Holding Onto Freshness Before the Eyes Close

He begins by asking us to hold onto a feeling of alertness and freshness before returning inward — carrying that sense of fullness, refreshment, and ease while the eyes are still open, then gently letting the eyelids come down. While the eyes remain open, notice the breath moving in and out, the body's small movements, the blinking of the eyes, the pulse, even one's own thoughts — growing familiar with this embodied awareness before the eyes close, so closing them becomes easier.

Shifting into the Body's Center

Once eyes-open practice tires and we want to close them, let the eyelids gently come down, carrying that alertness inward — only enough that the eyelashes touch, letting light through, never letting the mind go dark, because full darkness leaves nothing controllable. From the belly, shift slightly inward, about half a hand's width, to the body's center, and bring to mind a crystal orb or Buddha image. It need not be entirely clear, since defilement currently obscures it like a screen; even without seeing it, simply feeling that "it's there" is enough.

Recitation Paired with the Mental Image

Once we sense the Buddha image or crystal orb within, settle into its bright center, sustained by the recitation "Samma-araham, Samma-araham," word by word, steadying on each. As this becomes enjoyable and connects with the inner knower's voice, the recitation will sound more beautiful than anything ever heard before. If both practices together prove too much, do whichever is easier — the recitation keeps other sounds out, the mental image keeps other images out; together they guard the mind from scattering.

Sustained Awareness Lightens Defilement

With unbroken awareness, the knowing orb draws in pure energy that cleanses the defilement causing problems in countless forms. Defilement lightens only through the cleansing power of purity. Once defilement clears in this dimension, the next, subtler dimension draws us in automatically, and mindfulness and clear comprehension grow ever more complete.

The Triple Gem Appears Within Us

When the knowing orb arises, the jewel of Dhamma shines within us; sustaining the knowing orb means sustaining the jewel of Sangha. The Triple Gem thus appears within us, and we within it — both shining within the boundless expanse of Nibbana, home to the Buddha, the Silent Buddhas, and all the Arahants. Though they passed into final Nibbana long ago, they continue caring for the world and all beings just as before — only now, without a physical body to maintain, they can watch over us day and night without pause.

Down to 0.1 Percent: Tonight's Central Teaching

This is the most important teaching of tonight. Luangphor once said: the unwholesome side keeps manufacturing new problems for the world, but those at the very root of Dhamma keep adjusting and resolving them, one after another. He said what remains now is only "0.1 percent" or "0.001 percent" — meaning the world's problems have already been reduced to the tiniest sliver, through the work of the knowers and empowered beings dwelling in Nibbana.

But he pointed to the other side of that truth just as plainly: even reduced this far, we still face COVID, cancer, depression, and a great many other genuine mental-health struggles — real, weighty, contemporary hardships. He stressed that without the intervention of these knowers and empowered beings, what we face would be far greater still. We owe them our gratitude.

Dwelling Within the Knowers and Empowered Beings

He invites us to dwell within the Triple Gem, within the great teachers, within Luangpu, Luangphor, and Khun Yay, within the boundless realms of Nibbana. The stream of merit from the subtlest depths of Nibbana pours in, refining every sphere and every body, lightening defilement continuously — the sphere of Dhamma, morality, concentration, wisdom, liberation, and the knowledge-and-vision of liberation.

Dedicating Merit to Ancestors

Dedicate this merit to ancestors and relatives waiting anxiously in the other realm. Recall parents, siblings, grandparents, teachers of great kindness, guardian devas, and beings we may have wronged — our karmic counterparties — mutually forgiving one another.

Radiating Mettā from Home to the Cosmos

Form the wish that all beings and the whole world be free from suffering and find happiness, then radiate a heart full of mettā outward — through our home, village, district, all regions of the country, province, and the whole world, making it a crystal world, bright and pure. May celestial beings of every realm, formless Brahmas, hell-beings, hungry ghosts, and asuras all be free from suffering, before expanding into the atmosphere of the cosmos across countless world-systems.

Resting Still Within the Knowers and Empowered Beings

He has us dwell and steep in this bright, cool, clean purity — still and soft, relaxed and at ease, within the boundless knowers and empowered beings full of wisdom, purity, and great compassion. They will clear away our defilement and connect the stream of merit and treasure so we can live with ease, free from hardship and want.

Sealing the Aspiration

He closes by invoking blessings from Nibbana and the merit of the great teachers, asking that all accumulated merit converge into sacred power, dissolving misfortune and defilement, granting the Dhamma-eye, sound health, long life, and continuous progress on the path, and rebirth into a family of right view — while asking forgiveness for past wrongs and resolving to commit no new ones, closing with the chant on the power of the Triple Gem.