Categories: Third Eye: Practical Meditation
May the blessings of the Triple Gem be with you all!
Today, we will explore a topic that may feel both inspiring and deeply fascinating: a practical meditation for journeying into the inner relic chamber of the great Ruwanwelisaya Stupa. This practice is specifically for those who have been following our teachings for some time and have successfully awakened their third eye through dedicated meditation.
For others, this may not yet be possible, but it can serve as an inspiration for your own spiritual path. Many of you who have followed our guided meditations have shared your experiences of this awakening with us, and we are grateful for your trust.
This teaching is the next step for you. We will guide you on how to spiritually enter the sacred inner chamber, known as the garbha, of the Great Stupa, also called the Swarnamali Maha Seya. This is a new and profound experience we are sharing, part of a series of practical teachings we hope to offer.
The Essential Prerequisite: A Mind Free from Craving
Before we begin, it is crucial to cultivate the right mindset. We must not approach this third eye meditation with craving or intense desire. If you become too eager to see lights, have strange experiences, or enter the stupa, these abilities may not manifest. The key is to hold this possibility in your mind as something ordinary, a normal thought. Do not become attached to the outcome. This attachment, this craving, can become an obstacle.
This practice builds upon our previous guide, the fifth practical third eye meditation focusing on the ‘sky sign‘ / ‘Ahasa sannawa‘ (or ākāsa sañña). Those who have practiced and mastered that technique of mentally holding the concept of vast, open space will find this next step accessible. If at any point you struggle to see the stupa, do not become frustrated. Simply return your focus to the sky sign without dwelling on the desire to see the Ruwanwelisaya Stupa. Let go of the wanting.
The Method: A Step-by-Step Guide to the Journey
Now, let us walk through the method.
- Step 1: Settle into Meditation. Begin by sitting in your usual meditation posture. Settle your body and mind.
- Step 2: Set Your Intention. Perform your usual resolutions and then begin to mentally repeat your meditation word, focusing on the ‘ahasa sannawa‘ (sky sign) as we’ve practiced before.
- Step 3: Make a Specific Aspiration. While holding this meditative state, make a clear and firm intention three times: “May I be able to enter the inner relic chamber of the Ruwanwelisaya Stupa.” You can refer to it as the Great Stupa (Maha Seya) or Swarnamali Maha Seya. State this aspiration three times.
After making this resolution, or adhiṭṭhāna, a powerful, focused mental command continue meditating on the ‘sky sign’. For some, the image of the stupa may appear almost instantly. If it does, you don’t need to force the sky sign any longer. But remember, do not get excited if you see it, and do not get discouraged if you don’t.
Attachment and aversion are the fastest ways to lose this subtle vision. Our minds are sensitive; if greed, hatred, delusion, or lust arise, these higher abilities can vanish.
Traveling with the Mind: Reaching the Unseen Gateway
As you continue, use the technique from our fifth practical meditation guide to spiritually travel into the sky. You will feel yourself moving with a mind-made power, a faculty known in Buddhism as Manomaya Iddhi. It might feel like your astral body or mind-body (manokāya) is flying. From this high vantage point, look down upon the Ruwanwelisaya Stupa, as if from a helicopter or a satellite.
Then, make the intention to descend. These intentions are like passwords. Simply think, “May I now descend.” You will begin to move downwards. You can approach the stupa in various ways, but your goal is to arrive at the southern gateway of the inner chamber. Make the specific intention: “May I have the ability to go to the southern gateway.”
This gateway is not visible in the physical world. If you were to visit the stupa in person, you wouldn’t find it. It is an entrance for the spiritual realm, visible only to those with developed minds and to non-human beings like deities (devas), brahmas, and even extraterrestrial beings.
It is a doorway for sages, hermits, and any human, even a layperson (puthujjana), who has cultivated their mind to this level. For the ordinary mind, it remains unseen. Stand spiritually at this southern gateway. You might see a door that is open, or one that is closed.
Seeking Permission: The Power of Humility and Shared Merit
Before you can enter, you must ask for permission. The Ruwanwelisaya Stupa is protected by a vast legion of divine beings, an army of deities. The great King Dutugemunu, who built this monument, now resides in the Tavatimsa heavenly realm and he, along with his divine retinue, watches over it.
From your position at the southern gateway, you must perform an essential act of spiritual respect: the sharing of merits. In Buddhism, this is called puñña anumodanā, the offering of the positive energy from your good deeds. You who follow these teachings regularly practice loving-kindness (mettā), give alms, and pay homage to the Buddha. Recall all these wholesome actions, your acts of generosity (dāna), your virtue (sīla), and the merits from your meditation practice.
Then, offer these merits with a clear heart:
- First, to the great King Dutugemunu.
- Second, to all the guardian deities protecting the stupa.
Formulate the thought: “To King Dutugemunu, the builder of this Great Stupa, and to all the guardian deities here, may the merits of all my wholesome deeds bring you peace and happiness. May these merits support your own spiritual aspirations, leading to the ultimate liberation of Nibbāna (the cessation of all suffering). Having shared this merit, may you grant me permission to enter the inner chamber to worship the sacred relics of the Lord Buddha.”
Inside the Sacred Chamber: A Glimpse of the Eternal
Once permission is granted, you will know. A deity with a noble presence, perhaps adorned in beautiful royal garments, may appear before you. If your spiritual senses are developed, you might hear a voice in your mind (a form of clairaudience or dibba-sota) saying you may enter. Or, the deity may simply give you a message in your heart or a nod. Sometimes, the door will simply open on its own. The deity may even escort you inside.
