Why This Practice Matters for Our Lives

Phra Ajarn opens by explaining that our lives are driven by the energy of purity — merit — which gives rise to happiness, progress, success, knowledge, understanding, and goodness. Even our ability to stand, walk, sit, and lie down normally rests on this energy behind the scenes. Our lives are a channel through which unwholesome, neutral, and wholesome energies all flow, each competing to control this human body. Only wholesome nature can truly benefit us; every other nature fails to help, and if unwholesome, brings suffering and harm.

The Buddha's Teaching and the Meaning of Determining

The Buddha taught: "Monks, you should clearly determine the body, feeling, mind, and mental objects, in order to remove covetousness and grief regarding the world." He taught human beings to know how to determine — determining is putting the mind in; wherever we determine, the mind is placed there, and that spot becomes the seat of the mind in that moment. Once we go and know at that point, the orb of mindfulness arises and continuously draws pure merit-energy into the brightness at its center.

From Noting to the Inner Dimension

This pure energy drives the wholesome system to refine and purify us. As purity increases, we are released into subtler dimensions, where merit is finer and more refined, able to clear away impurities more effectively — our standing is steadily elevated. The Buddha taught us to note the four stations of body, feeling, mind, and dhamma, either at a single point or across the whole body at once; when noting the whole body, mindfulness turns into full clear comprehension. Wherever merit flows, that region becomes clean and pure, until darkness gives way to brightness, developing into a sphere of light — the gateway leading us into the inner dimension.

From the Acquired Sign to Dropping Into the Void

Once the clear, bright sphere develops into a controllable acquired sign (uggahanimitta), we gradually guide it to the seventh base at the center of the body, and "dropping into the void" occurs. If this has not yet happened, we simply keep the mind still at the seventh base; the orb of mindfulness keeps drawing in pure energy to purify until the fit is right, and the "settling" occurs. The dhamma sphere then floats up distinctly, drawing us into itself, and continuous, automatic development naturally follows.

The Orb of Mindfulness Stands Opposite Ignorance

Phra Ajarn explains that this orb of mindfulness is the direct opposite of the sphere of ignorance. When ignorance is present, wrong construction and wrong guidance arise. This is why we must keep knowing continuously without lapsing — this alone is our task.

The Seventh Base at the Center of the Body: The Gateway to Nibbana

Teachers instruct us to know the seventh base at the center of the body because it is an extremely important position — the gateway leading toward Nibbana. People around the world have studied and trained extensively in mental cultivation and concentration, yet still cannot find the way to Nibbana, not knowing how to proceed. But our teachers point to this exact same position.

Three Teachers Who Confirmed the Same Position

Phra Ajarn states that whether it is the revered Luang Pu Sod of Wat Paknam, or Luang Phor Dhammajayo, or Khun Yai Ajarn — they all say the same thing: this is the position, the seventh base at the center of the body. They have each proven that this position is genuine and truly important. All three teachers independently confirm the significance of this exact spot. We are therefore instructed to place the mind here, picturing two lines crossing like an X, and two finger-widths above that crossing point, a clear crystal Buddha image appears when we hold the sign in mind.

The Sammā Arahaṃ Chant

Alternatively, we may chant "Sammā Arahaṃ," reciting with a deep, subtle inner awareness to connect with the inner knower. "Sammā Arahaṃ" is a name given according to quality, referring to the arahant Dhammakaya — the one who practices well, rightly, in a way that leads away from all defilements. As we chant, the crystal image appears at the center of our body and mind, drawing in the elements of our seeing, remembering, thinking, and knowing — earth, water, wind, fire, space, and consciousness — refining them to clarity.

Merging Into Oneness With the Crystal Image

The image appears and expands, superimposing itself fully over our human body, protecting and caring for us, because it is our true self. Its only wish is that we and it become one. Phra Ajarn compares this to an actor who must adopt the feeling of the character being played — when we recall someone, their mind and mental qualities appear within us. So we adopt the feeling that we are the crystal image, and it is us, picturing our entire body as this radiant, cool, pure crystal Dhammakaya.

Stopping Within Stopping, Stillness Within Stillness

Once our body has merged with the image as one, we merge our mind with its mind as well. The Dhammakaya dwells at the center of our body, cultivating cessation-attainment to refine our elements toward purity by gathering the mind to stop and be still — whatever it does, we do the same. Stop within stopping, still within stillness, gently relaxed and at ease, clear, cool, clean, and pure, resting at the very center of the crystal image, the center of our body, the center of our mind, sending the mind straight toward the path to Nibbana.

Wholesomeness Appears in Every Heart, Regardless of Religion

Phra Ajarn explains that Nibbana already holds the world and all beings within its embrace. We are not strange or special compared to any other being — the only difference is that, right now, our wholesome mind is bound to the stream of merit flowing in continuously. In truth, other beings held within that same embrace, if they abide in universal goodness, will likewise have the Triple Gem shining bright within them, whether or not they follow Buddhism, or any religion at all. He cares for all beings equally.

Cultivating Loving-Kindness

Having benefited ourselves, we move on to benefit the world and all beings through loving-kindness. Simply by resolving good wishes, loving-kindness shines bright and clear within us: may the world and all beings be free from suffering and find happiness everywhere. We then extend the mind to cover our home, village, district, province, the whole country, neighboring countries, and finally the entire world and boundless universe. Loving-kindness also refines the surrounding environment — earth, water, air, and sky — making it fit for all beings to dwell in. Whoever benefits the world and the universe may in turn draw upon its resources.

Dedication of Merit and the Closing Chant

We rest the mind still in the stream of merit, in the Triple Gem, and in the utterly refined dhamma bodies of Luang Pu, Luang Phor, and Khun Yai Ajarn, then resolve in prayer to Nibbana for blessing. May we attain the knowledge of the Dhammakaya, enjoy good health, and build merit and perfections throughout this life. May all karmic counterparts forgive one another, and the session closes with the traditional Pali chant of dedication.