.
.
The Stages of Calm-Abiding
Shamata is the Buddhist practice of calming the mind. This is done by practicing single-pointed meditation most commonly through mindfulness of breathing.
The practice of shamata (Sanskrit- shamatha: Tibetan Shi-nay) meditation develops the ability to focus the mind in single pointed equipoise or perfect concentration, and is a prerequisite for the development of vipashyana or analytical insight meditation.
The illustration of the development of mental tranquility depicts the nine progressive stages of mental development, which are obtained through the ‘six powers’ of study, contemplation, memory, comprehension, diligence and perfection.
Beginning at the start of the path the diagram shows a monk chasing, binding, leading, and subduing an elephant whose colour progresses from black to white.
The elephant represents the mind, and its black colour the gross aspect of ‘sinking’ or mental dullness.
The monkey represents distraction or mental agitation; and its black colour ‘scattering’.
The hare represents the more subtle aspect of sinking or mental torpor.
The hooked goad and lasso which the monk wields represent clear understanding and mindful recollection.
The progressively diminishing flame, which occurs at intervals along the path, represents the decreasing degree of effort needed to cultivate understanding and recollection.
The five sense objects of cloth, fruit, perfume, cymbals, and a mirror represent the five sensual sources of distraction.
At the end of the path single-pointed concentration is attained, and the ‘purified elephant’ of the mind is now completely submissive.
The flying monk represents bodily bliss and his riding of the elephant, mental bliss.
Riding the elephant back triumphantly across the rainbow, wielding the flame sword of perfect insight having attained the flame of clear understanding and mindfulness, represents the uprooting of samsara by the unity of shamata and vipashyana which directly realizes emptiness.
.