Hi!, I am looking for information about the Samatha Trust meditation tradition. From what I understand, since the “revolution” brought about by the Mahasi Sayadaw meditation technique and also the Vipassana tradition of U Ba Khin, the practice of Samatha has been somewhat discredited (at least that’s my understanding) and is considered not as important or crucial as Vipassana, at least in what has reached the West. That’s why it was a great surprise to find the Samatha Trust website and Itipiso.org, where they talk about the development of the Samatha meditation tradition.
I had never heard or read about an exclusive Samatha meditation tradition within the Theravada context (perhaps there could be some parallel with Zen…), and I am wondering if this tradition practices exclusively Samatha or if the consequence of intensive Samatha practice naturally leads to Vipassana, given that in many lineages there is no clear separation between Samatha and Vipassana. Additionally, I would like to know if they have connections with monastic lineages in any country within the Theravada sphere.
Thanks!
I don’t know too much about the Samatha Trust, but as I understand, they are a long-standing and reputable lay meditation group in England, with links to various notable figures. As you suggest, they were one of the first groups opening teaching samatha in the days when it was virtually unheard of. Of course times have changed, or rather, times have been changed by those advocating a more balanced approach to meditation.
They’re quite accessible. I’m no scholar myself and found them easy to read. They were both published in the early 2000s and relate to the samatha/vipassana debate that was raging at that time. Since then I’d say Ajahn Brahm has shone a new light on the topic in his teachings and perhaps the public discourse has changed for this reason.
