Dhammakaya Meditation Leads to the

Development of Emotional Intelligence.

Lecturer:

Porf. Dr. Pataraporn Sirikanchana

Present By:

Phramaha Itsret Kittisslo (Kanjaibud)

Master of Arts (Buddhist Studies)

 The Great Master
Phramongkolthepmuni (Sodh Candasaro)​
The Re-discoverer of Dhammakaya meditation

Phramongkolthepmuni was born as Sodh Mikaewnoi on

October 10, 1884 to the family of a rice merchant in
Amphoe Song Phi Nong, Suphanburi, a province 100 km
to the west of Bangkok. At the beginning of July 1906,
aged twenty-two, he was ordained at Wat Song Phi Nong
in his hometown and was given the Pāli name Candasaro.
 Biography


when Sodh was twenty-two years old, he was ordained at Wat
Songpinong in his hometown and was given the Pāli language monastic
name Candasaro. Phra (phra meaning ‘monk, venerable’) Candasaro
studied both under masters of the oral meditation tradition as well as
experts in scriptural analysis, which was uncommon during that period.
In his autobiographical notes, he wrote that he practiced meditation every
Although day,
Phrafrom
Candasaro
the firsthad
daystudied withhismany
following masters and had mastered many
ordination.
important Pali texts, he was not satisfied. In the eleventh rains retreat (vassa) after his ordination,
1916, he stayed at Wat Bote-bon at Bangkuvieng, Nonthaburi Province. Wat Bote-bon was the
temple where he used to receive education as a child, a temple known for its peacefulness. From
Luangpu Sodh’s autobiographical notes, he reflected that he had been practicing meditation for
many years and had still not understood the essential knowledge that the Buddha had taught. Thus,
on the full-moon day in the tenth lunar month of 1916, he sat down in the main shrine hall of Wat
Bote-bon, resolving not to waver in his practice of sitting meditation, whatever might disturb his
single-mindedness. That same night he experienced in meditation what became known as the
attainment of the Dhammakaya.
 Luangpu Sodh devoted the rest of his life to teaching and furthering the depth of
knowledge of Dhammakaya meditation, a meditation method which he also called “Vijja
Dhammakaya”, ‘the direct knowledge of the Dhammakaya’. Temples in the tradition of Wat
Paknam Bhasicharoen, together called the Dhammakaya Movement, believe that this method was
the method the Buddha originally used to attain Enlightenment, but was lost five hundred years
after the Buddha passed away.
Besides meditation, Luangpu Sodh promoted the study of Buddhism as well. In this
combination, he was one of the pioneers in Thai Buddhism. In 1939, Luangpu Sodh set up a Pali
Institute at Wat Paknam. He had a great interest in introducing Dhammakaya meditation outside
of Thailand.
In 1954, Luangpu Sodh announced that he would die soon and instructed his students to continue their duties
without him, especially to propagate Dhammakaya meditation. Two years later, he was diagnosed with hypertension.
Luangpu Sodh died in 1959. His body was not cremated but embalmed so that after his death people would still come
and support Wat Paknam. In Wat Phra Dhammakaya a memorial hall was built in honor of Luangpu Sodh and Wat
 Step-by-Step Instruction
 The sitting posture, which has been found to be the most conducive for
meditation, is with your right leg over the left one. Your hands should rest
palms up on your lap, and the tip of your right index finger should touch
your left thumb. Feel that you could sit happily for as long as you like.

 Softly close your eyes as if you are about to fall asleep. Relax every part
of your body, beginning with the muscles in your face, then relax your
face, neck, shoulders, arms, chest, trunk, and legs. Make sure there are no
signs of tension on your forehead or across your shoulders.

 Close your eyes gently but not completely. Stop thinking about any
worldly things. Feel as if you were sitting alone; around you is nothing
and no one. Create a feeling of happiness and spaciousness in your mind.
Feel that your body is an empty space, without organs, muscles, or tissues.
Gently and contentedly rest your attention at a point near the seventh base
of the mind at the center of the body. Whatever experience arises in the
mind, simply observe without attempting to interfere with it. This way,
your mind will become gradually purer, and your inner experience will
 Step-by-Step Instruction
 If you find that you cannot dissuade the mind from wandering, then your
mind needs an inner object as a focus of attention. Gently imagine that a
bright, clear, crystal sphere, about the size of the tip of your little finger,
is located inside at the center of the body. Maybe, you cannot imagine
anything, but later, you’ll be able to see a crystal ball with increasing
clarity. Allow your mind to come to rest at the center of the crystal ball.
Use the subtlest of effort and you’ll find that the crystal ball becomes
brighter and clearer.

