You sit down to meditate. Two breaths in, you’re replaying an argument from second grade. đ«
In Episode 48 of Vibe with Venerables, Venerable Thubten Chodron (âȘ@sravastiabbeyâŹ) leads the Higher Training in Concentration by clearing up a common misunderstanding: concentration (samÄdhi) is not a mystical state reserved for advanced practitioners. We all have it. The work is learning to sustain it. She walks through why ethical conduct has to come first, how to choose a meditation object, and what to do when the mind inevitably wanders off to pizza, politics, and old grudges.
In this episode, learn about:
- Why concentration is only part of the Buddhism path.
- What shamatha (calm abiding) actually is, and why it’s not the same as bliss.
- Why trying to develop concentration before ethical conduct is like starting maths with calculus.
- How to choose a meditation object, such as the breath and a visualized image.
- The five obstacles that hijack every meditation session, and their antidotes.
- The Nine Stages of Sustained Attention, and how to tell if you’re making progress.
Stay for the young man who came to the Abbey demanding bliss, and the alternative he was given instead.đ
Additional Resources
Book: Following in the Buddha’s Footsteps. The Library of Wisdom and Compassion | Volume 4.
Donation
This series is freely offered by Buddhism.net. If youâd like to show your appreciation and gratitude to the teaching Venerable, Venerable Chodron, and Sravasti Abbey, you may make a donation to Sravasti Abbey (https://sravastiabbey.org/donation/). We thank you for dÄna, the practice of cultivating generosity.
