Three Feelings, Recognized with Eyes Closed

Whatever we perceive with eyes closed will always be one of three: pleasant, painful, or neither. With eyes open, sensing these feelings clearly is difficult, because the outside environment is tangled up with everything we find agreeable. Once the eyelids close, notice simply what we perceive right now.

When the Wholesome Side Is in Charge, Stay With the Ease

If we currently perceive a state of ease and happiness, it means the wholesome side has taken hold of the heart. Stay with that ease continuously. As we know it, the sphere of knowing that arises draws in the pure energy called merit, flowing into the center of that brightness, purifying defilements and refining our inner elements toward clarity.

When the Unwholesome Side Is in Charge: Its Goal Is Torment, and Ultimately Hell

But if, upon knowing, there is no ease at all — only suffering — the unwholesome side has seized control of the heart. When this happens, it reveals its true nature, because the goal of the unwholesome side is precisely to inflict suffering on beings, tormenting them in proportion to the defilement present and the karmic result it is capable of producing. And when we die, it is this same force that consigns us to hell according to that karma. This is the real endgame of unwholesome states, if we allow them to keep governing the heart.

Suffering Exists to Be Known; Endurance and Inner Resilience Help

The Buddha taught that suffering exists simply to be known, because it is a strong, continuous signal that makes it easy to fix our attention on. As we keep knowing suffering, its clear, continuous signal lets us anchor and become firmly established. As we hold to that state of endurance, khanti comes to our aid, along with tapa, an inner resilience able to withstand the torment. If the unwholesome force is strong and our resilience isn't quite enough to match it, we simply keep relying on endurance to withstand it.

A Fixed Practice Time Sets a Condition With the Automatic System

Phra Ajarn teaches that practicing during a clearly defined stretch of time — say, setting aside about an hour — is itself a way of setting a condition with our inner automatic system. When we come to practice at the appointed time and complete it as planned, it means we have successfully programmed that intention, together with the pure energy drawn in continuously throughout. These treasures are then stored within the Dhamma, waiting to be put to use — yielding happiness and success in life according to the condition we set.

The Bubble Simile: A Stream of Merit

It's like dipping a coffee straw into water — bubbles rise continuously. Right now, the stream of merit within us is far faster and more abundant than any bubble we could blow. Within each sphere of merit is a pure nature, powerful enough to dissolve karmic consequences and misfortune entirely. Beyond that, each sphere of merit also contains form, wealth, virtue, and retinue, all complete — drawing worldly treasure into our lives.

Reciting Sammā Arahaṃ, Knowing Every Present Moment

If there is neither pleasure nor pain, try knowing the in-breath and out-breath, or knowing the body itself, or reciting Sammā Arahaṃ, staying aware in every present moment without lapse. The Buddha taught: monks, know clearly — knowing is mindfulness (sati), knowing clearly is clear comprehension (sampajañña). Know clearly what you know — the in-breath known, the out-breath known, long known, short known — or stay with the recitation, Sammā Arahaṃ, Sammā Arahaṃ, continuously.

Knowing Only One Thing at a Time: Sound or Image, Never Together

With every word of recitation, its corresponding state arises. As we recite, its form appears — the Buddha-image arises the instant he appears. We can only know one thing at any given moment: if we're aware of sound, no image appears in that instant; if we're aware of an image, sound does not appear. They take turns, one after another — only so quickly that it seems as though we know many things at once.

Form and Name Are Paired: Seeing the Bright Crystal Image

As we utter his name with each recitation, his form arises, layering deeper into us. Our head becomes clear, pure crystal of the Dhammakāya; the forehead, neck, shoulders, arms, chest, abdomen, back, hips, thighs, knees, shins, calves, and soles all become clear crystal of the Dhammakāya — our true self. Every other body is only a temporary residence; once the eyes close on this world, we leave these bodies behind. Only the Dhammakāya follows us through every life, every existence.

Radiating Loving-Kindness to the Universe

Next, expand a heart filled with mettā. Recall our ancestors, parents, grandparents, and the teachers who have shown us kindness, forming the wish for the wellbeing of all beings. Expand this heart to cover our home, then the whole village, the subdistrict, the whole province, the country, neighboring nations, until it covers the entire world — may all beings be free from suffering and find happiness, everywhere alike — and further still, covering the whole universe, every star, countless and beyond number.

Dedication of Merit

In this auspicious moment, Phra Ajarn leads the dedication of merit, invoking the blessing of every Buddha, every Pacceka Buddha, every Arahant, together with the blessing of the revered teachers. May all the merit sincerely accumulated gather into sacred, powerful merit, freeing us from servitude to Māra, from misfortune, bad karma, and obstacles, granting the eye of Dhamma that progressively reaches the Dhammakāya. May we have good health, long life, and unceasing resolve to build merit, heading straight toward Nibbāna. May every good wish come to fruition for us all, from this moment forward.