Calm abiding (Buddhism)

Calm abiding is stabilized meditation brought to fulfilment, The meditator acquires a mind of the next sphere, the form realm, and a stage of preparation for further states which is called the "not-unable" (anagamaya). The physical body is felt to be renewed and strengthened. The calm abider meditates in a favourable area, has few desires, knows satisfaction, has pure ethics, forsakes involvements and commotions, and lets go of sexual desires and other thoughts of gratification. His posture is stabilized in one of the recommended positions. With right motivation to benefit all sentient beings the meditation is calm and stabilized and the object – material, the meditator's own mind, or the "body" of the Buddha (created in the imagination) – is engaged.

The second stage of meditation on emptiness is the cultivation of a "similitude" of calm abiding, stabilization resulting from meditation together with pliancy achieving a "similitude" of insight. Laziness is overcome by faith, aspiration, exertion and pliancy; forgetfulness of advice by mindfulness; laxity and excitement by introspection; non-application by application; and over-application by equanimity. By persevering in practice and overcoming the extremes of torpor and excitement, the meditator dwells in tranquillity. The mind is calm and open to vipasyana (insight) which is free to function in this quiet environment.

Hindrances to the practice of calm abiding are overcome by the nine "states of mental abiding" or "stages of mind", six powers and four mental activities. The nine states of mental abiding – navakara cittasthiti are (i) setting the mind (directing it towards the object of meditation); (ii) continuous setting or stabilizing of mind; (iii) resetting the mind as attention wavers; (iv) close setting the mind by confining it to the object of attention; (v) disciplining the mind which is overly quiescent; (vi) pacifying and calming the mind; (vii) full pacification as the mind becomes truly calm; (viii) one-pointedness as the mind becomes united with its object; (ix) samadhana (mental abiding in equipoise) – samadhi. These states of mental abiding are assisted by the powers, the first by hearing the teaching; the second by thinking (reflection); the third and fourth by mindfulness (attention); the fifth and sixth by introspection (clear comprehension); the seventh and eighth by effort; and the last by confidence. The associated mental activities are those of connecting the mind to the object of meditation (i and ii); resetting or re-establishing the attention (iii to vii); maintaining uninterrupted attention (viii); effortless abiding (ix).

Together with vipasyana (special insight), samatha is one of the preconditions for concentration – samadhi – in Tibetan Gelugpa Buddhism. The calm abiding state in Tibetan Buddhism corresponds to access concentration (upacara) in the Pali tradition.