How to Practice Shamatha Meditation: The Cultivation of Meditative Quiescence

by Gen Lamrimpa, B. Alan Wallace (Translator)

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.

Genres: Buddhism, Meditation, Nonfiction

161 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2011

About the author

Venerable Jampel Tenzin, Gen Lamrimpa

Reviews

[Ulf Wolf]

I am a practicing Theravada Buddhist whose main meditative practice consists of Ānāpānasati (Awareness of the Breath), but I have for some time been fascinated by B. Alan Wallace’s writings and translations, and this book proves no exception.

Gen Lamrimpa, a highly experience Tibetan monk, does an admirable job outlining the Samādhi path up to, though not including, the First Jhāna (which, for me, is the best way to describe the Tibetan Shamatha goal and practice).

Much like Wallace himself does in “The Four Immeasurables” and in other books, Lamrimpa both the prerequisites to, problems encountered in, and the way to advance through the nine stages of meditative states leading to Shamatha—Jhāna’s doorstep.

Read and understood in consort with Ānāpānasati guides and discussions, Lamrimpa’s lucid and time-honored advice would serve any serious meditator very well.

[Ray O.]

The closest you will get to a Shamatha retreat teaching with a precious teacher, without actually taking the retreat. That is no substitute of course, but it's incredibly useful and motivating in the early steps of the Buddhadharma.

[Bill]

A set of talks from the start of a long meditation retreat. A strong focus on motivation and some insight given into the meditation experience as it approaches a calm samatha\shamatha state, with good guidance on how to stabilize and focus. Best suited for people who are already reasonably well practiced as there is very little in the basics of the meditation practice.

[Ryan Hunter]

Great material for those wishing to attain shamatha.

[Deviprasadh]

Pick an image (smaller the better), focus on it as uninterrupted as possible, bring back attention if it wanders, do it for years till it becomes effortless. Thats it.

[Charlie Castillo]

A source for anyone interested in Shamatha meditation. Probably slightly outdated. Read for information not for pleasure…

[Karma Pema Tsering]

Ani Tenzin Palmo once said how interesting can it be to stare at a pebble for more than a minute. So how interesting can a book about Shamatha be? The book delivers a great instruction on how to practice Shamatha and should be read by everyone who wants to attain perfect concentration.