine stages of shamatha
• Teaching and guided meditation together in every session

Sessions

1. Preparing Body & Mind 78 minutes
2. Qualities & Objects 80 minutes
3. Tools & Faults 85 minutes
4. Mindfulness of Breathing (Full Body) 78 minutes
5. Mindfulness of Breathing (Abdomen) 76 minutes
6. Mindfulness of Breathing (Nostrils) 90 minutes
7. Observing the Mind 77 minutes
8. Observing Emotions 75 minutes
9. Open Awareness 85 minutes
10. Resting in Awareness 76 minutes
11. Merging Mind with Space 80 minutes
12. Stillness in Motion 91 minutes