Shamatha

October 18 – 20, 2024 

3-day non-residential course led by François Schick

Open to all levels of practitioners: beginners and experienced alike.

Shamatha is a Sanskrit term for calm abiding. By refining our focus and learning a technique for gaining an absorbed state of mind, we can be much more at peace, extremely serene, both physically and mentally. This state enables us for much deeper spiritual experiences. When the mind is clear and stable, what we observe, if it is constructive, will be much more transformative. It speeds up our growth, our qualities, it is much stronger in shifting some of our habits.

In the Indo-Tibetan Buddhist tradition there is a precise method for achieving that, with steps and mental levers to activate at a certain time. Pretty much like learning to drive a car or to fly a plane. But with a vehicle that far exceeds the potential of any airborne object!
Yet, in this method, there are instructions that need to be translated, so to say, from a two dimensional perspective of a text into a three dimensional organic experience, like translating music scores into a proper song. François Schick has a unique skill in facilitating this process. He can present the traditional treasures in a non-traditional way, bridging this 14th century text to the modern mind. He has thoroughly studied this technique for over 10 years and he is a rigorous meditator.

This course will be followed by a 9 days course on Shamatha and Vipashyana. You can attend to both.

In this 3-day course you will learn:

  • How to establish mindfulness and vigilance.
  • The benefits of meditation.
  • Making the difference between discerning meditation and placement meditation.
  • What are the steps to gain meditative absorption. What are the prerequisites.
  • How concentration develops in 9 stages.
  • Learn the technique in 8 antidotes and 5 faults.
  • The importance of joy.
  • What are the common obstacles.

 

Teacher

For more than 15 years, François has been meditating, dedicating his life to the Dharma and particularly to the method of Shamatha/Calm Abiding, having received a thorough education in the Gelug tradition and having done numerous solitary retreats, including six months in the Alps, under the personal guidance of Alan Wallace. He is currently teaching at Kalachakra Center France. For few years now, he is working on a book on Shamatha.
He is appreciated for his way of teaching, rigorous and modern, accessible and lively.

 

This course will be in silence.

Approximate daily schedule for all days:

09:00 – 09:45 Meditation
10:00 – 12:00 Teaching
12:00 – 14:00 Lunch Break
14:00 – 16:00 Teaching
16:00 – 16:20 Tea Break
16:20 – 17:00 Meditation

Please note: This schedule might change on short notice!

Registration in Tushita’s Office Required!

Practical Information

Tushita’s Donation Policy

Tushita Meditation Centre operates entirely on the basis of donations, most of which come from people attending our courses and retreats. We will ask you to please give your full donation for the course in our reception office in the days before the course starts, payable in Indian Rupees only (unfortunately we cannot accept Foreign Currency, Travellers Cheques or Credit / Debit Cards).

For example, the minimum amount that Tushita needs to cover our costs for a 2- / 3-day course is 1500 / 2000 Indian Rupees per person. This includes lunch and afternoon tea on this day. It does not include any other meals or accommodation, since it will be a non-residential course. Of course, extra donations to help Tushita are always welcome!

Course Registration

For our non-residential courses, registration is only possible in our reception office by making your full donation of 2000 INR for this 3-day course.

Office hours are: Monday – Saturday (closed Sundays)

  • 9:00 – 11:30am
    – lunch break –
  • 12:30 – 4:00pm

Closed Sundays

Accommodation Options

Since this is a Non-Residential course, it will not be possible to stay here at Tushita. There are many guest houses and hotels nearby however, varied enough to meet all comfort levels and budgets. Here are some tips for finding accommodation in McLeod Ganj.

What to Bring

  • Warm clothing which can be worn in layers and a shawl/blanket for using in the meditation hall are advisable. Bear in mind that we are at a slightly higher altitude than in McLeod Ganj, it is noticeably colder here.
  • You are welcome to take notes during the course, so you may find a notebook, pen etc useful.
  • It is handy to have your own water bottle. Filtered water is available in our dining hall and out of concern for the environment, we strongly discourage students from buying water in plastic bottles.
  • An umbrella or rainwear, depending on the weather that day.
  • Please read our Library page: we sell books and other items, so you may want to bring some extra money with you; or check conditions for borrowing.
  • Please DO NOT bring: any musical instruments, camera, radios / tape / CD / MP3 players or mobile phones as you will be asked not to use them while you are here.

Read more on our Short Courses page.