The Process of Dhammakaya Attainment

by Phramongkolthepmuni (Sodh Candasaro)

Master of Dhammakaya Meditation and Founder of Dhammakaya Tradition

Translated by Pittaya Wong

Now, all of you, both laymen and laywomen, have sacrificed your valuable time to study Buddhism. In the Lord Buddha’s teaching, He taught creatures to be calm abstain from misdeeds and commit good deeds physically, verbally, and mentally. In addition, they are required to clear [or purify] their mind. These three are the teachings of all Lord Buddhas, either in the past, the present, or the future. They affirm the same teachings. Due to this reason, as all of you are determined in Buddhism, you intend to develop your mind according to the Buddhist teaching. To develop or set your mind well, there is a Pali saying that “Look! Monks. There are two types of vijja (knowledge). What are they? Mental calm (samatha) is one of them, and insight (vipassana) is another one. What is the purpose of achieving samatha? To make possible of the citta... What is the purpose for the making possible of citta? The sensual appreciation which clings to the citta will cease, with samatha, the mental calm. What is the purpose of achieving vipassana? To enable wisdom. What is the purpose of enabling wisdom? The untruthful knowledge that remains in the mind will cease, with vipassana (insight)”.

In Buddhism, there are these two significant knowledge (vijja). All of you have sacrificed your time to study these two knowledge, samatha and vipassana. Samatha is the primary knowledge. Buddhists have to take into account that samatha means ‘mental calm.’ Vipassana is of a superior level, meaning the ‘insight.’ It is an advanced Dhamma. Samatha and vipassana are the profound Dhamma in Buddhism. I myself have studied since I was ordained. In the following day after my ordination [ceremony], I commenced my study on samatha consistently until the present. Now, I both study and teach. What are the sections of samatha? There are forty sections of samatha comprising of The Ten Things That One Can Behold Directly (kasina), The Ten Objects of Repulsion (asubha), The Ten Recollections (anussati), The Four Stations of Brahma (brahmavihara), The Four States of Arupa Meditative Absorption (arupajhana), and perception of disgust of food (aharepatikulasanna). These are the forty sections of samatha. For vipassana, there are six sections comprising of The Five Aggregates (khanda), The Twelve Sensory Domains (ayatana), The Eighteen Elements of Consciousness (dhatu), The Twenty-two Faculties (indriya), The Four Noble Truth (ariyasacca), and The Twelve Links of Dependent Origination (paticcasamuppada). These are the sections of vipassana. The sections of samatha and vipassana are the doctrine in Buddhism which have been studied until now. For samatha that we are going to study, we start from stilling the mind in order to enter samatha level. If you cannot still your mind, you cannot enter samatha level as samatha means mental calm and stillness. You have to still your mind. What does the mind mean? [A mind] means the sensation (vedanā), perception (saññā), volition (saṅkhāra), and cognition (viññāṇa) that are focused at a single point. When the four of these are focused at the same single point, it is called the mind. Where are they? The sensation (vedanā) is at the center of one’s body. The perception (saññā) is amidst the heart nourishing liquid. The volition activity (saṅkhāra) is in the middle of citta sphere. The cognition is in the middle of viññāṇa sphere. Sensation (vedanā), perception (saññā), volition (saṅkhāra or citta), and cognition (viññāṇa) [control] the whole body. When we bring them together, they are [altogether] called the mind. We have to make our mind still at a single point in the middle of human body. [Imagine that there are two strings], the first string stretches from our navel to the back, the second string stretches from the right waist to the left waist, the crossing point of these two strings is called the ‘intersection.’ This intersection [or the sixth base of mind] is the location of the Dhamma sphere which forms the human body. This clear and pure sphere is about the size of an egg yolk. The intersection is the middle of this sphere. [The same as] I taught you to visualize a Buddha amulet in the middle of the sphere. Rest your mind at the middle of the intersection, focus your sensation, perception, volition, and cognition there, in the middle of the sphere which forms human body. There is only one location for the mind. When someone says [in Thai] that ‘locate your mind’ [which means ‘pay attention’ in English], you have to locate your mind there… Locate your mind… you are going to make merit… This means that you have to locate your mind [at the intersection]. When we are to observe precepts, we locate our mind there. [In the same manner], when we are to practice meditation, we locate our mind there. We have to still our mind there, in the middle. Force your mind to be still. If it is not still, you have to use a mantra. Repeat the mantra over and over. At the right concentration, your mind will become still. When your mind becomes