Meditation

Meditation for Peace

The Peace Position

To create world peace by allowing one’s mind to reach inner happiness first, according to the practice called meditation, is what we ought to do. It is what each and every single person should be concerned with.

We should not turn down the opportunity to learn about meditation because of the differences in cultures or beliefs. Although we are born into a particular nationality, religion and race, we are all companions sharing the inevitability of suffering from birth to old age, ailment and death. Meditation, too, is universal, a practice that everyone can do, like breathing. It helps practitioners improve the quality of their minds by reaching an inner calm and happiness. Meditation relieves stress, giving practitioners mental clarity to tackle problems wisely and allowing them to lead their lives with happiness.

These are just the preliminary benefits. Beyond relaxation, there is a distinct feeling of happiness when our minds are resting at the centre. As we become more skilled, there is purity in knowledge that comes from meditation that will help every human being attain his or her inner happiness. The result is wholesome thought, speech and action.

The Most Venerable Phramongkolthepmuni’s (Sodh Candasaro) encouragement to practice

meditation that teaches us about the seventh base of the mind, along with our own experiences with meditation, shows us how inner happiness can be attained through meditation. The ‘Peace Position’ is achieved by sitting cross-legged, with the right leg on the left leg, and the right hand on the left hand. While allowing the right index finger to touch the left thumb, sit up straight and maintain awareness. Then, gently close the eyes and gradually rest the mind at the centre of the body. Rest the mind at the centre of the body, at the seventh base without analysing, contemplating, or attempting to reason. With regular practice, it will become increasingly easy to bring the mind to the centre of the body or at the centre of the stomach. Ultimately, the mind will become very familiar with this position, which helps to prevent the mind from wandering or drifting. When the mind is at a standstill and is not distracted or wandering, a deep calmness will be experienced.

As the calmness continues, a bright sphere will arise at the centre of the body. This bright sphere is perfectly rounded, translucent and luminous like a crystal ball; like a rain drop. It emerges naturally, representing the purest of the stilled mind at the primary level. It is not a hallucination and neither is it something that is visualised. It has characteristics that are similar to a crystal ball – except that it is brighter and purer. It seems alive. The smallest sphere is about the size of the eye’s pupil. At mid-size, the sphere is the size of a full moon; and that of the sun at midday when it is at its largest.

This sphere that arises at the seventh base is the gateway to true happiness and inner peace. It

will help us lead a life full of optimism, give us an increasingly purer mind and body, a deeper

understanding of life, and ultimately allow us to understand what we need to do in order to attain

the highest purpose of our life on earth.

This sphere is the initial state of purity that will lead us to an increasing degree of purity that enables us to experience happiness. The deeper we move

through each layer, the closer we reach true happiness inside, which is then reflected on the

outside. There are so much wonderful possibilities by simply bringing our minds to a standstill at

the centre of our bodies. Through this universal meditation practice, we will obtain the answers on our own about the true meaning of peace, where it is located and how we can attain it.

Once we acquire wisdom through meditation, we will come to the same understanding about the futility of wars and weapons of mass destruction.

Gone will be the need for hundreds of pages of multilateral written agreements. There will only be people who speak and act honestly. The need to attend the various international peace conferences will lessen, freeing valuable resources for other worthy programmes. Are we ready to embark on this journey together to attain all the benefits of meditation?

As we deepen our inner happiness through meditation, we will start to think, speak and act in harmony because our level of understanding and wisdom will increase. We will understand

this when our minds are still. For that reason, a peace prize should be awarded to everyone who

has attained inner peace, for they will feel only love and kindness for humanity, and they can be

a source of peace for those around them – like a candle illuminating the darkness in the night; like the sun reflecting its warm radiance against other stars, big or small, near or far.

Creating a world filled with happiness through meditation is the noblest of all goals. We need to

encourage as many people as possible to practice meditation in their lives, and then spread its

wondrous benefits to every corner of the earth. The moment when all the people of the world

meditate in this special position – the Peace Position – will be the moment humanity make world peace happen.