Vipassana – Mahamudra
Cultivate awareness according to Vipassana tradition, with instructions from the Mahamu-dra tradition.
At the core is the practice of natural mind ith deep trust in our inherently awake nature.
Letting awareness flow in all situations, without solidifying them, is a gateway to natural being, timeless and free.

Samatha (or Shamatha) means calm, tranquility, or peaceful abiding in Buddhism, referring to a core meditation practice focused on developing deep concentration (samadhi) by holding attention on a single object, like the breath, to still the mind and prepare it for insight (vipassana). It cultivates mental stability, reducing distracting thoughts and fostering a quiet, unified mind, essential for deeper spiritual understanding.
Key aspects of Samatha:
Meaning: Calm, serenity, stillness, tranquil abiding, concentration.
Purpose: To unify and steady the mind, developing one-pointed focus.
Method: Sustained attention on a chosen object (breath, mantra, image) while gently returning focus when the mind wanders.
Role in Buddhism: One of two main paths (with Vipassanā/insight), providing the mental stability needed for clear, wise observation of reality.
In summary:
Samatha is the practice of calming and concentrating the mind, a foundational step in Buddhist meditation, creating a clear, stable “window” through which deeper wisdom can be seen.

Anapanasati (Pali: Ānāpānasati) means “mindfulness of breathing,” a foundational Buddhist meditation practice where one focuses attention on the natural inhalation (āna) and exhalation (apāna) of breath to develop concentration, calm the mind, and gain insight, leading to spiritual liberation, detailed in the Buddha’s Ānāpānasati Sutta. It involves paying close attention to bodily sensations, feelings, and mental states associated with breathing, progressing through stages like calming the body, experiencing joy, and ultimately seeing impermanence and cessation.
Key aspects:
Etymology: Ānāpāna (in-breath/out-breath) + sati (mindfulness).
Core Practice: Focusing on the breath as the primary object of meditation.
Purpose: Cultivates Samadhi (concentration) and Vipassanā (insight), leading to peace and understanding.
Stages (Four Tetrads):
Awareness of long/short, full/part of the breath.
Calming physical formations (body).
Experiencing joy, bliss, and centering the mind (feelings/mind).
Observing impermanence, dispassion, cessation, and relinquishment (Dhammas).
Significance: Considered a direct path to Nibbāna (Nirvana) by many teachers, it’s a core practice for developing mindfulness in various Buddhist traditions like Theravada and Zen.