Meditation Guideline 1
Guideline of Basic
Dhammakaya Meditation
by Phramongkolthepmuni
(Sodh Candasaro)
An excerpt of from The Collection of Pharmongkolthepmuni’s 67 Discourses, p. 925-928, Wat Paknam (Bangkok), 19 June 2555
Translated by Pittaya Wong
After we
perform chanting, I would like to tell you the principle of Samatha and Vipassana
meditation. Firstly, it requires the
parikamma bhavana (impulsion on a word) and parikamma nimitta
(impulsion on an object). In practicing Samatha
meditation, both of them go hand in hand.
For parikamma
nimitta, one needs to picture in mind an object of meditation which is
clear like a flawless well-cut diamond sphere, about the size of an eye
pupil. For women, please picture it at
your left nostril. For men, please
picture the image at your right nostril.
Keep it right at the spot. Then,
bring our wandering mind into the pictured image. This image is as large as an eye pupil, and
inside there is another sphere which is about the size of a seed. This image should be clear like a mirror.
Then, practice
parikamma bhavana by repeating the mantra ‘Samma Arahang’ three
times while picturing the image of a clear sphere. Every time you repeat the mantra, recollect
the image of the clear sphere at your nostril, this is the first base.
For the second
base, move the pictured image to the corner of your eyes, right eye for men and
left eye for women. Your eye corner is
right at the point of your tear gland where your breath can flow through. Picture the image of a crystal clear sphere
and focus your mind right in the middle of such sphere. Then, repeat the mantra Samma Arahang
three times.
Next, move the
pictured image from the corner of your eye to the middle of your head. Not to the left, the right, above, or below,
but in the void center of the axes.
Picture the image at this base and repeat the mantra three times… Samma
Arahang… Samma Arahang… Samma Arahang… There is a special technique for the following
step. You have to roll your eyeballs
upward tightly as much as possible in order to let one’s vision turns
backward. Then, let the vision turns
inside.
Once your
vision turns inside, move the pictured image from the third base to the fourth
base which is at the roof of your mouth where you choke. Let it be right there, not to slip away. Then, repeat the mantra while your mind is
inside the pictured image at the roof of mouth… Samma Arahang… Samma
Arahang… Samma Arahang, altogether three times.
Next, move the
pictured image to the top of your throat, above your Adam’s apple, similar to
the center of a muzzle. Locate the
pictured sphere at the top of your throat and repeat the mantra Samma
Arahang three times.
Then, move the
pictured sphere into your body, at the end point of your breathing in. Imagine that there is a thread stringing from
your navel to the back and another thread from the left waist to the right
waist. Focus your mind right in the
middle, at the intersection of the two threads.
This is the point where the Dhamma sphere that forms human body is
located. Focus your mind here right in
the middle of the sphere at this point and repeat the mantra Samma Arahang
three times. [This is the sixth base of mind.]
Next, move the
pictured sphere up around two fingers-breadth.
At this point, there are five centers.
The center to the front, the right, the back, the left, and in the
middle. The center in the middle is the
center of vacuous element (space). The
center to the front is the center of cohesive element (fluidity). The center to the right is the center of
solid element (solidity). The center to
the back is the center of combustive element (temperature). The center to the left belongs to mobile
element (wind). Picture the image of a
clear sphere floating in the middle.
This is called the ‘soon’ [zero] [or the seventh base of mind.]
Why do we call
it ‘soon?’ When a being is to reborn or
die, its spirit will be located at ‘sib’ [ten], right in the middle of the
sphere. The spirit or astral body will
be in the middle of the sphere [at the sixth base]. When a father and a mother have an
intercourse, at the right moment, it will enter the ‘soon.’ When entering the ‘soon’ it is lifted from
the ‘sib’ [or the sixth base] to the ‘soon’ [or the seventh base] which is two
fingers-breadth above the sixth base.
The size of the lifted sphere is about the same size of an egg
yolk. The sphere is clear like a
mirror. This is how one is born right at
the ‘soon.’
The ‘soon’ is
so important. To be born into the human
world, it is made possible with the ‘soon.’
To enter Nirvana, one needs to enter the ‘soon’ as well. However, when one is to die, it goes the
opposite way. For reincarnation, one has
to go out from the ‘soon,’ but for disincarnation, one goes inside the ‘soon.’ Keep your mind in the middle. Keep your mind still. Don’t let it slip. This is about dying and rebirth. You need to know this principle.
Once you know
this principle, you realize now that your mind starts to wander right in every
morning because it is in line towards reincarnation. On the contrary, if your mind is still in the
middle, it is to end reincarnation. So,
we know ourselves. We don’t have to beg
from others. We know after we learn it
and understand. We have to keep our mind
still right in the middle to enter the middle of the middle… right in the
middle of the middle… not to the left, the right, the front, the back, above,
or below… we enter the middle of the middle only by stilling our mind. At the right concentration, you will see a
bright sphere about the size of a full moon or a midday sun [without the effort
to visualize or picture in mind].
