Shamata: Tranquility Meditation
By Michael Erlewine
Shamata (Tranquility Meditation) training is focusing in order to then let go. In that sense, we gain flexibility by tightening and untightening. Ultimately Shamata is about letting go, relaxing, and resting in focus, which may be an oxymoron. We have to first focus in order to relax and let go.
However, as I found out, there are many ways to learn Shamata other than by the book, meaning the book suggests focusing on a twig, a pebble, or a spot on the wall and holding that focus until we can relax into that focus.
We have to be able to hold that focus until it takes no effort to hold that focus, so ‘trying’ to hold a focus is just another way to say we have no Shamata. I should know, because I am an expert at not being able to relax in that approach to focusing.
In fact, I attempted to learn Shamata for about 31 years and was still not able to master it. What was I doing wrong, was my question? It had to be something. After such a long time of trying, it came to be something of a joke. Yet, then again, no joke.
In fact, it took me all the way until I learned Insight Meditation (Vipassana) until Shamata just naturally arose. Usually, in order to learn Insight Meditation, we first have a steady Shamata.
As an analogy, in order to thread a very fine needle, we first have to steady our hand (Shamata) so that then we can thread the needle (Vipassana).
And in my case, as mentioned, it was not until I actually broke through into Insight Meditation that I discovered Shamata, which spontaneously arose accompanying Vipassana, and fully blown at that. How the heck did that happen?
The answer is that because of my vocation I had learned Shamata decades ago, but just naturally and not on demand as when I was given Shamata instructions by my Shamata instructor. Huh?
As it turned out, all my years of computer programming, plus all my years of database and very detailed content aggregation, and the like, had trained me in Shamata, but rather than by demand, I learned in the process of doing something I loved, all the fine work I joyfully did with data.
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So, when it came to learning Shamata on the cushion, being told to do this or that, it seemed crude and joyless, for me there was no joy in that, and I never put two and two together, all those years. I could not make myself force Shamata.
Apparently, because of my very detailed work habits I could always do Shamata, but I had done it out of love rather than as a requirement. My Shamata was ready and able, just waiting for something that required it.
So, the takeaway here is to either love learning Shamata on the cushion, which I failed to do, or learn in some discipline that requires fine detail work that you, well, actually like to do.
For instance, if you can tie fishing flies, play chess, and perform other very detailed work, you probably have all the Shamata you need at the ready, the required ground or platform needed to launch Vipassana (Insight Meditation) successfully. What a shock!
There I was suddenly in Insight Meditation (Vipassana) and my Shamata was stable as a rock.
[Midjourney graphic prompted by me.]
EMAIL Michael@Erlewine.net Note: If you would like to have access to other free books, articles, and videos on these topics, here are the links: SpiritGrooves.net.
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As Bodhicitta is so precious,
May those without it now create it,
May those who have it not destroy it,
And may it ever grow and flourish.
