Dhammakaya meditation
Encyclopedia
Dhammakaya meditation is an approach to Buddhist meditation
revived in the early 1900s and practiced by several million people all over the world. It was described by its founder Phramongkolthepmuni as both samatha
and vipassana
technique.
), although the early Buddhist texts do not mention any such physical location. It is called an approach rather than a method because any of the forty methods
of samatha meditation mentioned in the Visuddhimagga
can be adapted to it.
; Phra Kru Nyanavirat (Phra Acharn Po) of Wat Pho
, Bangkok; Phra Acharn Singh of Wat Lakorn Thamm, Thonburi
; Phramonkolthipmuni (Phra Acharn Muy) of Wat Chakrawat, Bangkok and Phra Acharn Pleum of Wat Kao Yai, Amphoe Tha Maka
, Kanchanaburi
. He claimed that the Dhammakaya approach he discovered had nothing to do with the teachings he had received from these other masters - but he did have previous knowledge of the Sammā-Arahaṃ mantra before discovering the technique. After discovering the technique, Phramonkolthepmuni first taught it to others at Wat Bangpla, Amphoe Bang Len
, Nakhon Pathom
in 1915. From 1916 onwards, when he was given his first abbothood, Dhammakaya Meditation became associated with his home temple of Wat Paknam Bhasicharoen
. It is said that Phramongkolthepmuni was the rediscoverer of Dhammakaya meditation, because members of the Dhammakaya Movement believe that the Buddha became enlightened by attaining Dhammakaya, and that knowledge of this (equated with Saddhamma in the Dhammakaya Movement) was lost 500 years after the Buddha
entered Parinirvana
.
, Ratchaburi Province
and Wat Rajorasaram, Bang Khun Thian
, Thon Buri (district)
. Of these, Wat Phra Dhammakaya and Wat Luang Por Sod Dhammakayarama have published instructive books on Dhammakaya meditation in English and offer training retreats for the public. Instruction and the documentary programme 'Meditation for all' based on Dhammakaya meditation are broadcast by the satellite channel DMC.TV
. Dhammakaya meditation is also featured on the in-flight relaxation channel of Thai Airways
in English and Thai.
. When the mind becomes peaceful and stable as the result of successful practice for tranquillity, the mind will overcome the Five Hindrances and reach a state of one-pointedness (ekaggata
) also known in Dhammakaya Meditation as the 'standstill of the mind' (i.e. to a state where it is free of thought). The indication of reaching this stage is that a bright clear sphere will arise spontaneously at the centre of the body. The mind should then be directed continuously at the centre of this sphere helping to transport the mind towards the ekalyânamagga path inside. attainment at the level of vipassana arises. There are several ways of focussing the attention at the centre of the body, namely:
When one visualizes the mental object continuously, the mental object will gradually change in nature in accordance with the increasing subtlety of mind according to the following sequence:
Although the meditator may start out with as many as forty different paths of practice, once the Hindrances are overcome, all methods converge into a single path [ekalyânamagga] of mental progress, which leads into meditation at the Vipassana level.
) , the Twelve Sense Spheres (āyatana) , the Eighteen Elements (dhātu) , the Twenty-Two Faculties (indriya
) , the Four Noble Truths
and Dependent Origination. The meditator sees and knows clearly through their insight knowledge that all things composed of the Five Aggregates exhibit the Three marks of existence
and for the meditator, there arises dispassion (ekantanibbida] and detachment (viraga) and accomplishes sequential shedding of the defilements until an end to defilements can be reached. The meditator sees and knows with the latter four of the five eyes the Buddha himself attained - but in Dhammakaya Meditation, the level of attainment is usually explained in terms of equivalent inner bodies which start with the physical human body and the subtle human body (astral body
or subtle body
) and which go in successively deeper layers until reaching the body of enlightenment (Dhammakaya
) of the arahant - the number of bodies totalling eighteen.
