The Path to the Center of the Body

Drawing the Mind Inward

The uncontrolled mind is attracted outward through sensory contact and flits restlessly from object to object. Bringing the mind to concentrate at the center of the body requires considerable effort. You cannot, however, force the mind. If you try, it slips away. This is why Dhammakaya uses the Light Sphere, “Samma Arahang” and Mindfulness of Breathing to concentrate the mind and make it tractable.

Coaxing the Mind

Don’t force the mind too much. If you force it, the sphere goes away. On the other hand, if your energy is too slack, the sphere will also disappear and you won’t know where it has gone. If you feel too eager to see the sphere, you can’t. It’s gone again.

Mental training is like pressing a ping pong ball into water. You must have the right balance. Relax a little. Don’t press too hard. Don’t be anxious, but don’t be slack or allow sleepiness to creep in. Just coax the mind. Soothe it evenly and peacefully. The mind is something you cannot force.

Keep your mind alert at all times. If the mind wanders away, recognize it immediately. Bring the mind back as soon as it goes off somewhere.

How do you bring the mind back? Just visualize the sphere and repeat Samma Arahang. The mind will come into the sphere again, that’s all.

Luang Phor Wat Paknam taught a specific method for beginning meditators to bring the Light Sphere to the center of the body. There are seven positions along the way. Let us, however, summarize the method here to complete consideration of Concentration Meditation.

Position 1

Begin by visualizing the sphere at the nostril aperture (Position 1), for ladies on the left and for gentlemen on the right, while mentally reciting the words “Samma Arahang” at least three times to keep the sphere clear and still.

What is the proper size of the sphere? Whatever you can visualize. About the size of an eyeball will do. Don’t worry that a larger sphere couldn’t fit into the nose. All transparent things can go anywhere. Whatever the starting size, the sphere will become even larger if the mind stops still.

Position 2

Move the sphere from your nostril upwards into your nose to the eye-socket (Position 2), for ladies on the left, for gentlemen on the right. Move it inside the eye-socket, not outside. Focus your mind at the center of the sphere inside your eye-socket and mentally recite the words “Samma Arahang, Samma Arahang, Samma Arahang.” Then, move the sphere slowly, keeping your mind at its center by seeing the transparent spot at the center of the sphere.

Position 3

Slowly move the sphere to the center of the head (Position 3). Where is the center of the head? Suppose you have two lines, from the front to the back and from left to right. The intersection of those two lines is the center of your head. The sphere should be in line with your eye-sockets, not above or below.

Position 4

After you have mentally recited the words, “Samma Arahang, Samma Arahang, Samma Arahang,” to keep the sphere still at the center, move it downwards slowly to your palate, the ceiling of your mouth (Position 4). Just visualize that the sphere can go anywhere. Don’t bite it, just see it. Repeat the words Samma Arahang, at least three times to keep the sphere still.

You may find difficulty in moving the sphere downwards. That is because your mind is used to being outside all the time. It is difficult to bring it inside and it requires some time to train the mind. If you meditate correctly, you will be able to bring your mind in. Dhammakaya Meditation is one of the most effective methods for doing this. It may be difficult for the beginner, but later it becomes easier.

To solve the problem of bringing the mind with the sphere downwards into the center of the body, roll your eyeballs upwards a little bit temporarily. This makes your mind components move backwards and downwards. Then, focus your attention at the center of the sphere and move it downwards, position by position.

Position 5

Mentally move the bright, clear sphere slowly and directly downward to rest at the throat aperture [Position 5]. Repeat the words, “Samma Arahang” to yourself three times to keep the sphere bright and clear and to hold it steady.

Position 6

Next, move the sphere down to the center of the body, where the breathing stops, in line with your navel (Position 6). Repeat the words, “Samma Arahang, Samma Arahang, Samma Arahang,” here at least three times.

Position 7

Then move the sphere upwards two “anguli” (middle finger joints) or about two inches (five centimeters). This is the final location (Position 7) where the mind naturally resides at the center of the body.

This technique for drawing the mind inward is a preliminary practice. Meditators who can do it and know where the center of the body is do not need to move the sphere from starting to final position every time. They can begin directly at the center of the body in the seventh position. Those who find difficulty in moving the mind into the center of the body will just have to practice patiently until they can do it well (Next: the Center of the Body).

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