still, you achieve samatha. This is samatha. Stillness of mind is the key to success in both the mundane and the Dhamma path. One will be happy in the mundane path if one’s mind is still. One will also be happy in the Dhamma path if one’s mind is still accordingly to the Dhamma. There is a Pali saying that “No other happiness surpasses the stillness of mind.” So, stillness of mind is crucial. Due to this reason, we have to still our mind. Once our mind becomes still, we have to still our mind further… stillness within stillness without retreating. A still mind must be at ‘the center’; otherwise, it will not work. You have to still your mind in such a way that it enters sib [the sixth base], soon [seventh base], and suan [right concentration] respectively. When your mind becomes still in the middle of your body [at the intersection], you access the sib [which is the sixth base of mind]. Once you access the sib, you will soon enter soon [which is the seventh base, two fingers-width above the sixth base]. There is an ancient saying that “Seeing sib will lead to seeing soon. This is a clue that has been passed on…” So, sib and soon are crucial. For creatures to reborn in this world, they have to enter sib and drawn into soon. This will enable them to take birth. If they enter sib without deepen into soon, they cannot take birth. The world and the Dhamma rely on each other like this. In the Dhamma path, one has to enter sib [first] and be drawn into soon. Drawn and deepen into soon means one’s mind becomes still [already]. When the mind becomes still, it enters sib [or the sixth base first]. [At sib,] one will see a clear sphere as big as a [full] moon or a [midday] sun, arising at the point where the mind becomes still. [Then, the sphere will be quickly drawn from sib to soon]. This is the drawing and deepening into soon. This is called ‘entering sib and seeing soon.’ Once seeing soon, the mind becomes still in the middle of the clear sphere which is now [re]located to soon. This clear sphere is called dhammanupassanasatipattana sphere or patthamamagga sphere which is the initial path toward magga and phala of Nibbana (the path and fruition of Nirvana). To reach Nirvana, you have to enter the middle of this sphere only, there is no other way. Now that you can enter the middle of the sphere at soon. This sphere is also called ‘ekayanamagga’ which means the single path or the only one without a secondary path. It is the only one. The dhammanupassanasatipattana is the path of all Lord Buddhas and enlightened arahants all alike in the whole universe and universal Dhamma. The Lord Buddhas and enlightened arahants who are to enter Nirvana have to access this only path. They go [or proceed into] the very same way without a split, but they proceed at a different speed. Some of them proceed slowly while some of them are capable of proceeding quickly. There is a difference. This depends of their past cultivation. However, their path is the same… ekayanamagga… the single path. To proceed [through this path], they have to still [their mind]. This is weird because, in the worldly way, one has to speed up in order to proceed quickly either by a plane, a boat, or a car. But the Dhamma path is different, one has to be still [mentally] in order to proceed [, the more still, the more speedy]. Once the mind becomes still, one proceeds quickly and reaches [the destination]. It is weird like this. Thus, still your mind in the middle of the sphere that forms human body. Be still. When your mind becomes still at the right concentration or mental unification, you will see a clear sphere called ekayanamagga or pathamamagga or dhammanupassanasatipattana sphere which is about the same size as the [full] moon or the [midday] sun. The mind, then, becomes still in the middle of the sphere. Stilling the mind further within the sphere, at the right concentration, one will see another sphere of equal size in the middle of dhammanupassanasatipattana sphere. This sphere is called sila sphere [the sphere of morality]. Still one’s mind further in the middle of sila sphere, one will see another sphere called samadhi sphere [the sphere of concentration]. Still one’s mind further in the middle of samadhi sphere, one will see another sphere called panna sphere [the sphere of wisdom]. Still one’s mind further in the middle of panna sphere, one will see another sphere called vimutti sphere [the sphere of transcendence]. Still one’s mind further in the middle of vimutti sphere, one will see another sphere called vimuttinanadassana sphere [the sphere of insight]. Still one’s mind further in the middle of the vimuttinanadassana sphere, [at soon or center of the body], one will see one’s own refined human body. This is the body that one uses when dreaming or taking birth. This is called the refined human body. When we see this body, we come to realize “Oh. I go with this body when we dream. It performs its duty when I dream. When I wake up, I don’t know where this body is.” Now, we see that this body is in the middle of vimuttinanadassana sphere. Once we see this body, allow this body to sit in meditation posture like the human body.