The process of purification corresponds with that described in the Dhammacakkapavattana Sutta where the arising of brightness is accompanied by the inner eye [cakkhu], knowing [ñāna], wisdom [paññā] and knowledge [vijjā]. The meditator will see the nature of the Dhamma (inner mental phenomena) and according to the Lord Buddha’s advice to Vakkali he who sees the Dhamma will see the Buddha (see also Eternal Buddha
). Thus, in Dhammakaya meditation, the Buddha's words are taken literally as seeing one's inner body of enlightenment which is in the form of a Buddha sitting in meditation.
and reduce clinical depression
while enhancing self-development
Buddhist meditation
Buddhist meditation refers to the meditative practices associated with the religion and philosophy of Buddhism.Core meditation techniques have been preserved in ancient Buddhist texts and have proliferated and diversified through teacher-student transmissions. Buddhists pursue meditation as part of...
revived in the early 1900s and practiced by several million people all over the world. It was described by its founder Phramongkolthepmuni as both samatha
Samatha
Samatha , śamatha "calm abiding," comprises a suite, type or style of Buddhist meditation or concentration practices designed to enhance sustained voluntary attention, and culminates in an attention that can be sustained effortlessly for hours on end...
and vipassana
Vipassana
Vipassanā or vipaśyanā in the Buddhist tradition means insight into the true nature of reality. A regular practitioner of Vipassana is known as a Vipassi . Vipassana is one of the world's most ancient techniques of meditation, the inception of which is attributed to Gautama Buddha...
technique.
Features
The identifying feature of Dhammakaya meditation is the meditator's attention towards the centre of the body, at a point described in Sri Lankan esoteric literature as two finger breadths above the navel. The promoters of this approach say this is the same point as the end-point of the deepest breath in mindfulness of breathing meditation (AnapanasatiAnapanasati
Ānāpānasati , meaning 'mindfulness of breathing' , is a form of Buddhist meditation now common to the Tibetan, Zen, Tiantai, and Theravada schools of Buddhism, as well as western-based mindfulness programs.According to tradition, Anapanasati was...
), although the early Buddhist texts do not mention any such physical location. It is called an approach rather than a method because any of the forty methods
Kammatthana
In Buddhism, is a Pali word which literally means the place of work. Figuratively it means the place within the mind where one goes in order to work on spiritual development...
of samatha meditation mentioned in the Visuddhimagga
Visuddhimagga
The Visuddhimagga , is the 'great treatise' on Theravada Buddhist doctrine written by Buddhaghosa approximately in 430 CE in Sri Lanka. A comprehensive manual condensing the theoretical and practical teaching of the Buddha, it is considered the most important Theravada text outside of the Tipitaka...
can be adapted to it.
Origins
Dhammakaya meditation was re-discovered by Phramongkolthepmuni on the full-moon night of September 1914 at Wat Bangkuvieng, Nonthaburi. This monk had practised several other forms of meditation popular in Thailand at the time including Phrasangavaranuwongse (Phra Acharn Eam) of Wat Rajasiddharam, BangkokBangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
; Phra Kru Nyanavirat (Phra Acharn Po) of Wat Pho
Wat Pho
Wat Pho , is a Buddhist temple in Phra Nakhon district, Bangkok, Thailand. It is located in the Rattanakosin district directly adjacent to the Grand Palace. Known also as the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, its official name is Wat Phra Chettuphon Wimon Mangkhalaram Ratchaworamahawihan...
, Bangkok; Phra Acharn Singh of Wat Lakorn Thamm, Thonburi
Thonburi
Thon Buri is an area of modern Bangkok. It was capital of Thailand from 1767 to 1782, during the reign of King Taksin, after the previous capital Ayutthaya was sacked by the Burmese. It is located on the opposite bank of Chao Phraya River to Bangkok...
; Phramonkolthipmuni (Phra Acharn Muy) of Wat Chakrawat, Bangkok and Phra Acharn Pleum of Wat Kao Yai, Amphoe Tha Maka
Amphoe Tha Maka
Tha Maka is the southeasternmost district of Kanchanaburi Province, central Thailand.-Geography:Neighboring districts are Tha Muang, Phanom Thuan of Kanchanaburi Province, Song Phi Nong of Suphanburi Province, Kamphaeng San of Nakhon Pathom Province, and Ban Pong of Ratchaburi Province.The...
, Kanchanaburi
Kanchanaburi
Kanchanaburi ) is a town in the west of Thailand and the capital of Kanchanaburi province. In 2006 it had a population of 31,327...
