Connecting the Stream of Merit: Simple Sitting, Anywhere

Phra Ajarn Suraphong begins by teaching us to train ourselves to abide within the system of wholesome states simply, wherever we happen to sit. Connecting to this system means connecting the stream of merit and the flow of subtle fortune, refining our inner standing so that we move from one dimension of being into a finer one.

Every Moment of Knowing Is Liberation Already Happening

He stresses that the mere knowing of the feet touching the floor, or the right hand resting over the left with forefingers touching, already means the sphere of knowing — mindfulness — has arisen, and the drawing-in of pure energy has already begun. From this moment on, life is a life of liberation, whether we are aware of it or not, because the stream of merit is already driving the system of wholesome states. Liberation is unfolding whether we're knowing at the feet, the seat, or the fingers resting together — the moment the sphere of knowing arises, the process of liberation has already begun, moving from one dimension into a better, finer one, because it comes bundled with a purer, more refined stream of merit and fortune, and with wiser, more capable guides watching over and helping us.

Stretching the Time, Minute by Minute, Up to Two Hours

He teaches how to keep knowing steadily at the centre of the body, aided if needed by a word of recitation or a mental image. Once this becomes familiar through repeated practice, gradually lengthen how long the mind stays settled — from one minute to two, from two minutes to five, ten, fifteen, thirty, fifty minutes, then one hour, then two. However much of the stream of merit we want, we simply sit and connect to it by knowing steadily, without lapsing. Our outer circumstances then change as a natural consequence of our inner standing being raised, level by level.

Checking for Impurities and Clearing Them, One Point at a Time

If we settle our knowing at the seventh base at the centre of the body, we can rely on reciting "Samma Arahang" one repetition at a time to sustain steadiness. If we lose the thread, that's fine — it simply means an impurity has settled at that point like a checkpoint, so we simply know there in order to clear it. Do this with a relaxed, open, easy heart — no rushing, no forcing. If we feel pressured or rushed, we should check what underlying tendency is driving that urgency, because the true nature of what's wholesome is simple, easy, and cool.

The Time of Ordination: The Purest, Most Valuable Stream of Merit

He reiterates that during this period as an ordained monk, the stream of merit and fortune is exceptionally pure, sacred, and valuable. We should use what little time remains as fruitfully as possible — but without rushing, because the more we rush, the coarser the result, and the less pure and valuable it becomes.

The Buddha Image Within: Settling at a Comfortable Point

He advises settling the knowing at the centre of the body, at whatever point there feels comfortable, perhaps using a mental image of a crystal Buddha image, a jewel sphere, or the image of a revered teacher, resting still there while reciting "Samma Arahang" one repetition at a time.

The Story of a Bodhisattva Who Became a Great Brahma and a Universal Monarch

After leading mettā, he tells a story as an illustration: whoever benefits the world and the universe can in turn make use of the fortune of the world and the universe. This was true of the Bodhisattva — during a past life on earth, he practiced loving-kindness for the benefit of the world and all beings, just as we are doing now, continuing until the end of that life, reaching states of jhāna. Upon passing, he was reborn as a great Brahma god in the Brahma realm, enjoying immense happiness for an extremely long span. When that Brahma lifespan ended, he was reborn again as a Universal Monarch, able to command the fortune of the world and the universe — all as a result of the merit of having once benefited the world and the universe, letting people and beings live in peace, free of harm to one another, free of war. He concludes by urging us to train our hearts to be a source of benefit for all beings, without limit, just as in this story.

Radiating Loving-Kindness and Resting Still in the Triple Gem

He leads the mettā-filled heart outward — from ourselves, filling the hall, the practice grounds, the village, sub-district, district, and province, across all of Thailand, into neighboring countries, until it covers the whole world as a radiant, cool, pure jewel. May the earth spirits, sky spirits, all heavenly beings, all brahma gods, and the beings of hell, the asuras, and animals be freed from suffering and find happiness. May those with much suffering have less, and those with little happiness have more. It then expands through the whole atmosphere of the universe, embracing the countless stars. He then leads everyone to rest still in the centre of the Triple Gem, in the centre of the great teachers, in the Dhamma body of the Great Master Monks.

The Aspiration and the Closing Chant

He leads the formal aspiration, asking that all accumulated merit converge into sacred, boundlessly powerful merit, purifying body, speech, and mind until they shine clear, cool, and pure; that we be freed from misfortune, the fruits of bad kamma, and every obstacle; that greed, hatred, delusion, lust, ignorance, wrong view, craving, and clinging be exhausted; that we reach and penetrate the knowledge of the Dhammakāya — the three and eight knowledges, the six higher powers, the four analytic insights, the eight liberations, and the fifteen conducts — together with good health and long life. The sit closes with an aspiration of forgiveness for past unwholesome deeds and the chant "Sabbe Buddhānubhāvena, Sabbe Dhammānubhāvena, Sabbe Saṅghānubhāvena, Saddhā Sotthī Bhavantu Te."