The refined human body’s mind will rest in the middle of the Dhamma sphere which forms the refined human body. At the right concentration, one will see the sila sphere. Still one’s mind further in the middle of sila sphere, one will see another sphere called samadhi sphere. Sill one’s mind further in the middle of samadhi sphere, one will see panna sphere. Still one’s mind further in the middle of panna sphere, one will see another sphere called vimutti sphere. Still one’s mind further in the middle of vimutti sphere, one will see another sphere called vimuttinanadassana sphere. Still one’s mind further in the middle of the vimuttinanadassana sphere, [at soon or center of the body], one will see [one’s own] celestial body.

The celestial body’s mind will rest in the middle of the Dhamma sphere which forms the celestial body. At the right concentration, one will see the sila sphere. Still one’s mind further in the middle of sila sphere, one will see another sphere called samadhi sphere. Sill one’s mind further in the middle of samadhi sphere, one will see panna sphere. Still one’s mind further in the middle of panna sphere, one will see another sphere called vimutti sphere. Still one’s mind further in the middle of vimutti sphere, one will see another sphere called vimuttinanadassana sphere. Still one’s mind further in the middle of the vimuttinanadassana sphere, [at soon or center of the body], one will see [one’s own] refined celestial body.

The refined celestial body’s mind will rest in the middle of the Dhamma sphere which forms the refined celestial body. At the right concentration, one will see the sila sphere. Still one’s mind further in the middle of sila sphere, one will see another sphere called samadhi sphere. Sill one’s mind further in the middle of samadhi sphere, one will see panna sphere. Still one’s mind further in the middle of panna sphere, one will see another sphere called vimutti sphere. Still one’s mind further in the middle of vimutti sphere, one will see another sphere called vimuttinanadassana sphere. Still one’s mind further in the middle of the vimuttinanadassana sphere, [at soon or center of the body], one will see [one’s own] Rupa Brahma body.

The Rupa Brahma body’s mind will rest in the middle of the Dhamma sphere which forms the Rupa Brahma body. At the right concentration, one will see the sila sphere. Still one’s mind further in the middle of sila sphere, one will see another sphere called samadhi sphere. Sill one’s mind further in the middle of samadhi sphere, one will see panna sphere. Still one’s mind further in the middle of panna sphere, one will see another sphere called vimutti sphere. Still one’s mind further in the middle of vimutti sphere, one will see another sphere called vimuttinanadassana sphere. Still one’s mind further in the middle of the vimuttinanadassana sphere, [at soon or center of the body], one will see [one’s own] refined Rupa Brahma body.

The refined Rupa Brahma body’s mind will rest in the middle of the Dhamma sphere which forms the refined Rupa Brahma body. At the right concentration, one will see the sila sphere. Still one’s mind further in the middle of sila sphere, one will see another sphere called samadhi sphere. Sill one’s mind further in the middle of samadhi sphere, one will see panna sphere. Still one’s mind further in the middle of panna sphere, one will see another sphere called vimutti sphere. Still one’s mind further in the middle of vimutti sphere, one will see another sphere called vimuttinanadassana sphere. Still one’s mind further in the middle of the vimuttinanadassana sphere, [at soon or center of the body], one will see [one’s own] Arupa Brahma body.

The Arupa Brahma body’s mind will rest in the middle of the Dhamma sphere which forms the Arupa Brahma body. At the right concentration, one will see the sila sphere. Still one’s mind further in the middle of sila sphere, one will see another sphere called samadhi sphere. Sill one’s mind further in the middle of samadhi sphere, one will see panna sphere. Still one’s mind further in the middle of panna sphere, one will see another sphere called vimutti sphere. Still one’s mind further in the middle of vimutti sphere, one will see another sphere called vimuttinanadassana sphere. Still one’s mind further in the middle of the vimuttinanadassana sphere, [at soon or center of the body], one will see [one’s own] refined Arupa Brahma body [which is the highest level of samatha level].

