Description
Nine Stages of Samatha Meditation | Visual Guide to Deep Concentration & Spiritual Stillness
The Samatha Meditation Thangka beautifully illustrates the path to mental clarity and tranquility during meditation. Created on cotton canvas with earthy stone colors and genuine 24K gold, it features the revered Karma Gadri technique. Samatha Meditation is a key practice in Buddhism that emphasizes achieving mental calmness and focus. This Thangka depicts a meditator beginning with a restless mind, symbolized by elephants and monkeys, and progressing toward profound tranquility and control over thoughts. The visuals showcase the gradual journey of soothing the mind and sharpening attention on the present, which is essential in Samatha meditation.
Nine Stages of Samatha Meditation:
Stage 1 – The Power of Study
During this stage, the monk wields a goad and lasso, which symbolize mindful recollection and clarity of understanding. The elephant signifies the wandering mind, whereas the monkey represents mental restlessness. The monk appears to pursue the elephant, attempting to gain control over the mind. The black hues of both the elephant and monkey illustrate mental dullness and distraction.
Stage 2 – The Power of Concentration
At this stage, the meditator’s focus intensifies, causing the elephant and monkey to turn white, symbolizing the advancements in maintaining attention on the object of concentration. The five sensory offerings: silk (touch), fruits (taste), conch (smell), cymbals (sound), and mirror (sight), represent the distractions the meditator must rise above.
Stages 3 & 4 – The Power of Memory
These stages are reached through memory and recollection, enabling the meditator to hold a clear mental image of the object. The monk is depicted lassoing the elephant, which is now aware of the distractions and is becoming more concentrated. The hare symbolizes a subtler type of distraction, referred to as mental torpor or sinking.
Stages 5 & 6 – The Power of Comprehension
Here, the meditator uses clear comprehension to deepen their concentration. The monkey now follows the elephant, and the monk controls the elephant with his goad, symbolizing that the mind has stopped wandering. The hare disappears, signifying the mind’s increasing clarity and pacification.
Stages 7 & 8 – The Power of Diligence
These stages are achieved through energetic perseverance and effort. In these stages, the monkey stops chasing the elephant and squats behind the monk, symbolizing submission. The elephant is nearly entirely white, indicating that the mind is becoming single-pointed, though traces of mental distraction may still remain.
Stage 9 – The Power of Perfection
This stage embodies perfect equanimity, where the mind experiences total tranquility. The elephant rests, symbolizing mental calmness. From the monk’s heart, a rainbow radiates, representing the achievement of ideal concentration.
The upper part of the Thangka depicts the tenth and eleventh stages:
Bodily bliss: The monk flies alone, signifying the physical bliss attained from meditation.
Attainment of Shamatha: The monk rides the elephant across the rainbow, symbolizing the mental bliss of mastering Samatha meditation.
Perfect Insight: The monk wields a flaming sword, symbolizing ideal insight. As he rides along the rainbow, two dark rainbows emanate from his heart, representing karmic hindrances, mental illusions, and obscurations that need to be overcome to achieve enlightenment.
DRAWN AS MENTIONED IN THE MEDITATION MANUAL
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Size: 16"/41 cm (width) x 24"/61 cm (height)
Materials: Cotton Canvas, 24K Gold, Natural Stone Colors
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HAND-PAINTED WITH NATURAL STONE COLOR AND GENUINE 24K GOLD IN TRADITIONAL KARMA GADRI STYLE
OUR TEAM
We are a team of traditionally trained Karma Gadri artists from Boudha Stupa. Our lineage comes from Venerable Master Jamyang Phunshok, who is from Kham, Eastern Tibet.
We are focused on bringing accurate iconographic thangka, which will be helpful to your practice.
BROCADE MOUNT
We offer traditional brocade mounts upon your request. We will send available samples and pricing details for your final confirmation.
CONSECRATION OF THANGKA
As per your request for consecrations/blessings, we can take thangka to nearby monasteries/Rinpoches from Boudha Stupa. We kindly ask that you contribute $50 to the monasteries for these blessing/consecration services.