Still your
mind further right in the middle of the image.
At the right concentration, another sphere will appear. This sphere is called ‘Sila
Sphere.’ Then, still your mind further
until meeting the right concentration, another sphere called ‘Samadhi Sphere’
will appear. Its size is similar to the
full moon or the midday sun.
Still your
mind in the middle of the ‘Samadhi Sphere,’ at the right concentration, another
sphere called ‘Panna Sphere’ will appear.
Still your
mind further in the middle of the ‘Panna Sphere.’ At the right concentration, you will see
another sphere called ‘Vimutti Sphere.’
Still your mind in the middle of ‘Vimutti Sphere,’ and you will see the ‘Vimuttiynanadassana Sphere’ when your mind reaches [the deeper level of] right concentration.
Continue to
still your mind in the middle of ‘Vimuttinanadassana Sphere’ until you
reach the right mental unification, and you will see your own spirit or astral
body which is used when you reborn. Oh…
here (s)he is… You have been in line with the principle now, which I told you
earlier. You have to know this
principle. Don’t let it slip. It is something permanently fixed.
I teach you to
repeat the mantra Samma Arahang because it can help your mind to achieve
stillness. Keep repeating Samma
Arahang… Samma Arahang… Samma Arahang… Samma Arahang… Samma Arahang… Samma
Arahang…. At the right mental
concentration, your mind will become still right in the middle of the sphere,
either your mind is in darkness or brightness. There is no need to proceed or retreat,
simply remain still there. At the right concentration, the darkness of your
mind will turn to be a clear sphere. If
you see brightness, you will see a clear sphere amidst the brightness of your
mind. However, keep your mind still in
the middle of the clear sphere. If your
mind is not still and starts to sway, return to repeating the mantra Samma
Arahang… Samma Arahang… Samma Arahang… Samma Arahang… Samma Arahang… When you reach the right concentration, your
mind will become still.
Once your mind
becomes [completely] still, you do not have to repeat the mantra anymore. Simply keep your mind focused and remain
still. If your mind starts to wander or
retreat, return to repeating the mantra again.
Keep repeating Samma Arahang… Samma Arahang… Samma Arahang… Samma
Arahang… Samma Arahang until your mind becomes still. When your mind is still, you don’t have to
repeat the mantra in your mind. Simply
keep your mind focused and keep your mind indifferent. Let it be still, and that’s all. Stillness of mind is the priority. Don’t worry about the brightness or darkness
of your mind since stillness of mind is the key to success. As Angulimala said to the Lord Buddha “Be
still, monk! Be still.” The Lord Buddha
replied “I am already still, but you are not.”
This is the stillness that He meant.
You should learn and practice until you master it first. Don’t mention about anything else too much
for now. Make sure you can keep your
mind still first. Once you can do it, we
can continue to the next step. Keep your
mind still first.
You are a
human. Can’t you do it like others? Why not?
If you are really committed, you will make it. If you are not committed, you won’t
achieve. At which level of commitment? To the cost of your life! Do not rouse from your seat even if the blood
and flesh in your body dry up until there are only the skeleton and skin left. If everyone is committed like this, everyone
will be able to make it. I myself
[sacrificed my life for meditation] twice… achievement or die… and remain
still. Finally, I made it. Achievement or die… and I made it. I didn’t
die. The Lord Buddha also persevered in
meditation with the four factors. He was willing to meditate until his blood and
flesh dried up and only His skeleton and skin remained. But He could reach the right
concentration. In the first shift of the
night, He could manage to attain the ability to recall past lifetimes
(retrocognition). In the second shift of
the night, He attained the divine eye or clairvoyance. And in the third shift of the night, he
attained the knowledge of the destruction of the mental influxes that ends
rebirth. He meditated all night
long. As our teacher, He had much
commitment. You are one of His students,
you should be committed as well. Be
willing to die if you don’t achieve. If
the mind is not still, you better die.
Really be committed for the stillness of mind.
Once your mind
becomes still, you will realize the path of Buddhism. You will understand ‘the right
concentration.’ So, remember well. Repeating the mantra Samma Arahang… Samma
Arahang… Samma Arahang… Samma Arahang… Make it firm, and don’t let it
slip.
Note:
|
Base of Mind |
Location |
Significance |
|
The first base |
Nostril |
The connecting point between the outside world and one’s body |
|
The second base |
Corner of eye at tear duct |
The center for smelling sensory system |
|
The third base |
Middle of head |
The center for vision sensory system |
|
The fourth base |
Roof of mouth |
The center for hearing sensory system |
|
The fifth base |
Top of throat |
The center for taste sensory system |
|
The sixth base |
Middle of abdomen at navel’s level |
The center for body feeling sensory system |
|
The seventh base |
The center of body |
The home base of mind |
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