In the second part of our Meditation Practice series, David Scharff once again guides us in the fundamental steps of Shi-Nay meditation - but with a special focus on Motivation and the mental processes of perception.

Shi-Nay is often translated as Calm Abiding. Many people know it by its Sanskrit name Shamata. It's a process of releasing habitual mental clinging, relaxing the grip of emotional turbulence, and coming to rest in the peaceful openness which is your mind's true, natural state. It is a foundational practice in learning how to meditate, often combined with Vipassana (Tib. Lhag Tong), or in English, Insight Meditation.

"I met with David to learn meditation before leaving on what I knew would be a difficult three-week work-related tour, and I found his teachings simple, logical, and profound. I met with him many times since then, and every time he blesses me with intuitive wisdom and loving kindness which influences me to cultivate a calm presence in the face of adversity and a deeper understanding of both the little things buzzing around daily life and the bigger spiritual struggles we all face. So I wanted to share him with you who might not be in the room. I love this technique, Shi-Nay, which means Peaceful Abiding, or as David has called it; Peaceful Being.“ - Ondi Timoner

David Scharff has been meditating for over 40 years under teachers of many diverse paths, starting at the age of 15 with T.M. He met his first spiritual guide in his 20s, a teacher and healer from the Tineh (Apache) Tribe, who eventually steered him towards Tibetan Buddhism. In 1994 he met H.E. the 16th Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche and soon moved to Rinpoche's retreat center in Northern California. While there he received transmissions, teachings, and guidance in retreat from his root lama Padma Drimed Norbu, studying and practicing the stages of the path according to the Original Translation (Nyingma) School of Tibetan Buddhism.

David left Rigdzin Ling for Los Angeles in 1999, where he has continued his study and practice under numerous Tibetan lineage-holders and - with their blessings - has been teaching Shi-Nay and guided meditation since 2007.