According to Tenzin Tsapel, a nun who is applying for the spring retreat, HH commented when he visited the Chenrezig Institute in Australia, speaking to a group of Western monks and nuns:
“Then, please pay more attention about practice of samadhi, shamatha [calm abiding]. Very essential. Now myself, nowadays I really feel I want to practice shamatha, but now very difficult [to find] sufficient time. Otherwise, I really feel highly necessary. Of course, it is not nice stay by myself. The practice of altruism, bodhicitta, I believe I have some experience. Then understanding about shunyata, I also have some understanding. But now due to lack of shamatha, no further progress. So shamatha is very, very important. Although shamatha itself [is] common [to] Buddhist and non-Buddhist, but without that [it is] difficult to go further, further. Like that.”

More encouragement!
Alan
October 2011