. He claimed that the Dhammakaya approach he discovered had nothing to do with the teachings he had received from these other masters - but he did have previous knowledge of the Sammā-Arahaṃ mantra before discovering the technique. After discovering the technique, Phramonkolthepmuni first taught it to others at Wat Bangpla, Amphoe Bang Len
Amphoe Bang Len
Bang Len is a district in the northern part of Nakhon Pathom Province, central Thailand.-History:The district was created in 1896 under the name Bang Phai Nat . The district office was located in Ban Bang Phai Nat, Tambon Bang Sai Pa, on the east bank of the Tha Chin river...
, Nakhon Pathom
Nakhon Pathom
Nakhon Pathom is a city in central Thailand, capital of the Nakhon Pathom Province. One of the most important landmarks is the giant Phra Pathom Chedi...
in 1915. From 1916 onwards, when he was given his first abbothood, Dhammakaya Meditation became associated with his home temple of Wat Paknam Bhasicharoen
Wat Paknam Bhasicharoen
Wat Paknam Bhasicharoen in Phasi Charoen district, Bangkok is a very large wat with a sizeable population of monks and nuns. Many foreigners have stayed at this temple over the years....
. It is said that Phramongkolthepmuni was the rediscoverer of Dhammakaya meditation, because members of the Dhammakaya Movement believe that the Buddha became enlightened by attaining Dhammakaya, and that knowledge of this (equated with Saddhamma in the Dhammakaya Movement) was lost 500 years after the Buddha
Gautama Buddha
Siddhārtha Gautama was a spiritual teacher from the Indian subcontinent, on whose teachings Buddhism was founded. In most Buddhist traditions, he is regarded as the Supreme Buddha Siddhārtha Gautama (Sanskrit: सिद्धार्थ गौतम; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual teacher from the Indian...
entered Parinirvana
Parinirvana
In Buddhism, parinirvana is the final nirvana, which occurs upon the death of the body of someone who has attained complete awakening...
.
Historical Development to present
Phramongkolthepmuni devoted his time from 1916-1959 to teaching Dhammakaya meditation. He ran a meditation workshop (rong ngan tahm vijja) from 1935-1959 which was reserved for gifted meditators able to perform Dhammakaya meditation on the Vipassana level - to meditate as a team in shifts, twenty-four hours-a-day, with the brief to use the meditation to research the underlying nature of reality. Since 1959, Dhammakaya meditation has been taught by Phramongkolthepmuni's disciples at Wat Paknam Bhasicharoen, Wat Phra Dhammakaya, Wat Luang Por Sod Dhammakayarama, Amphoe Damnoen SaduakAmphoe Damnoen Saduak
Damnoen Saduak is a district in central Thailand in the province Ratchaburi. The central town is most famous because of its floating market held every day till noon on a khlong not far from the district office...
, Ratchaburi Province
Ratchaburi Province
Ratchaburi is one of the central provinces of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Kanchanaburi, Nakhon Pathom,Samut Sakhon, Samut Songkhram and Phetchaburi...
and Wat Rajorasaram, Bang Khun Thian
Bang Khun Thian
Bang Khun Thian is one of the 50 districts of Bangkok, Thailand. Its neighbors, clockwise from the north, are Bang Bon, Chom Thong, and Thung Khru districts of Bangkok, Amphoe Phra Samut Chedi of Samut Prakan Province and Amphoe Mueang of Samut Sakhon Province...
, Thon Buri (district)
Thon Buri (district)
Thon Buri is one of the 50 districts of Bangkok, Thailand. Located on the west bank of Chao Phraya River, it was once part of Thon Buri province...
. Of these, Wat Phra Dhammakaya and Wat Luang Por Sod Dhammakayarama have published instructive books on Dhammakaya meditation in English and offer training retreats for the public. Instruction and the documentary programme 'Meditation for all' based on Dhammakaya meditation are broadcast by the satellite channel DMC.TV
DMC.TV
DMC.TV is a Thai cable television channel concerned with Buddhism. Its main taglines are "the secrets of life revealed" and "the only one channel" ....
