08/09/2025
Phramongkolthepmuni
“…. The mind comprises perception, memory, thought and knowledge – these four aspects combined in a single point – that’s called the mind. The mind is located at the centre of the body. The perception element lies at the center of the body. The memory element is at the centre of the perception sphere. The thought sphere is at the centre of the memory sphere. The knowledge sphere is at the centre of the thought sphere. The elements of perception, memory, thought and knowledge are altogether four. The vision element is where seeing is situated; the memory element is the place for memory; the thought element is the place for thought; and the knowledge element is the place for knowledge. The knowledge sphere has the same size as the pupil of the eye. The memory sphere has the same size as the iris. The memory sphere has the same size as the eyeball. The perception sphere is larger still and has the same size as the eye socket. So, perception, memory, thought and knowledge – these four aspects combined in a single point – that’s called the mind ….”
“....When we say ‘pay attention’, it can be understood literally as ‘putting’ our attention in a certain place. Our attention needs to be brought to a standstill at the centre of the body – so, paying attention when practising generosity we need to put our attention at the centre of the body; when keeping the precepts, putting our attention at the centre of the body; when meditating, putting our mind at the centre of the body and bringing our mind to a standstill there. If the mind doesn’t come to a standstill, we need to make use of a meditation object to anchor the mind. This stopping of the mind is the origin of all success in worldly or spiritual ways. To bring worldly happiness, the mind needs to be brought to a standstill at the worldly level. For happiness at the spiritual ways, the mind needs to be brought to a standstill at the spiritual level. This is the origin of the Buddhist proverb ‘Natthi santi param sukham’ – there is no higher happiness than the stopping of the mind. This is why we need to bring the mind to a standstill. Having achieved a standstill of the mind, we must explore the ‘standstill within the standstill’, never looking back ….”
“…. When you come up against danger or suffering, focus on the sphere of merit (inside you). Don’t let your mind be distracted by anything else. Recollect the merits you have done in the past – they can be your true refuge and really help you ….”
“…. Any person endowed with merit, no matter how they earn their living, will overcome obstacles to achieve wealth. Without merit, whatever a person does, they will encounter obstacles. This is why every person needs to cultivate merit – to extricate themselves from poverty and eventually escape hardship and suffering ….”
“…. Dhamma will take care of those who practise it – especially for those who attain Dhamma (in their meditation). It will ensure that the practitioner doesn’t slip into the unfortunate realms. Make sure not to get separated from the Dhamma – the destiny of those far from the Dhamma is not guaranteed – only those close to the Dhamma are guaranteed to become pure in body, speech and mind ….”
“…. Contentment with the stopping (of the mind) is the essence of meditation to calm the mind (samatha) – and is the secret of success, whether on the mundane or transcendental paths of life ….”
“…. Every person who comes into this world arrives alone. No-one arrives together with a child, a husband or a wife. We come into this world alone and leave it alone – alone in birth and alone in death ….”
“…. The more you give, the more you get. The more you withhold, the more you forego. (For a stingy person) when stuff runs out, it won’t replenish. However, if we are generous by nature, hardship will only be temporary – even if we are left with nothing, it will soon be replenished ….”
“…. If in meditation the mind comes to a standstill even for the blink of an eye, or reflecting on the impermanence and loathsomeness of the Five Aggregates – the merit is more than building whole schools or temples ….”
“…. If you are impatient, you cannot reach Nirvana. You need to practise by treating what you see as merely what is seen; treating what you hear as merely what is heard; treating what you smell as merely what is smelt; treating what you taste as merely what is tasted; treating what you touch as merely what is touched, and; treating what you know as merely what is known. If you take things personally you’ll never get to Nirvana. In the meantime, treat everything without attachment ….”
