Someone asked: what is transcendent dhamma (lokuttara-dhamma), and what visions help meditation go well?

Transcendent dhamma numbers nine: the path and fruit of stream-entry, the path and fruit of once-returning, the path and fruit of non-returning, the path and fruit of arahantship, and nibbana. The first thing to do, even now while we don't yet see them, is simply to aspire to reach them — as the late revered teacher once led in guided aspiration, paying homage and inviting the Dhamma-jewel, requesting that the nine transcendent dhammas abide within the eye-, ear-, nose-, tongue-, body-, and mind-doors. When we invite them, they appear; the Triple Gem manifests and abides, helping our life stay on the path of rightness and goodness, guiding and assisting us as though it were our own thought.

Recollecting the Triple Gem and inviting it are really the same act, because to invite it we must first recollect it, hoping it will be our refuge. When we invite it, it appears and helps us — because it is filled with boundless compassion. The Triple Gem is complete with boundless wisdom, boundless purity, and boundless compassion, and so we can rely on it fully. This differs from certain people who may have wisdom but lack sufficient purity, and so lack the power to help us; some have power but lack compassion, and so won't help; some have the wisdom to know how to help but lack compassion, and so cannot help either. But the Triple Gem holds all three qualities completely — when we ask for its help, help is certain, beyond any doubt.

The simplest method is to feel ourselves as the Buddha-image, the Buddha-image as ourselves — recollecting it, holding that feeling. As we do, the state of all nine transcendent dhammas manifests, and we then invite its help. We need only be one who upholds the dhamma, holding that state; recollecting it is holding it. It then superimposes itself, guiding and instructing us as though it were our own thought, correcting us without our even realizing it — everything gradually adjusted, helped, and corrected automatically.

As for what to visualize at first: picture the Triple Gem as a clear crystal Buddha-image seated at the center of our body, or expand it to our own size or larger — whatever feels natural. Envision the nine transcendent dhammas layered one within another, and hold that feeling. We must test this ourselves to witness its wonder — without testing it, we merely hear about it and, when the time comes, gain no benefit at all. It's like a blind person living without sight, who can still use a refrigerator, a table, a chair, a car, or a bus perfectly well. The inner world works the same way: even before we can see it, we can still make use of it — simply recollecting something is enough for it to manifest. Especially when recollecting the empowered one, it appears bright and clear at the center of our body, bringing with it the power of boundless wisdom, boundless purity, and boundless compassion. We must test this for ourselves, and we will come to witness it directly. Whenever a problem arises, ask for its help — it already wants to help us. When we ask, it helps.