samatha in Buddhism, tranquillity or calm. The term is used to describe both one kind of meditational practice and the states of consciousness produced by it. To cultivate tranquillity or calmness is to reduce the mind’s level of affect and, finally, to produce a state of consciousness in which emotion is altogether absent. This condition is taken to have salvific significance because emotional disturbance of all kinds is thought to hinder clear perception and understanding of the way things are; reduction of affect therefore aids accurate cognition. The techniques designed to foster this reduction are essentially concentrative. See also JHAANA , VIPASSANA A. P.J.G.