Upon entering, you will be stunned. The space within is vast, feeling larger than an acre. It is a world unto itself, crafted as described in the ancient chronicles like the Mahavamsa. You will witness, through your mind’s eye, the creations of King Dutugemunu. The entire chamber is filled with golden statues depicting the life of the Buddha, from his past existences as a Bodhisatta to his birth and enlightenment. You can also see countless beings from other realms, deities, Brahmas from higher celestial worlds, and wise sages, all gathered to worship. You can observe them as you are guided, likely first towards the central relic chamber.
There, you will see the great reliquary, vast like a pot, containing a drona (an ancient measure) of the Buddha’s sacred physical relics. Gazing upon them, this is the time to make your most profound aspirations.
Aspire with all your heart: “May I realize the Four Noble Truths and attain supreme liberation in this very lifetime. May my spiritual faculties, my psychic powers (pañca-abhiññā), my concentration, my mindfulness, and my wisdom (paññā) develop fully to destroy all mental defilements (kilesas).”
From this sacred spot, practice your loving-kindness meditation, radiating goodwill to all ten directions. You will also see the lamp that was lit by enlightened monks (Arahants) in ancient times, which they resolved would never be extinguished. It is still burning, and you can see it with your own eyes.
Cosmic Gateways: Portals to Other Worlds
If you are exceptionally fortunate and share a past karmic connection with King Dutugemunu, he himself may appear to see you. Though he resides in a heavenly realm and has many duties for the protection of the Buddhist faith, he might manifest for a moment. He has a powerful, majestic presence.
As you explore, you may notice other doorways inside the chamber, similar to the one you entered. Do not be afraid. These are portals to other parts of the universe. If you feel drawn, you can intend to pass through one. This is a spiritual exploration; you can travel instantly to other world systems and return.
These gates are how beings from other realms, as described in texts like the Ananda Sutta and the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta, come to this sacred place to pay homage. The Buddha taught of ten thousand world systems, and from these gates, you can witness beings from these other worlds (other human worlds, other deva worlds) arriving to worship. This experience will give you a profound understanding of the vastness of samsara, the endless cycle of birth and death, and the countless beings within it.
As you witness these marvels, the artistry, the pure gold used with such sincere faith, the sheer scale of devotion, your body may tingle with goosebumps. A sense of pride will arise, not from ego, but from deep reverence for the great kings and ancestors of Sri Lanka who accomplished these feats.
In every moment you feel this, remember to share your merits with all those ancient, noble kings, wishing for them to complete their journey through samsara. Always dedicate your merits especially to King Dutugemunu, aspiring that your practice helps fulfill his own spiritual perfections. You might even be shown his legendary sword, many feet in length, by your celestial guide. You will see the sincerity and honesty with which our ancestors built this, free from the greed that can taint modern efforts.
Remember that our ultimate goal in all of this is the attainment of Nibbāna, and hold that intention firmly in your heart.
The Return Journey and an Expression of Gratitude
This entire third eye meditation is navigated by your intention. To move, you simply use the ‘password’ of your will. Think, “May I go up,” and you will rise. “May I go down,” and you will descend. You can stay for as long as you wish, six hours, twelve hours, even twenty-four hours in this spiritual state is no issue. You can even visit daily to meditate there once your mind is sufficiently developed.
When you are ready to leave, intend to exit through the same door you entered. Once outside, do not forget to thank the deity who guided you. Share your merits with them once more:
“May the wholesome energy generated by showing me this sacred place help you attain the ultimate peace of Nibbāna.”
Share merits again with King Dutugemunu, with every person in history who carried even a single stone or grain of sand for this stupa, and with all those who work to protect it today. Make this a specific and heartfelt offering.
Finally, make the intention: “May I now return to my physical body, to my home.” You may perceive yourself flying through the sky and gently re-entering your body. After you feel fully present, you can conclude your meditation and open your eyes.
Final Guidance: Practice with Wisdom and Humility
Many of you ask if this ability can be used to see anything you wish. The answer is yes. We will explore more applications of this third eye meditation in future teachings. If you have this experience, you are welcome to share it in the comments below, so that others may be inspired.
As you continue this practice, savor the wonder and beauty of it. But I must offer a final, crucial warning: Do not get attached to it. Do not cling to the experience, be repulsed by it, crave it, or become angry if it doesn’t happen. Practice with constant mindfulness (sati), because these abilities are lost the moment the ego takes over. Do not become arrogant or boastful. If you speak of these things with pride, you will not only risk becoming a joke to others, but you will surely lose the ability. You may share your experience from a place of neutrality and humility, but never from pride.
Always watch your thoughts. I trust you have understood these important points. For all of you who have opened your third eye through dedicated practice with our teachings, this spiritual journey is now accessible. I hope you will undertake this practice and experience its fruits for yourself. With the power of the Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha, and by maintaining mindfulness of your meditation object, may you have the ability to accomplish this.
We invite you to walk this path with us. Read our teachings, and most importantly, apply them practically in your own life. as you practice, questions will naturally arise. Please feel free to share your experiences and questions in the comments below, via email or contact form. I will do my best to offer guidance in future talks based on your progress. For now, begin this practice with an open heart and a mind free from expectation. Cultivate it correctly, and may you find the clarity and peace you seek.
Thank you for joining us. We hope this blog will be of great benefit to your spiritual journey.
May you all be well and happy.
May the blessings of the Triple Gem be with you all!
