In this selection from The Attention Revolution, Alan Wallace introduces us to the first stage of shamatha practice, directed attention, and then discusses loving-kindness meditation as a remedy for our “conative imbalance.”

After helping us settle body, speech, and mind in the natural state, Alan Wallace guides us in a loving-kindness meditation. Find a comfortable, quiet place to sit and follow along with the recording below.

Alan Wallace brings the worldview around shamatha practice into perspective and discusses the importance of the Four Noble Truths.

Alan Wallaces introduces us to his coined phrase “Obsessive Compulsive Delusional Disorder” and relates how shamatha practice helps us restore mental balance.

Alan Wallace guides us through a preparatory practice for this course in which we learn to settle the body, speech, and mind in the natural state. Find a comfortable, quiet place to sit and follow along with the recording below.

In these two chapters from Tibetan Buddhism from the Ground Up, Alan Wallace covers the relationship between the Dharma and happiness and then discusses how moral discipline is a foundation of spiritual practice.

Alan Wallace relates shamatha practice to our search for happiness, and goes into more detail about the practice as a part of the Buddhist path.

Alan Wallace gives us an overview of the course and begins to introduce us to shamatha practice. After this video, you may want to jump ahead to the practice session for this lesson before moving on to the second video and reading.

In this first lesson, Lama Alan Wallace gives an introduction to shamatha meditation and relates this to the two types of happiness—that which comes from within, and from the external world.

Follow along with this guided meditation as Alan Wallace leads us in a closing practice to dedicate the merit we have gained from learning and practicing together.