 If you find that your mind still wanders from the crystal ball, you can
bring the mind back to a standstill by repeating the mantra, “Samma-
arahang” silently, as if the sound of the mantra is coming from the center
of the crystal ball. Repeat the mantra over and over again without
counting.

 If you find that you cannot imagine anything, repeat the mantra “Samma-
arahang”, silently and continuously in your mind. If you are not sure
about the location of the center of the body, just know that anywhere in
the area of your abdomen will do. Make effort continuously, keep your
Meaning of Emotional Intelligence
 The general meaning of emotional intelligence is the ability
to control emotions, have a stable mind, and optimism,
know how to empathize with others, be committed, rational,
and mindful, and be able to recognize the desires of others,
and know social courtesy.
 So, emotional Intelligence will help life be creative and
happy.
 Briefly, the main point of emotional intelligence is self-
compassion, empathizing with others, and resolving
conflicts.
How to develop Emotional Intelligence according to
the meditation practice of Vijja Dhammakaya

 From the foregoing, it can be seen that the essence of this

Dhammakaya practice principle lies in the following: To see and see as
it is at that moment, that is, to see and understand what is going on.
How did it appear? without creating any reaction in mind inclination
adherence bias Whether you like it, don't like it, just see and
understand the way that thing, that symptom is and changes. Not
embellishing thoughts, for example, when suffering arises, he knows
that suffering arises. How suffering arises, how it changes, and how it
is about to end In considering Dhamma, too, when there is a concern
take that worry and worry and consider how it happened and how it
came to be. These practices lead to emotional intelligence which
separates divided into different aspects as follows:
 1) Psychologically, consciously defining symptoms like this means that our mind is in the present moment.
When the mind is in the present moment, it controls the flow of perception and thought. keep it pure do not put
your own feelings into it. There is no attachment, hold on, no opportunity for various passions such as anger to
occur, which is the elimination of the old defilement. and prevent new defilement from occurring There is a
state of mind that is pure or what modern terminology is called. emotional intelligence.

 2) Behavioral: When the mind has a pure mind, one will have a free mind, and not be shaken by the various
emotions that affect the cause because those emotions are used as an object for study and consideration when
not fluctuating with power. defilement means that various behaviors are released from the impulse of
defilements or various unconscious motives, being so-called without dependence, without attachment to
anything in the world. As such, when a person has studied and developed his mind to be better and so on until
it reaches the level known as free mind Equal to controlling and changing behavior. Bodily to oneself, that is,
to manifest one's body in a good way, to be one who has complete precepts which will inevitably affect society
can be normal and happy. It can be considered as emotional intelligence, good qualities, or precepts. physical
expression and relationship with society.

 3) Wisdom, When the mind has worked according to the above process Wisdom works well because it is not
turned away by feelings, inclinations, and prejudices. It's called living with wisdom, also known as being
 The practice of meditation according to Vijja Dhammakaya is associated with emotional
intelligence, that is, the interaction between the emotional component and the intellect
component, with perseverance and mindfulness as the emotional component (EQ). It is an
intellectual element (IQ) where these three elements will work in relation to each other
Consciousness (EQ) is always remembered. Keep your mind in control of your emotions. Keep
your mind in control of what you are doing. Reason (IQ) is to know, understand, and realize
clearly what the consciousness has defined, realize and understand the truth of what you do
together with perseverance (EQ), which is the accelerator for the mind to move forward,
supporting all virtues to arise and not opening the opportunity for unwholesome dharma to
occur Such considerations are evident in their emotions. In all their actions, what they are about
to do, what for, what are the advantages and disadvantages? This is consistent with the concept
of emotional intelligence which consists of three components:
(1) knowing one's own emotions,
(2) controlling emotions, and
(3) using emotional intelligence.
The above practice showed the relationship between emotional intelligence and
meditation practice. Manifests itself in different dimensions of life is emotional intelligence that
manifests physically, for example, showing a developed body, such as having a healthy body.
no disease Which will be beneficial to life, making it possible to do various tasks with good
results.
 Benefits of Emotional Intelligence Training

1. able to control the mind.

2. able to control emotions.
3. Able to think analytically, identify, and make the
right decisions.
4. have a peaceful mind.
5. A better understanding of yourself and others.