The Three Natures and the Cycle That Controls Every Life

Dhamma practice means abiding within the wholesome system — bringing the mind to rest with the body, relaxed and at ease. This practice matters greatly to every life, because we live under the control of three natures — wholesome, unwholesome, and neutral — governed by the law of kamma and the law of the three characteristics. The law of kamma ripens past causes into present results according to a fixed pattern; the law of the three characteristics then takes over to drive beings toward creating new kammic results that carry forward into the future. This cycle turns endlessly, and the only way out is to rely on the wholesome system, a nature of goodness that constantly guides us toward what is right.

The Starting Point Is the Mind

The starting point is the mind. Begin by frequently asking yourself: where is my mind right now? How does it feel? How should I place it correctly, in line with the wholesome system? The Buddha taught in the Great Discourse on the Foundations of Mindfulness: "Monks, you should clearly discern the body, feelings, mind, and mental objects, to eliminate covetousness and grief in the world." The mind needs a clear base — wherever we fix it, it settles there, and whatever we resolve appears in the mind, because all phenomena can arise only at the mind.

Gently Closing the Eyes and Letting Go

If drowsiness or a foggy, half-asleep feeling arises — caused by the unwholesome defilement called sloth-and-torpor (thina-middha) — the remedy is to open the eyes very slightly, just enough for the eyelashes to lightly touch and let a little light through, keeping us between the inner and outer worlds. Throughout our past lives we have carried so much; it is time to let it all go. From here on, life should be one of right view — a life abiding within the wholesome system, a life of purity and liberation, a channel for the flowing stream of merit and refined treasure.

Resting at the Body's Seventh Center

If you have no familiar meditation object yet, gently bring the mind to rest with the body at the seventh center, in the middle of the abdomen two finger-widths above the navel. Rest the feeling there quietly. As the mind settles and mindfulness begins to arise, stay aware with ease.

Surveying the Householder of the Mind: Reading the Feeling to Know Who Is in Charge

If, after settling, comfort still does not appear, that is fine — comfort arises only once merit sufficiently nourishes it. Today, let us survey the "householder of the mind," turning inward to ask who is currently occupying our mind. Observe the feeling-tone present right now: is it pleasant, unpleasant, or neutral? Whoever is householder reveals its own qualities. If the wholesome nature is householder, we feel comfortable, at ease in body and mind. If the unwholesome nature is householder, we feel a state hard to bear — suffering. If the neutral nature is householder, we feel neither pleasant nor unpleasant. By observing the feeling-tone, we can identify which nature currently holds the mind.

Mindfulness and the Stream of Merit

What we want is for mindfulness — the sphere of knowing — to arise, drawing a continuous stream of pure energy, merit, inward. At that same moment, the Triple Gem appears radiant within us. This pure substance of merit drives the wholesome system, refining our elements to be clear, clean, and pure, freeing us from the defilements of the unwholesome nature. Our only role is to keep attending without lapsing — we have no power to purify defilements ourselves, since we do not know where they are or how to remove them; we simply abide with what we can do, which is attending.

The Three Essentials: Knowing, Happiness, and Purity

Our revered teacher once cautioned that Dhamma practice must be accompanied by three essentials: knowing, happiness, and purity. Knowing is the state of awareness present right now, in touch with the Dhamma appearing before us — happiness and purity. As we abide within the wholesome system and the stream of merit flows through, we should perceive this state — happiness of body and mind, and the clear purity of the heart. Even if only faintly perceived, be glad and satisfied with that much. As our teacher repeated three times over: "Act on the cause, observe the result, and take a genuine interest — that is excellent." We must observe in order to perceive, much as we watch a child grow. Recognizing this change builds the faith factor, drawing an even greater stream of pure energy inward.

"Samma-Araham" and the Vision of the Crystal Buddha

Once comfort has arisen, bring it to rest with the highest thing of all — the inner Triple Gem — by reciting "Samma-Araham," an epithet for one who practices rightly, complete in higher virtue, higher mind, and higher wisdom. As we utter his name with deep, subtle awareness, his form appears — a crystal Buddha image, clear, pure, radiant, seated upon a meditation disc within a sphere of Dhamma filling the lap. His appearance is never empty; he refines our elements of seeing, remembering, thinking, and knowing, dissolving defilements, the results of kamma, sin, and calamity.

Merging as One With the Crystal Image

He expands and merges as one with us, because he is our true self. We simply take on the feeling that we are the crystal image and it is us — our whole body radiant, clear, cool, clean, and pure. Having merged our body with his, we merge our mind with his too, resting the mind, stilling it — doing whatever he does.

Nirvana and Those Who Abide in Universal Goodness

Nirvana is the abode of every Buddha, every solitary Buddha, and every Arahant — the three types of beings liberated from samsara. Though liberated, they never stop benefiting beings, holding all beings within them, protecting and caring for them. Any being who abides in universal goodness, regardless of religion or none, appears radiant within the Triple Gem and Nirvana, just as we do.

Loving-Kindness and Its Radiation

As Nirvana benefits us, we go on to accomplish good by benefiting people and beings through loving-kindness. Beings caught in samsara are truly pitiable, unknowingly overwhelmed by ignorance; if we do not help them, who else will? Simply resolving on sincere, pure-hearted love and goodwill causes metta to arise, a radiant sphere within us, able to dissolve resentment both within and without.

Radiating Loving-Kindness Across the World and Universe

Extend this loving heart to cover our home, then the village, sub-district, district, province, country, and neighboring nations, until it covers the entire world, turning it into a crystal world, bright, cool, clean, and pure. May the people of the world and all beings — devas of every heavenly realm, brahmas, and beings in hell, hungry ghosts, and animals — be free from suffering and find happiness. Extend it further across the universe, over countless stars and infinite world-systems.

Dedicating Merit and Closing Aspiration

We dedicate this merit to our parents, siblings, grandparents, teachers who have shown us kindness, helping devas, caretakers, and all karmic counterparties (khu-kam-khu-wen), asking for mutual forgiveness. We then rest the mind, still, within the Triple Gem and the great masters. Using this auspicious moment, we set our resolve that our path of building perfections be filled with wisdom, happiness, and purity. May all accumulated merit dissolve misfortune, sin, and every obstacle — greed, hatred, delusion, lust, ignorance, wrong view, craving, and clinging — leaving no trace. May we attain the eye of Dhamma, penetrate the knowledge of Dhammakaya, enjoy good health and long life, and when we pass may we be born in the Dusit heaven, returning to a family of right view, a crystal family, a Dhammakaya family. The teaching closes with the traditional Pali chant of homage.