Dhammakaya Crystal Sphere

Vijja Dhammakaya Meditation is a complex yet delicate practice, and for people with no background in this method, it can be immensely challenging.

They show a crystal sphere to everyone to visualise. Practitioners focus their mind on the centre of the sphere mentally moving it from base 1 to base 6, at each base one repeats three times the words ‘sammā araham’ to keep the transparent sphere bright.

The best cure for the body is a quiet mind.

The seventh base in seven bases of the mind is the most important as this is where both the mind and crystal sphere come to rest. To help practitioners visualise the crystal sphere, they use a simple diagram. This diagram shows the crystal sphere with five smaller spheres inside. Five fundamental elements form each sphere: earth, fire, wind and space. Knowledge of these five elements allows the practitioner to recognise the laws of nature and to use meditation to attain more extensive knowledge, wisdom and happiness. Each of the five elements represents a state of matter. Earth is not merely soil but is everything in nature that’s solid. Water is everything that’s liquid. Wind a gaseous matter that’s mobile and dynamic. Fire has the power to transform matter from liquid to gas, and back. Space is a vessel for all other elements. The central sphere represents space a luminous emptiness leading to a higher spiritual experience.

Teachers of Vijja Dhammakaya Meditation refer to the transparent crystal sphere as the beginning of the path (pathama-magga). It’s the path of the blessed one on attaining Nibbāna. Practitioners know this as the only path, the straight path and must remember not to let it perish from their sight.