The refined Arupa Brahma body’s mind will rest in the middle of the Dhamma sphere which forms the refined Arupa Brahma body. At the right concentration, one will see the sila sphere. Still one’s mind further in the middle of sila sphere, one will see another sphere called samadhi sphere. Sill one’s mind further in the middle of samadhi sphere, one will see panna sphere. Still one’s mind further in the middle of panna sphere, one will see another sphere called vimutti sphere. Still one’s mind further in the middle of vimutti sphere, one will see another sphere called vimuttinanadassana sphere. Still one’s mind further in the middle of the vimuttinanadassana sphere, [at soon or center of the body], one will see [one’s own Gotrabhu] Dhamma body [or Gotrabhu Dhammakaya which is the beginning of vipassana level]. This crystal clear body resembles a Buddha statue with a [tiny] lotus bud on the top of his head. [This body is seated in cross-legged meditation posture similar to all other previous transcendental bodies]. The lap-width of this Dhamma body varies proportionately. The lap-width equals to the diameter of the Dhamma sphere which forms this Dhamma body. The sphere is rounded covering the whole Dhamma body. This Dhamma body is the Buddha Gem (Buddharatana) whereas the Dhamma sphere which forms this Dhamma body is the Dhamma Gem (Dhammaratana).

The Dhamma body’s mind will rest in the middle of the Dhamma sphere which forms the Dhamma body. At the right concentration, one will see dhammanupassanasatipatthana sphere (dhamma sphere). Still one’s mind further in this sphere, one will see the sila sphere. Still one’s mind further in the middle of sila sphere, one will see another sphere called samadhi sphere. Sill one’s mind further in the middle of samadhi sphere, one will see panna sphere. Still one’s mind further in the middle of panna sphere, one will see another sphere called vimutti sphere. Still one’s mind further in the middle of vimutti sphere, one will see another sphere called vimuttinanadassana sphere. Still one’s mind further in the middle of the vimuttinanadassana sphere, [at soon or center of the body], one will see [one’s own] refined [Gotrabhu] Dhamma body which is five times larger than the previous [unrefined Gotrabhu] Dhamma body.

The refined [Gotrabhu] Dhamma body’s mind will rest in the middle of the Dhamma sphere which forms the refined [Gotrabhu] Dhamma body. At the right concentration, one will see dhammanupassanasatipatthana sphere (or dhamma sphere). Still one’s mind further in the middle of this sphere, one will see the sila sphere. Still one’s mind further in the middle of sila sphere, one will see another sphere called samadhi sphere. Sill one’s mind further in the middle of samadhi sphere, one will see panna sphere. Still one’s mind further in the middle of panna sphere, one will see another sphere called vimutti sphere. Still one’s mind further in the middle of vimutti sphere, one will see another sphere called vimuttinanadassana sphere. Still one’s mind further in the middle of the vimuttinanadassana sphere, [at soon or center of the body], one will see [one’s own] Sotapanna Dhamma body whose lap-width and height [in seated cross-legged meditation posture] are 10 meters. This body is even more crystal clear than the previous one.

The Sotapanna Dhamma body’s mind will rest in the middle of the Dhamma sphere which forms the Sotapanna Dhamma body. At the right concentration, one will see dhammanupassanasatipatthana sphere (dhamma sphere). Still one’s mind further in this sphere, one will see the sila sphere. Still one’s mind further in the middle of sila sphere, one will see another sphere called samadhi sphere. Sill one’s mind further in the middle of samadhi sphere, one will see panna sphere. Still one’s mind further in the middle of panna sphere, one will see another sphere called vimutti sphere. Still one’s mind further in the middle of vimutti sphere, one will see another sphere called vimuttinanadassana sphere. Still one’s mind further in the middle of the vimuttinanadassana sphere, one will see [one’s own] refined Sotapanna Dhamma body whose lap-width and height [in seated cross-legged meditation posture] are 10 meters..

The refined Sotapanna Dhamma body’s mind will rest in the middle of the Dhamma sphere which forms the refined Sotapanna Dhamma body. At the right concentration, one will see dhammanupassanasatipatthana sphere (or dhamma sphere). Still one’s mind further in this sphere, one will see the sila sphere. Still one’s mind further in the middle of sila sphere, one will see another sphere called samadhi sphere. Sill one’s mind further in the middle of samadhi sphere, one will see panna sphere. Still one’s mind further in the middle of panna sphere, one will see another sphere called vimutti sphere. Still one’s mind further in the middle of vimutti sphere, one will see another sphere called vimuttinanadassana sphere. Still one’s mind further in the middle of the vimuttinanadassana sphere, one will see [one’s own] Sakadagami Dhamma body whose lap-width and height [in seated cross-legged meditation posture] are 20 meters..

