Yoga practice as a complement to Samatha meditation

Abstract

The demands of contemporary life have led to various kinds of practices to promote physical and mental health. In Buddhist countries, yoga is increasingly attractive to people as a compeiment to the older Theravarda approaches to meditation like Samtha. This paper will explore the phenomenon and show that this increasing practice of yoga is not at odds with Budhhism. Both traditions focus the mindto attain 6DPƗGKL. Increasingly,laypersons and religious people have integrated yoga practice with Samatha meditation, to promote physicalandmental health. This paper will introduce the approach of Banyat Dhammasaro, the Thai monk who has attempted to integrate yoga with Samatha meditation.