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GCSE Religious Studies · key term
Meditation that develops calmness and concentration, often by focusing on breathing.
Used by AQA and Eduqas
Paper 1
Calming meditation that develops concentration and tranquillity by maintaining attention on a focus, such as breathing.
Revise: Meditation PracticesSamatha means calming. Its central aim is to develop a calm, concentrated mind by keeping attention on one focus. This might be the process of breathing or an object placed in front of the meditator.
Paper 3
Calming meditation that develops a steady, concentrated mind, often by focusing on breathing.
Revise: MeditationSamatha means calming or tranquillity meditation. Its purpose is to develop a steady, focused mind. Mindfulness of breathing is an important way of practising it, although samatha can also use other objects of concentration.
Distinguish an aim from a method: calm is an aim of samatha; attending to the breath is a method.
Use qualified comparisons: samatha and vipassana are important in Theravada Buddhism, but mindfulness of breathing is also practised in other traditions.
Link each meditation technique to its purpose: samatha develops calm and concentration; mettabhavana develops loving-kindness; vipassana develops insight.
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