Why is the crystal ball used as the object of meditation in the Dhammakaya technique?

 

 

First of all, we don't need to use a crystal ball. Any object of meditation will do as long as you have a positive feeling towards it, or at least a neutral one. Also, the object of meditation should be chosen which does not increase the level of passion, hatred or delusion in your mind. Meditating upon the image of your husband or wife will not make for very good meditation because it will increase your level of passion and this will destroy any degree of calm which you had already attained.

 

By contrast, a flower is a good object of meditation, as is the moon or the sun, because for most people these things arouse a positive feeling. If you can think of nothing better, why not try visualizing the pillow which you use to sleep each night ?

 

The important thing is to bring the object to rest at the centre of the body, because this is where the most successful degree of concentration can be developed. You will find that whatever the object you originally chose, it will turn to become a crystal ball, in the course of meditation progress, if it is maintained at the centre of the body. This is natural law of meditation.

In my tradition, we recommend all people to meditate upon a crystal ball at the centre of the body because firstly, it gives the meditator a shortcut, to put the crystal ball at the centre of the body from 'day one'. It saves time from being wasted with many transformations of the visualized image (parikamma-nimitta).

 

Secondly, across all cultures, the crystal ball is received with a positive, or at least a neutral feeling. In no culture do you find that the crystal ball has associations which are evil!

 

Thirdly, the crystal ball is bright, clear and pure. When the mind concentrates upon these qualities, it tends to become a mind of brightness, clarity and purity: the qualities of the mind which lead to success in meditation.