Uploaded March 2023 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Talk titled: "Talk One: Introduction to the Art of Concentration (Samatha Meditation)", given during the event "The Art of Concentration (Samatha Meditation)". Held at Gaia House, Devon on 2008-08-08.
Topics covered: samadhi, definitions: samadhi, breath meditation, breath meditation: manipulating / playing with the breath, critique: the practice of 'being with' or 'bare attention', breath meditation: conceptions of the breath, samadhi: attitudes around pleasure in meditation, motivation, aging/sickness/death, generosity, renunciation/letting go, ethics/engagement, samadhi: dependent on and leading to happiness, gratitude and appreciation, precepts, art, meditation practice as
Teacher's note on suitability: as we learn to develop concentration in meditation, samatha (calm, tranquility) is also developed, and together these qualities become a powerful means for deep insight and a source of profound well-being. this progressive series of talks, guided meditations and instructions explores in some detail the art of concentration, primarily through different ways of working with the breath and the body to open to deeper and deeper levels of calmness, presence and joy.
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To donate to Rob's foundation, The Hermes Amara Foundation, visit https://hermesamara.org, and click the Donate button. See Rob's Dharma Seed bio (dharmaseed.org/teacher/210/) for a description of this organization and Rob's founding of it.
Original audio: dharmaseed.org/teacher/210/talk/11511
Transcript link: dl.airtable.com/.attachments/2acd421952288fd505b8be27c64147f0/375d8237/2008_0808TalkOne-IntroductiontotheArtofConcentration-SamathaMeditation.pdf
Talk titled: "Talk One: Introduction to the Art of Concentration (Samatha Meditation)", given during the event "The Art of Concentration (Samatha Meditation)". Held at Gaia House, Devon on 2008-08-08.
Topics covered: samadhi, definitions: samadhi, breath meditation, breath meditation: manipulating / playing with the breath, critique: the practice of 'being with' or 'bare attention', breath meditation: conceptions of the breath, samadhi: attitudes around pleasure in meditation, motivation, aging/sickness/death, generosity, renunciation/letting go, ethics/engagement, samadhi: dependent on and leading to happiness, gratitude and appreciation, precepts, art, meditation practice as
Teacher's note on suitability: as we learn to develop concentration in meditation, samatha (calm, tranquility) is also developed, and together these qualities become a powerful means for deep insight and a source of profound well-being. this progressive series of talks, guided meditations and instructions explores in some detail the art of concentration, primarily through different ways of working with the breath and the body to open to deeper and deeper levels of calmness, presence and joy.
---
To donate to Rob's foundation, The Hermes Amara Foundation, visit https://hermesamara.org, and click the Donate button. See Rob's Dharma Seed bio (dharmaseed.org/teacher/210/) for a description of this organization and Rob's founding of it.
Original audio: dharmaseed.org/teacher/210/talk/11511
Transcript link: dl.airtable.com/.attachments/2acd421952288fd505b8be27c64147f0/375d8237/2008_0808TalkOne-IntroductiontotheArtofConcentration-SamathaMeditation.pdf
