Samatha meditation is both transformational and transcendent. The transformational part is that you’re deconditioning old patterns. You're laying down a new groove that says: “I’m really content just breathing. Nothing has to be happening. It doesn’t have to be perfect. I can be content—not a human doing, but a human being.” The transcendent side is that the mindstream slows down, and there’s potentially enough stillness and serenity that we can actually be in contact with our deeper nature, with the truth of what we are. And over the course of time we get more and more free.
Tina Rasmussen
Guest Teacher
Tina Rasmussen, Ph.D., learned to meditate at age 13 and has been meditating for 30+ years. She was ordained as a Buddhist nun by Pa Auk Sayadaw of Burma, who authorized her to teach. Tina is co-author of Practicing the Jhanas and several other books, and works with students worldwide.