The Illumination of Primordial Wisdom
Illumination of Primordial Wisdom, Question and Answer Sessions, Session 2
Lama Alan · 64 minutes · recorded January 1, 2021
Can Westerners achieve shamatha? Lama Alan Wallace answers firmly yes, naming one of his own lamas, Lama Karma, who reached it in six months of very strict retreat after twenty years of practice, and argues that it is rare because conducive conditions are rare. Waves of fatigue in practice mean take a nap. Mantra recitation opens the heart but cannot carry anyone to shamatha, since the mind stays active. Readiness for a strict retreat is contentment when the stimulation is taken away.
Sleep and rest The nature of mind Mantra Shamatha (calm abiding)