Wise Stillness 1/4 (Samadhi): The Pleasure of Less

Stillness.

And so we come to the final spoke of the Eightfold Path: Samadhi.

Often, Samadhi is translated as ‘concentration’, but as Ajahn Brahm suggests in the clip below, it might be translated better as ‘stillness’.

This clip is some of the best advice I’ve heard for the development of Samadhi. Please take a few minutes to enjoy Ajahn Brahm’s inimitable delivery:

Another great support to stillness is simplicity. Decluttering the conditions around and within you can be a tremendous support for stillness. This includes decluttering your space, your office, your calendar, your closet, etc.

For a several years now, I’ve been enamored with the ideals of the minimalist movement. Each time I successfully implement a suggestion, I notice the distinct pleasure of a burden relieved. By relinquishing the superfluous, the essential shines more clearly.

This is very similar to the healing relief we can experience in the simplicity of meditative stillness.

Originally published on May 20, 2014

Practice Opportunities: 

• Weekly Classes with Josh and Terry (Yin Yoga, Yin Meditation, Yin Qi Gong, Yang Qi Gong)