The word Samatha is the Pali term which always translates as Calm or peace, calming the mind down from all kinds of irritations that arise through the six doors. So then if our mind does not get peace by any manners, the only way which was taught by the Buddha is Samatha meditation.
So how can we practise Samatha meditation?
To practise this meditation (according to Visudhimagga) There are many techniques to practise Samatha.Normally, when we say about Samatha we refer to the 40 methods such as:
1. Ten special meditation objects, or Kasina(10)
2. Ten loathsomeness or impurity, or Asubha(10)
3. Ten reflections or Anussati (10)
4. Four sublime states of mind, or Brahma Vihara(4)
5. Four formless spheres, or Arupa(4)
6. One perception of food loathsomeness, or Sanna(1)
7. One absence of the cycle of existence, or Vivatthana(1)
Samatha meditation is a bit complicated than Vipassana because we have to practise accordingly, which means we have to choose the technique depend upon our character.
1. Ten special meditation objects, or Kasina(10)
2. Ten loathsomeness or impurity, or Asubha(10)
3. Ten reflections or Anussati (10)
4. Four sublime states of mind, or Brahma Vihara(4)
5. Four formless spheres, or Arupa(4)
6. One perception of food loathsomeness, or Sanna(1)
7. One absence of the cycle of existence, or Vivatthana(1)
Samatha meditation is a bit complicated than Vipassana because we have to practise accordingly, which means we have to choose the technique depend upon our character.
E.g if you are a Dosa character then you have to choose loving-kindness meditation. But as for nowadays, mostly people are practising Loving-kindness meditation because this is the easiest way to practise and especially it is popular with the westerners. The word loving-kindness is used to substitute the Pali term Meta (Meta + bhavana) bhavana means develop or cultivate so the Metabhavana is to develop or cultivate Loving-kindness in our heart.
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