The best way that we know for people to keep calm—or become calm in the first place—is called ཞི་གནས་ / zhi gNas / Shi-né. This has been translated in many ways: the most common being Calm Abiding. Literally it means Peace Remain. We usually translate this as ‘Remaining Uninvolved With What Arises’. This is the only way there is – or has ever been. There are many different practices. There are many different mantras. There are many different visualisations – but, basically, if one has no basis in ཞི་གནས་ then these marvellous practices will be of no use in any case.
So, this returns us to Silent Sitting. If you are calm then, everyone around you will become calm – simply by knowing that you are calm. The more people who become calm the calmer people will become.
Posted by Ngak'chang Rinpoche and Khandro Déchen to sangha on WhatsApp 14th March 2020