MEDITATION
Believe it or not, just by closing your eyes, you can still change your mind and change your life.
Meditation is a mind training technique to develop mental quality. It is something we can incorporate into our daily life, allowing us to improve the quality of the mind and the body. Meditation is not only for monks or priests but is a practice for anyone who would like to improve their quality of life.
Here, we promote and teach Dhammakaya Meditation, which was revived in Thailand almost 100 years ago by the Great Master Phramongkolthepmuni. This method is simple, easy, and effective, and everyone can learn how to do it and can achieve inner peace and happiness that you may never have known existed.
Dhammakaya Meditation
“Dhammakaya” is a Pali word which means “Body of Enlightenment”. The term appears in many places in the Buddhist scriptures of Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana (Tibetan) schools. The uniqueness of the Dhammakaya meditation is that it teaches about the centre of the body as the natural home of the human mind as well as the inner gateway to enlightenment.
It is the oldest yet simplest form of meditation, with applicable and impeccable steps to follow. This technique focuses the mind gently at the centre of the body by maintaining the right balance between concentration and relaxation.
The Centre of the Body (or the Centre of Gravity), which is two fingers’ width above the navel, is the seventh base of the mind. We can focus from the first base to the seventh base and backwards using visualisation together with the mantra to still our mind. The Centre of the Body is like the home of the mind, where it can rest, reset, and refresh. This is also a source of wisdom, joy, and pure energy, which are derived from the solitude moment of no thoughts. The art of doing nothing can yield tremendous results to our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
How to Meditate
1. Adjust your position until you feel entirely comfortable.
2. Take a deep breath softly, slowly and deeply a few times.
The turning point of your breath before exhaling is called the Centre of the Body.
3. Relax every muscle in your body, from the top of your head down to your toes.
4. Allow your mind to be free from all thoughts.
Imagine that you are sitting alone in a vast, open space with serenity as if you never had any attachment in life, never had any problems, and never knew anyone before.
5. Bring your mind to focus on the Centre of the Body without worrying about the exact location.
Softly imagine any neutral object that makes you feel calm, pure, and content. Please do not use too much effort or stare at it. The clarity of the object is not essential.
You also can maintain the stillness of the mind by reciting a phrase (mantra) “Samma Arahang” or “Clear and Bright” softly, as if it was echoing from the Centre.
The words may slowly fade away. If you see or feel any experiences at the Centre are different from the beginning, do not worry, be overly excited or think of anything. Observe the experiences with a calm mind.
Your mind will be completely focused, pure, and still like you’re sitting amid nothingness.