Buddhist-Meditation-Systematic-and-Practical

H. To Clarify Samatha from Samapatti
Some books actually confuse these two, while the
numerous explanations given in different treatises may
confuse the readers. Therefore we should have a clear
explanation. The one offered here is my own and not to
be found elsewhere.
1. Order of Practice
Both samatha and samapatti are twofold and arranged in
this order:
two
become
twofold
a. samapatti of samatha
b. samatha of samatha
c. samapatti of samapatti
d. samatha of samapatti
What do these mean? At the beginning of practice one
chooses a point on which to focus, but that is not true
samapatti, as one does it only for samatha. This kind of
abiding on a point only belongs to the realm of
one-pointed thinking. The second stage is reached when
one has already attained samatha: it equates with steps g,
h, and i. above. The third is explained thus: When one is
meditating on the truth and finds the mind wandering
off among unsuitable objects, then one develops another
samapatti to correct the first one. The fourth is the real
samapatti. After samatha is produced, samapatti arises
from it. This researching leads to truth itself, with
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