The One Verse the Buddha Laid Down as the Foundation

He opens by reiterating that liberation requires determining an object of attention. Without it, the mind drifts, remaining in an undefined, unresolved state. The Buddha laid down the principle for developing right mindfulness and right concentration: "Monks, you should know clearly the body, the feelings, the mind, and mental phenomena, in order to remove craving and grief for the world." Whatever method of recitation we use, it is all a way of knowing the mind clearly — recalling what our teachers have given us, such as "Buddho" or "Samma Arahang" — or knowing the body, the breath, feelings, or even loving-kindness itself; all of these are ways of knowing states clearly.

The Goal Is to Remove Delight and Grief, Not Chase Experiences

He stresses that the goal of this determining is to remove craving and grief — that is, to remove excessive delight and disappointment. Whether the experience during sitting is pleasant or unpleasant, there's no need to feel elated or upset. An unpleasant experience simply reflects impurities still present; as we keep knowing steadily, the sphere of knowing draws in merit to drive the system of wholesome states, thinning those impurities, and the experience naturally improves over time. Our only task is to keep knowing steadily, without lapsing.

Investigation of States: Finding What's Easiest and Most Suited to You

He explains the second of the seven factors of enlightenment, "investigation of states" (dhammavicaya) — in meditation, this means examining which method is easiest and best suited to us personally. Learn to understand each method and test which gives the clearest, most continuous "signal" — for instance, the breath striking the nostrils, felt clearly; or reciting "Samma Arahang" continuously; or a mental image that, once recalled, doesn't fade and can be perceived clearly and continuously. Consider how continuous that signal really is — does it break off in patches? If it does, mindfulness can't hold onto it. Choose whichever method gives the clearest and most continuous signal, so mindfulness has something solid to rest on.

Without an Anchor, the Mind Drifts Like a Wandering Spirit

He warns that without determining an object, the mind has nowhere to settle — it drifts about like a homeless wandering spirit with no shelter. But the instant we determine where to know, mindfulness plants itself right there, drawing in energy at that very point, and merit flows in continuously, bringing subtle fortune and success, purifying the mind until it is liberated — moving from one dimension into another, again and again. Each time we're liberated, we come closer to wiser, more capable guides. Even when things feel hazy or unclear, liberation is still happening continuously, all the while we keep determining.

Loving-Kindness Radiates From the Heart to the Universe

He leads a recollection of mettā, appearing as a bright, clear sphere — the very shape of a wholesome state. As it settles in the heart, the heart itself becomes bright, filled with goodwill toward oneself and others. May all beings be freed from suffering and find happiness everywhere; may all fellow practitioners be free of suffering, causing no harm to one another. The mettā then expands to cover the practice grounds, the village, sub-district, province, the whole country, neighboring nations, until it covers the whole world as a bright, clear jewel. May the earth spirits, sky spirits, heavenly beings, brahma gods, and the beings of hell, the asuras, and animals be freed from suffering and find happiness everywhere. May those suffering greatly suffer less, and those with little happiness have more. It then expands through the whole atmosphere of the universe, embracing the countless stars, so that wholesome states arise in the hearts of all beings, bringing great benefit to the world and the universe.

Dedicating This Ordination's Merit to the Venerable Grand Abbot

During the formal aspiration, he leads a special dedication of the merit born from this ordination to the Venerable Grand Abbot, as an offering of Dhamma and in remembrance of his teachings and virtue since the very first day of ordination up to now. May the Venerable Grand Abbot be freed from all illness, enjoy strong and complete health, and live a long life; and may whatever good aspirations he has set his heart on come to fruition with ease.

Aspiring to Nibbāna and Closing With the Chant

He leads the formal aspiration to Nibbāna and the great teachers, asking that all merit accumulated since our very first life, through countless births, converge into sacred, boundlessly powerful merit; that it purify 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 in full, 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."