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IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOUR FOUNDATIONS OF OF WITH THE FOUR FOUNDATIONS IN ACCORDANCE SAMATHA-VIPASSANA MEDITATION MEDITATION SAMATHA-VIPASSANA MINDFULNESS TO REACH LORD BUDDHA’S DHAMMAKAYAS AND NIBBANA DHAMMAKAYAS BUDDHA’S REACH LORD TO MINDFULNESS While sitting in this upright meditation position, we must concentrate the mind to stop still. If the mind stops still for only the blink of an eye, this SAMATHA-VIPASSANA MEDITATION will be tremendous merit. The merit from building 100 temples or medita- IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOUR FOUNDATIONS OF tion halls is incomparable to the merit of practicing samatha (concentration) MINDFULNESS TO REACH LORD BUDDHA’S DHAMMAKAYAS and vipassanā (insight) meditation. When seeking Buddhist merit, we must practice samatha and vipassanā meditation, making the mind stop still. This AND NIBBANA is extremely important! Stopping is important because it is the pathway to attainment of the paths, fruits and Nibbāna. Those who make donations and The Most Profound Teachings of Luang Phor Wat Paknam observe precepts (sīla) are still far from stopping still. Stopping still is very Phra Mongkol-Thepmuni (Luang Phor Sodh) close to Nibbāna. When the mind stops still, it is right at the Dhamma – The Teachings of Lord Buddha. Presented and Explained by Phramongkol-Thepmuni (Luang Phor Sodh) Phra Thepyanmongkol www.dhammacenter.org THE CELEBRATION OF 2600th ANNIVERSARY OF LORD BUDDHA’s ENLIGHTENMENT (BUDDHA JAYANTI) VISAKHA PUJA DAY 2012 By The National Office of Buddhism, The National Coordination Center of Provincial Meditation Institutes of Thailand, Wat Luang Phor Sodh Dhammakayaram, and Thai Buddhists. I SAMATHA-VIPASSANA MEDITATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOUR FOUNDATIONS OF MINDFULNESS TO REACH LORD BUDDHA’S DHAMMAKAYAS AND NIBBANA The Most Profound Teachings of Luang Phor Wat Paknam Phra Mongkol-thepmuni (Sodh Candasaro), Presented and Explained by Phra Thepyanmongkol. Published by Wat Luang Phor Sodh Dhammakayaram www.dhammacenter.org | [email protected] ISBN: 978-974-7560-66-4 First Edition: August 2011 (2,000 copies). Second Edition: May 2012 (5,000 copies) Copyright © 2011 No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the prior permission of the publisher. Petkaserm Printing Group Co., Ltd. Nakorn Pathom, Thailand Tel: +66 034-259-758, Fax: +66 034-253-465, www.pkprinting.com II Translated from Thai Version of SAMATHA-VIPASSANA MEDITATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOUR FOUNDATIONS OF MINDFULNESS TO REACH LORD BUDDHA’S DHAMMAKAYAS AND NIBBANA ISBN: 978-974-401-379-8 Published by Wat Luang Phor Sodh Dhammakayaram III ADVISORY COMMITTEE: Phra Thepyanmongkol Pali Grade 6, Phra Maha Pramoth Pamodhi- to Pali Grade 9, Phra Maha Pisit-ek Setthadhammo Pali Grade 9, and Phra Maha Pijeth Kantajettho Pali Grade 9. EDITORS AND TRANSLATORS: Phra Maha Wannapong Wannavanso, Pali Grade 9 (M.sc. (Eng., Oregon State University, OR, USA), Phra Khru Baitika Dr. Barton Yanathero (Ph.D. in Social Psychol- ogy, Cornell University, NY, USA), Phra Maha Natpakanan Gunanggaro (MBA, Eastern Washington University, WA, USA), Mr. Sakrapan Eamegdool (BSBA Business Management, Boston University, MA, USA), Mr. David Dale Holmes (Ph.D [ABD], Ludgwig Maximilians University, Germany), Ms. Eunice E. Cerezo (BA, Chico State University, CA, USA), Mr. Watcharapol Daengsubha (BA in Management, Mahidol Uni- versity International College, Nakhon Prathom, Thailand), Ms. Jessica Dawn Ogden (BA in Management, Lakeland College, A.B., Canada). COVER AND GRAPHIC DESIGNS: Mr. Weerawat Warayon and Mr. Phakakorn Muangnil. IV LUANG PHOR WAT PAKNAM PHRA MONGKOLTHEPMUNI LUANG PHOR SODH CANDASARO V HIS HOLINESS SOMDEJ PHRA BUDDHAJAHN President of Sangha Body Conference, Acting Sangharaja Committee, Chief of East Sangha Region, Abbot, Wat Saket Rajamahavihara, Bangkok, Thailand VI HIS HOLINESS SOMDEJ PHRA MAHARAJAMANGALAJAHN Acting Sangharaja Committee Member of Sangha Body, Chief of North Sangha Region, Abbot, Wat Paknam Basijareaon, Bangkok, Thailand VII VENERABLE PHRA RAJBRAHMATHERA Vice Abbot and Head of Meditation Masters of Wat Paknam Basijareaon, Bangkok, Thailand VIII FOREWORD Phra Thepyanmongkol has been my student since 1973. At that time, he was a layman, named Mr. Sermchai Polpatthanarithi. I taught him samatha-vipassanā meditation based on Lord Buddha’s Four Foundations of Mindfulness to Dhammakāya and Nibbāna and the transcendental knowledge or vijjā of seed-element or dhatu- dhamma purifi cation, also called āsavakkhayaāa, which I had learned from and practiced with Luang Phor Sodh until he passed away. Then, I assigned Mr. Sermchai and Phra Khru Kaisornvilard (Natthanan Kulsiri) to collect the teachings of Luang Phor Sodh in order to publish them as a book. These