. Dhammakaya meditation is also featured on the in-flight relaxation channel of Thai Airways
Thai Airways International
Thai Airways International Public Company Limited is the national flag carrier and largest airline of Thailand. Formed in 1988, the airline's headquarters are located in Chatuchak District, Bangkok, and operates out of Suvarnabhumi Airport. Thai is a founding member of the Star Alliance. Thai is a...
in English and Thai.
Dhammakaya Meditation on the Samatha Level
As with many forms of Buddhist meditation Dhammakaya meditation has both samatha and vipassana stages. The goal of Dhammakaya meditation at the samatha level is to overcome the Five hindrancesFive hindrances
In Buddhism, the five hindrances are negative mental states that impede success with meditation and lead away from enlightenment...
. When the mind becomes peaceful and stable as the result of successful practice for tranquillity, the mind will overcome the Five Hindrances and reach a state of one-pointedness (ekaggata
Ekaggata
Ekaggatā is translated as either "one-pointedness" or "unification". This mental factor is one of the components in the jhānas.-See also:* Arupajhana* Buddhist meditation* Five Hindrances* Jhana* Samadhi...
) also known in Dhammakaya Meditation as the 'standstill of the mind' (i.e. to a state where it is free of thought). The indication of reaching this stage is that a bright clear sphere will arise spontaneously at the centre of the body. The mind should then be directed continuously at the centre of this sphere helping to transport the mind towards the ekalyânamagga path inside. attainment at the level of vipassana arises. There are several ways of focussing the attention at the centre of the body, namely:
- following down through the seven bases of the mind, namely: the nostril, the corner of the eye, the centre of the head, the roof of the mouth, the centre of the throat, the middle of the stomach at the level of the navel and two finger breadths above the previous point.
- visualising a mental image at the centre of the body: characteristically, a crystal ball [alokasaññâ] or a crystal clear Buddha image [buddhânussati] and repetition of the mantra ‘Samma-Araham’ (which means ‘the Buddha who has properly attained to arahantship’).
- placing the attention at the centre of the body without visualising
When one visualizes the mental object continuously, the mental object will gradually change in nature in accordance with the increasing subtlety of mind according to the following sequence:
- Preparatory image [parikamma nimitta]: the meditator perceives a vague, partial or undetailed version of the image they have imagined. Such a mental object indicates that the mind is in a state of preparatory concentration [khanika-samadhi] where it is still only momentarily.
- Acquired image [uggaha-nimitta]: this is where the meditator is able to perceive the image they have imagined with 100% of the clarity and vividness of the external image it is based on.
- Counter image [patibhaga-nimitta]: once the mind comes even closer to a standstill, so that it is no longer distracted by external things or thoughts, but is captivated by the image at the centre of the body, the image will change to be one which the meditator can expand or contract at will. The image will change from an image that is coloured to one which is transparent. The acquired image and the counter image, both indicate a state of mind on the threshold of the first absorption (see jhana in Theravada). This threshold state is called ‘neighbourhood concentration’ [upacâra-samâdhi] and indicates that the mind has become unified or one-pointed.
Although the meditator may start out with as many as forty different paths of practice, once the Hindrances are overcome, all methods converge into a single path [ekalyânamagga] of mental progress, which leads into meditation at the Vipassana level.
Dhammakaya Meditation on the Vipassana Level
Dhammakaya meditation embarks on the Vipassana level at a later stage than some other meditation schools available in Thailand. In this school, insight relies on purity of ‘seeing and knowing’ (ñānadassana-visuddhi) i.e. a mind that is stable, and has penetrative insight into the reality of life and the world. Such insight will allow the meditator to have penetrative knowledge of the Five Aggregates (khandaKhanda
The Khanda is one of the most important symbols of Sikhism alongside the Ik Onkar. The khanda is like a "coat of arms' for Sikhs. It was introduced by the sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind Ji. It is an amalgam of three symbols, represented by three different items...
) , the Twelve Sense Spheres (āyatana) , the Eighteen Elements (dhātu) , the Twenty-Two Faculties (indriya
Indriya
Indriya, literally "belonging to or agreeable to Indra" is the Sanskrit and Pali term for physical strength or ability in general, and for the five senses more specifically....
