The Heart of Dhammakaya Meditation

The following are the principles and practice of Dhammakaya meditation in considerable detail. We noted that Dhammakaya Meditation combines aspects of concentration (Samatha) and wisdom (Vipassana) meditation. These, together with morality (Sila) make up the Noble Eightfold Path.

Dhammakaya Samatha (Concentration) meditation utilizes three of Lord Buddha’s forty concentration devices: visualization of the light sphere (Aloka Kasina), repetition of a mantra Samma Arahang to call Lord Buddha’s wisdom and purity into the mind (Buddhanussati), and mindfulness of breathing (Anapanasati).

The fourth principle at the heart of Dhammakaya is concentration at the center of the center. By bringing the mind to rest at the center of the body, the meditator can see his or her own Dhamma sphere which reveals the consequences of moral behavior. Continually focusing at the center of the center, the practitioner can proceed through ever purer body-minds all the way to Nirvana.

Dhammakaya Vipassana (Insight) practice aims at Right Wisdom through contemplation of the body, feelings, mental functions and phenomena (dhamma). There are two levels, mundane Right Understanding of compound phenomena (Sankhara) and supra-mundane Right Understanding of non-compound nature (Visankhara) which is Nirvana and Dhammakaya. Dhammakaya meditation is especially effective in helping meditators to experience non-compound nature directly.

The real heart of Dhammakaya meditation is practice. Academic learning can indicate the way, but direct experience through meditation is the path to purification and wisdom.

Step by Step

Please sit in a regular meditation posture, cross-legged as seen in some images of the Buddha, with the right leg resting upon the left [see the picture on the right]. The right hand rests on the left, palms turned upwards, right index finger just touching the left thumb. The body is upright and the mind fully alert. Take a deep breath and relax the body until you feel comfortable. Close your eyelids lightly, do not press them.

In Samatha Vipassana Meditation pracitce, two aids are used: (1) The repetitive word and (2) The object of visualization.

The repetitive word is “Samma Arahang” and the object of visualization is a bright, clear, luminous sphere. Using these aids, we shall draw the mind inward along the path to the center of the body. Such concentration allows the mind components of vision, memory, thought and awareness to come together into one-pointedness. The following are step-by-step Dhammakaya Meditation Practice.

Position 1:  The Nostril Aperture

Concentrate with your mind and visualize until there exists a vision of a bright and clear sphere. Let the sphere appear at your nostril, for ladies at the left nostril and for gentlemen at the right nostril. Fix your attention and rest your mind at the center of the sphere. This is a very bright and clear spot, the size of a grain of sand or needle point. Repeat the words “Samma Arahang” mentally three times to sustain the bright and clear sphere at the nostril. This is the first position at which your mind is focused. 

Position 2:  The Eye Socket

Next, mentally move the bright, clear sphere slowly up to rest at the eye socket – ladies to your left eye socket and gentlemen to your right eye socket. While you are slowly moving the sphere with your mind, fix your attention always at the small bright center of the sphere. As the sphere rests at your eye socket, repeat ment ally the words “Samma Arahang” three times. This is the second position. 

Position 3: The Center of the Head

Mentally shift the sphere slowly to rest at the center of your head in line with the eyes. Keep the mind constantly fixed at the bright center of the luminous sphere. Repeat to yourself the words “Samma Arahang” three times to keep the sphere as bright and clear as you can, so that it shines and remains in that position. This is the third position. 

Position 4: The Palate Terminus

Roll your eye-balls upward without lifting your head, so that your vision will turn back and inside. Meanwhile, mentally move the luminous and transparent sphere slowly and directly downward toward the palate. Recite to yourself the words “Samma Arahang” three times, to make the sphere even brighter and clearer, and hold it there. This is the fourth position. 

Position 5: The Throat Aperture

Mentally move the bright, clear sphere slowly and directly downward to rest at the throat aperture. Repeat the words “Samma Arahang” to yourself three times, to keep the sphere bright and clear and hold it steady. This is the fifth position. 

Position 6: Center of the Physical Body

Next, slowly move the clear, luminous sphere directly downward, while keeping your attention focused on the bright nucleus at its center. Bring the sphere to rest at the center of the body, where the breath ends, even with the navel. This is the sixth position. Mentally recite the words “Samma Arahang” three times to keep the transparent sphere bright and luminous, and to hold it steady.

Position 7:  Position of Sphere

Now, shift the sphere directly upward two “Aguli” or two middle finger joints above the navel. This is the center of the body and the seventh position. This is the mind’s permanent resting place. Whenever a person or any other creature is born, dies, sleeps or wakens, the Dhamma Sphere which governs the body arises from this position. The Dhamma Sphere is composed of the Vision Sphere, the Memory Sphere, the Thought Sphere, and the Cognition Sphere. During meditation, the Dhamma Sphere appears to float from the sixth position up to the seventh position. The seventh position is also considered to be the center of the body.

Keep the bright, clear sphere resting at the center of the body in the seventh position. Mentally recite the words “Samma Arahang” continuously to keep the sphere still and make it become brighter and clearer. Concentrate so that the sphere shines continuously. Focus your mind at the bright center of the sphere, and at the bright center of each successive sphere that emerges.

Pay no attention to any external sensation. Let your mind delve deeper and deeper into the successive centers as you recite “Samma Arahang”, the Parikamma-bhavana. Even if ants are climbing all over you or mosquitoes are flying all around, pay no heed. Don’t even pay attention to following the breath.

Bring your mind to rest at the center of the center, by envisioning a bright sphere. Your mind should rest steadily and continuously at the center of the sphere. Do not force the mind too strongly. Over exerting the mind will cause a shift in your meditation and the mind will not be able to see.

Do not use your physical eyes to focus on the vision. The practice is only for your mind. Gently train your mind to see a bright, clear, steady sphere. Mentally observe and focus on the bright clear center. Concentrate on the center of each consecutive sphere that emerges from the preceding one. Do not wander to the left, right, front, rear, top or bottom. Always focus on the center of each new sphere which emerges from the bright shining center. Rest the mind there.

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