teachings had been recorded by Phra Khru Vinaitorn Jou (Pali Grade 5) since 1938. Later, the Dhamma Practice for People Project of Wat Pak- nam Basijareaon was initiated for propagating Dhammakaya Med- itation. On August 16th 1977, its committee published 500 copies of the fi rst book named, “Tactics and Strategy of Advanced Dhātu- dhamma Purifi cation (āsavakkhayaāa)” for distribution to those who reached advanced Dhammakāya Meditation. In 1985, 1200 copies of the second book were published. This was followed in 1993 by the third book, as well as 2,000 copies of the special edi- tion incorporating volumes 1, 2 and 3. These were all for distribu- tion to those who reached advanced Dhammakāya Meditation. The special edition was entitled “Vijjā Magga-phala Bisadarn 1-2-3” [Detailed Transcendental Path and Fruit Knowledge 1-2-3]. In addition, on October 10th 1984, 1200 copies of 63 Dhamma Talks by Luang Phor Sodh transcribed by Phra Pipatd- hammagani (Umnat Upagutto) were published and distributed by the Dhamma Practice for People Project of Wat Paknam Basijare- aon and the Dhammakāya Foundation for the 100th anniversary of Luang Phor Sodh’s decease. This book was entitled, “Biography, Work and 63 Dhamma Talks of Luang Phor Watpaknam (Phra Mongkol-Thepmuni).” IX Now, Phra Thepyanmongkol, Abbot of Wat Luang Phor Sodh Dhammakayaram and the President of the National Coordi- nation Center of Provincial Meditation Institutes of Thailand, has collected and explained the teaching of Luang Phor Sodh in ac- cordance with Four Foundations of Mindfulness to Dhammakāya and Nibbāna. The goal of this arduous effort is to substantiate that Dhammakāya Meditation as taught by Luang Phor Sodh is the Right Teaching of Lord Buddha based on evidence from the Pali Canon and to help Buddhists to understand this profound teaching better. Once, Luang Phor Sodh said to Somdej Pa or former Phra Sang- haraja Pun Punnasiri, who was his nephew, “You will see that in the future, all people across the country will practice the way Wat Pak- nam is teaching.” Phra Thepyanmongkol deserves profound praise and gratitude for all his hard work in so many facets. I would like to congratulate Phra Thepyanmongkol and his team for their stupendous effort in completing this book, “Samatha- Vipassanā meditation in Accordance with the Four Foundations of Mindfulness to Reach Lord Buddha’s Dhammakāyas and Nibbāna,” as well as all the fi nancial supporters who have made this book pos- sible. The book will be of immeasurable benefi t to those studying the Right Practice of Lord Buddha. Finally, I call upon the Triple Gem to bless you all to prosper in Lord Buddha’s Dhamma and in your life and work. May you all live happily and healthfully and attain your noble wishes. (Phra Rajbrahmathera - Veera Ganuttamo) Vice Abbot and Head of Meditation Masters, Wat Paknam Basijareaon X VENERABLE PHRA THEPYANMONGKOL President, the National Coordination Center of Provincial Meditation Institutes of Thailand, Abbot, Wat Luang Phor Sodh Dhammakayaram XI ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I would like to acknowledge the efforts of the contributors who worked patiently with me to make this book possible, espe- cially Phra Khru Baitika Dr. Barton Yanathiro who completed his last excellent work just three days before he passed away. Without him, this book would never be completed. The book has been translated and edited by Phra Maha Wannapong Wannavangso, Phra Khru Baitika Dr. Barton Yanathi- ro, Phra Maha Natpakanan Gunanggaro, and Mr. Sakrapan Eameg- dool. It has been proofread by Ms. Jessica Dawn Ogden and Mr. Watcharapol Daengsubha. Please address any questions or com- ments to www.dhammacenter.org. I would like to thank everyone for their strenuous efforts and congratulate them on this successful contribution to the prom- ulgation of the Dhamma. Finally, with the Power of the Triple Gem and virtues of Luang Phor Sodh, I would like to wish everyone to prosper in long life, good looks, happiness, health, widom and good fortune. What- ever you wish, may it be yours. May Lord Buddha bless you all and all of your meritorious works. (Phra Thepyanmongkol) President of the National Coordination Center of Provincial Meditation Institutes of Thailand, Director of the Meditation Center of Rajburi Province, and Abbot of Wat Luang Phor Sodh Dhammakayaram. XII PHRA KHRU BAITIKA DR. BARTON YANATHIRO The Head of Translation Team, and Former Secretary for International Affair of Wat Luang Phor Sodh Dhammakayaram XIII CONTENTS CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 AIM AND APPROACH 2 1.2 ENLIGHTENMENT NIGHT 3 1.3 CONCENTRATION-INSIGHT MEDITATION 6 1.31 The Mind Bases 6 1.32 The Dhamma Sphere 11 1.33 Eighteen-Body Meditation 13 1.34 Intermediate Meditation Techniques 15 1.35 Advanced Techniques 16 1.4 MEDITATING TO DHAMMAKĀYA ARAHAT 17 1.41 Dhamma Talk by Luang