) , the Four Noble Truths
Four Noble Truths
The Four Noble Truths are an important principle in Buddhism, classically taught by the Buddha in the Dharmacakra Pravartana Sūtra....
and Dependent Origination. The meditator sees and knows clearly through their insight knowledge that all things composed of the Five Aggregates exhibit the Three marks of existence
Three marks of existence
The Three marks of existence, within Buddhism, are three characteristics shared by all sentient beings, namely: impermanence ; suffering or unsatisfactoriness ; non-self .According to Buddhist tradition, a full understanding of these three can bring an end to suffering...
and for the meditator, there arises dispassion (ekantanibbida] and detachment (viraga) and accomplishes sequential shedding of the defilements until an end to defilements can be reached. The meditator sees and knows with the latter four of the five eyes the Buddha himself attained - but in Dhammakaya Meditation, the level of attainment is usually explained in terms of equivalent inner bodies which start with the physical human body and the subtle human body (astral body
Astral body
The astral body is a subtle body posited by many religious philosophers, intermediate between the intelligent soul and the physical body, composed of a subtle material. The concept ultimately derives from the philosophy of Plato: it is related to an astral plane, which consists of the planetary...
or subtle body
Subtle body
A subtle body is one of a series of psycho-spiritual constituents of living beings, according to various esoteric, occult, and mystical teachings...
) and which go in successively deeper layers until reaching the body of enlightenment (Dhammakaya
Dhammakaya
Dhammakāya is a Pāli word meaning "body of dharma" or the body of enlightenment. It can refer to:*Wat Phra Dhammakaya, a Thai Buddhist temple;*The Dhammakaya Movement and the Dhammakaya Foundation, which originated at that temple;...
) of the arahant - the number of bodies totalling eighteen.
| Five Eyes of the Buddha | Dhammakaya Meditation Equivalent Inner Bodies |
Equivalent jhana level |
|---|---|---|
| physical eye (mamsacakkhu) | physical human body subtle human body |
first jhana |
| angelic eye (dibbacakkhu) | coarse angelic body subtle angelic body |
second jhana |
| eye of wisdom (paññâcakkhu) | coarse form brahma body subtle form brahma body |
third jhana |
| eye of omniscience (samantacakkhu) | coarse formless brahma body subtle formless brahma body |
fourth jhana |
| Buddha-eye (buddhacakkhu) | coarse Gotrabhu Dhammakaya body subtle Gotrabhu Dhammakaya body coarse stream enterer Dhammakaya body subtle stream-enterer Dhammakaya body coarse once-returner Dhammakaya body subtle once-returner Dhammakaya body coarse non-returner Dhammakaya body subtle non-returner Dhammakaya body coarse arahant Dhammakaya body subtle arahant Dhammakaya body |
paths and fruits of Nirvana |
The process of purification corresponds with that described in the Dhammacakkapavattana Sutta where the arising of brightness is accompanied by the inner eye [cakkhu], knowing [ñāna], wisdom [paññā] and knowledge [vijjā]. The meditator will see the nature of the Dhamma (inner mental phenomena) and according to the Lord Buddha’s advice to Vakkali he who sees the Dhamma will see the Buddha (see also Eternal Buddha
Eternal Buddha
The idea of an eternal Buddha is a notion popularly associated with the Mahayana scripture, the Lotus Sutra, and is also found in other Mahayana sutras.- The Eternal Buddha in the Lotus Sutra and Other Mahayana Sutras :...
). Thus, in Dhammakaya meditation, the Buddha's words are taken literally as seeing one's inner body of enlightenment which is in the form of a Buddha sitting in meditation.
Research
Scientific research done on Dhammakaya meditation on the Samatha level has shown that it can assist stress managementStress management
Stress management is the alteration of stress and especially chronic stress often for the purpose of improving everyday functioning.Stress produces numerous symptoms which vary according to persons, situations, and severity. These can include physical health decline as well as depression. According...
and reduce clinical depression
Clinical depression
Major depressive disorder is a mental disorder characterized by an all-encompassing low mood accompanied by low self-esteem, and by loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities...
while enhancing self-development
Further reading
- Dhammakaya Foundation (2004) Start Meditation Today!: The Simple Way to Inner Peace (Bangkok, Dhammakaya Foundation) ISBN 978-9748785547