Calm Abiding refers to a Buddhist meditation practice (shamatha) that seeks to quiet the mind. Its primary aim is to train the mind to reach a kind of focused concentration by allowing it to settle in with the experience of many thoughts constantly flowing through. The ultimate goal is to develop a nonreactive, sensitive and receptive relationship with the present moment. The most common methods for moving toward a state of calm abiding include breathing focus, concentration on a particular object (candle, picture, etc.), and visualization.
I find the words calm abiding both powerful and comforting, suggesting a state of mind and being that is at once solid, balanced, alert and relaxed. When I am feeling out of sorts these days, I try to work with this unsettling energy by expanding my breathing and opening my mind to allow and hopefully release the disquieting forces. Just imagining a state of calm abiding helps me deal with turbulent thoughts and feelings and reminds me that all experiences are impermanent and pass through like weather and the wind. – AR