Shamatha and Vipashyana

In the sutras, Buddha taught four types of objects of focus for practitioners to employ in meditation.

The Ninth Karmapa presents a detailed, step-by-step explanation of the Karma Kagyu practice of mahamudra meditation on the nature of the mind.

The Nyingma master Longchenpa uses the structure of the four themes of Gampopa to elaborate on the graded path of sutra, tantra and dzogchen.

Mindfulness practice becomes the most effective when it includes the full array of mental factors explained in the traditional Buddhist presentations of it.

Shamatha (a stilled and settled state of mind) and vipashyana (an exceptionally perceptive state of mind) are levels of meditative concentration taught in all forms of Buddhism.

Through the power of achieving a stilled and settled state of mind and attaining the first level of mental constancy, practitioners can attain certain extrasensory awareness.