The Sakadagami Dhamma body’s mind will rest in the middle of the Dhamma sphere which forms the Sakadagami Dhamma body. At the right concentration, one will see dhammanupassanasatipatthana sphere (or dhamma sphere). Still one’s mind further in this sphere, one will see the sila sphere. Still one’s mind further in the middle of sila sphere, one will see another sphere called samadhi sphere. Sill one’s mind further in the middle of samadhi sphere, one will see panna sphere. Still one’s mind further in the middle of panna sphere, one will see another sphere called vimutti sphere. Still one’s mind further in the middle of vimutti sphere, one will see another sphere called vimuttinanadassana sphere. Still one’s mind further in the middle of the vimuttinanadassana sphere, one will see [one’s own] refined Sakadagami Dhamma body whose lap-width and height [in seated cross-legged meditation posture] are 20 meters..

The refined Sakadagami Dhamma body’s mind will rest in the middle of the Dhamma sphere which forms the refined Sakadagami Dhamma body. At the right concentration, one will see dhammanupassanasatipatthana sphere. Still one’s mind further in this sphere, one will see the sila sphere. Still one’s mind further in the middle of sila sphere, one will see another sphere called samadhi sphere. Sill one’s mind further in the middle of samadhi sphere, one will see panna sphere. Still one’s mind further in the middle of panna sphere, one will see another sphere called vimutti sphere. Still one’s mind further in the middle of vimutti sphere, one will see another sphere called vimuttinanadassana sphere. Still one’s mind further in the middle of the vimuttinanadassana sphere, one will see [one’s own] Anagami Dhamma body whose lap-width and height [in seated cross-legged meditation posture] are 30 meters.

The Anagami Dhamma body’s mind will rest in the middle of the Dhamma sphere which forms the Anagami Dhamma body. At the right concentration, one will see dhammanupassanasatipatthana sphere. Still one’s mind further in this sphere, one will see the sila sphere. Still one’s mind further in the middle of sila sphere, one will see another sphere called samadhi sphere. Sill one’s mind further in the middle of samadhi sphere, one will see panna sphere. Still one’s mind further in the middle of panna sphere, one will see another sphere called vimutti sphere. Still one’s mind further in the middle of vimutti sphere, one will see another sphere called vimuttinanadassana sphere. Still one’s mind further in the middle of the vimuttinanadassana sphere, [at soon or center of the body], one will see [one’s own] refined Anagami Dhamma body whose lap-width and height [in seated cross-legged meditation posture] are 30 meters..

The refined Anagami Dhamma body’s mind will rest in the middle of the Dhamma sphere which forms the refined Anagami Dhamma body. At the right concentration, one will see dhammanupassanasatipatthana sphere. Still one’s mind further in this sphere, one will see the sila sphere. Still one’s mind further in the middle of sila sphere, one will see another sphere called samadhi sphere. Sill one’s mind further in the middle of samadhi sphere, one will see panna sphere. Still one’s mind further in the middle of panna sphere, one will see another sphere called vimutti sphere. Still one’s mind further in the middle of vimutti sphere, one will see another sphere called vimuttinanadassana sphere. Still one’s mind further in the middle of the vimuttinanadassana sphere, [at the center of one’s body], one will see [one’s own] Arahant Dhamma body whose lap-width and height [in seated cross-legged meditation posture] are 40 meters..

The Arahant Dhamma body’s mind will rest in the middle of the dhamma sphere which forms the Arahant Dhamma body. At the right concentration, one will see dhammanupassanasatipatthana sphere (dhamma sphere). Still one’s mind further in this sphere, one sees the sila sphere. Still one’s mind further in the middle of sila sphere, one will see another sphere called samadhi sphere. Sill one’s mind further in the middle of samadhi sphere, one will see panna sphere. Still one’s mind further in the middle of panna sphere, one will see another sphere called vimutti sphere. Still one’s mind further in the middle of vimutti sphere, one will see another sphere called vimuttinanadassana sphere. Still one’s mind further in the middle of the vimuttinanadassana sphere, [at soon or center of the body], one will see [one’s own] refined Arahant Dhamma body whose lap-width and height [in seated cross-legged meditation posture] are 40 meters. [These are the eighteen bodies in Dhammakaya meditation.]

* The Pali verses quoted by Phramongkolthepmuni are omitted
in this translation.

* Sib literally means ‘ten’ in Thai language.

* Soon literally means ‘zero’ and ‘center’ in Thai language.

* Suan literally means ‘proportion’ in Thai language.