Which form of meditation do you follow and why – samatha or vipassana?
Samatha – tranquility, calmness (a result of samadhi – concentration); and vipassana – insight and wisdom, are two sides of the same thing i.e. meditation. It is like the head and tail of a coin; you can t pick up just the head and not the tail. You need a degree of calm and concentration in the mind to be able to investigate nature (the mind; the world). You need a degree of wisdom, reflection and some insight into suffering (dukkha) to see that it is made worse when the mind is loose and unfocused. The two techniques can be worked on separately, for example, you can exercise the arms with one exercise and the legs with another. But the purpose of all exercise is to improve general health (if you exclude vanity). I apply my efforts where I see my weaknesses; with the aim of moving away from unhealthiness. So, if I have been very busy and my mind is all stirred up, I begin my meditation with some samatha. Regardless of the technique, the inclination is always toward harmony, peace, Nib
