Wisdom Meditations
Concentration and calming down (Skt. shamatha)
Analytical meditation (Skt. vipashyana)
Non-meditation (Skt. abhavana)
Wisdom Meditations is a 12-part teaching of Vimalamitra, the great Dzogchen master. It contains techniques for calming the body, mind, and emotions through concentration and mindfulness, and instructions for analytical meditation that leads to increased insight into the empty nature of mind. Wisdom Meditations are sutra practices that lead to recognition of the natural state. There is no empowerment needed for Wisdom Mediations, but learning them from a teacher is beneficial.
Wisdom Mediations are suitable for both beginners, as well as for experienced practitioners.
The first techniques of the series (1-7) are mediation exercises intended to calm the body and mind. Practices 8-12 are insight practices that reveal the selfless nature of thoughts and emotions. Throughout the series, there are certain aspects of the practices that enable them to not only help the practitioner advance in shamata and vipashyana, but also effectively reveal the natural state.