Calm Abiding Meditation Outline

Calm abiding meditation, known as "śamatha" in Sanskrit or "shine" in Tibetan, is a foundational practice in many Buddhist traditions. It aims to cultivate a stable, calm, and focused mind. Here's an overview of its history and principles:

 History

1. Ancient Roots

   - India: Śamatha has its origins in ancient Indian meditation practices. It was practiced by the Buddha and is detailed in early Buddhist scriptures.

   - Buddhist Texts: Important texts like the "Visuddhimagga" (Path of Purification) and the "Dhyāna Sūtras" describe śamatha techniques in detail.

2. Spread to Tibet

   - Transmission: The practice of shine was transmitted to Tibet from India along with the broader teachings of Buddhism. Key figures like Padmasambhava played a role in integrating these practices into Tibetan Buddhism.

   - Tibetan Lineages: Different Tibetan Buddhist schools, including the Gelug, Kagyu, Nyingma, and Sakya, adopted and adapted shine practices within their meditation traditions.

Principles

1. Focus and Concentration

   - Object of Meditation: Practitioners select a specific object of focus, such as the breath, a visual object, or a mental image. 

   - Sustained Attention: The goal is to sustain continuous attention on this object without distraction.

2. Stages of Development

   - Initial Effort: Beginners often experience scattered attention and frequent distractions.

   - Increasing Stability: With practice, the mind becomes more stable and less prone to wandering.

   - Full Absorption: Eventually, practitioners achieve a state of full absorption, where the mind remains effortlessly focused.

3. Obstacles and Remedies

   - Laxity and Excitement: Two main obstacles are laxity (dullness or lack of clarity) and excitement (restlessness or agitation).

   - Countering Techniques: Methods to counter these include adjusting the meditation object, posture, and the degree of effort or relaxation.

4. Physical and Mental Preparation

   - Ethical Conduct: Observing ethical precepts helps to calm the mind.

   - Proper Posture: Sitting in a stable, comfortable position, often in a cross-legged posture with a straight back, supports concentration.

   - Mindfulness and Alertness: These qualities are crucial for maintaining focus and recognizing distractions.

5. Benefits

   - Mental Clarity: Shine practice can lead to a clear and focused mind, reducing mental chatter.

   - Emotional Stability: Regular practice helps cultivate emotional balance and resilience.

   - Foundation for Further Practice: Shine provides a stable foundation for more advanced meditation practices, such as insight (vipassanā) meditation.

In summary, calm abiding meditation (shine) is a practice rooted in ancient Buddhist traditions, aimed at developing a calm, stable, and focused mind through sustained attention and mindfulness. Its systematic approach to overcoming distractions and cultivating concentration makes it a cornerstone of Buddhist meditative training.