Categories: Third Eye: Practical Meditation
May the blessings of the Triple Gem be with you all!
This teaching is for those who have been practicing with the ‘Madhyamika Bhikkhuni’ (Spiritual Monks) YouTube channel to awaken their ‘second eye’ or Third Eye, and indeed for anyone, through any method, who has awakened this faculty. We will now explore the 17th practical meditation on the Third Eye, focusing on a unique state of being known as Divya Brahma,a divine, Brahma-like nature.
Before we begin our Third Eye meditation, it is important to address a few points, as these teachings are often encountered by new people who may not yet have a practical foundation. If you are new to this, my primary advice is to become a practical explorer. If you are not yet a practitioner, please approach this teaching with a neutral and open mind,a quality we call Upekkhā, or equanimity. If that isn’t possible, it may be better to refrain from reading for now. Everything discussed here is based on practical experience and can be verified through direct, inner exploration.
Setting Your Intention: The Adhiṭṭhāna to See
As is our custom, let us settle into our meditation posture with a clear intention. Once you are seated, form a strong, clear resolution. In Buddhist practice, this is called an Adhiṭṭhāna. Resolve to understand: ‘What is the nature of the Divya Brahma state?’
With this resolution held firmly in your mind, prepare to observe what arises through your Third Eye. A vision will appear, revealing certain truths. You will begin to understand what kind of person attains this state and how it is achieved. This powerful intention will guide your mind, or your mind-made body (manomaya kāya), to the plane of existence we are exploring.
The Journey to the Edge of Divine and Brahma Worlds
Once your Third Eye meditation begins, you may find your consciousness traveling to what are known as the divine worlds, or Deva Lokas. You might have independently explored these realms before, though we haven’t formally guided you to view them in our teachings yet.
As the Buddha taught, there are six such divine worlds within the thirty-one planes of existence. Your journey will take you past the lower divine realms, such as the first, the Cātummahārājika world, and continue upwards, all the way to the sixth and highest divine world, known as Paranimmita-vasavattī. You may know this as the realm where Māra resides.
Above these six divine worlds lie the even more refined Brahma worlds (Brahma Lokas). There are sixteen form-realms, each corresponding to deeper meditative states, or jhānas. The first of these include Brahma Pārisajja, Brahma Purohita, and Mahā Brahma. These realms are characterized by incredibly long lifespans, measured in eons (kalpas). Our focus, however, is on a unique space situated between these two major planes of existence.
Discovering the In-Between: A Realm for Meditation
As you hold your intention, a specific region will come into view. It is an intermediate space, existing between the highest divine world (Paranimmita-vasavattī) and the lowest Brahma world (Brahma Pārisajja). Here, you will see something remarkable: various divine beings, some of them highly powerful (maheśākya devas), are gathered here engaged in meditation. At times, you may even see Brahmas, beings from the higher realms,descending to this space to offer guidance and instructions on meditation to those present.
If you encounter any confusion or questions during this vision, you can form another Adhiṭṭhāna to seek clarity. Answers will come, though they may be delayed if your concentration (samādhi) weakens.
The Purpose of This Realm: Cultivating Merit for Higher Birth
You might wonder why deities, who already exist in heavenly bliss, would need to meditate here. The answer lies in the law of kamma, or intentional action. When these divine beings perceive that the good merit (kusala) from their past human lives is diminishing and their celestial lifespan is nearing its end, they wisely seek out this realm. They engage in deep meditation to cultivate fresh, powerful merit.
Their goal is to avoid falling back into the human world or lower realms after their divine existence ends. By practicing here and receiving guidance from Brahmas, they aim to secure their next birth in a higher Brahma world. From there, they can continue to develop their minds, contemplate the nature of reality (Dhamma), and progress towards final liberation, perhaps passing through the Pure Abodes (Pañca-suddhāvāsa), which are reserved for non-returners (Anāgāmīs) on the verge of becoming fully enlightened Arahants.
This realm provides a pathway to end the cycle of rebirth (saṃsāra). The beings who frequent this place are known by the special designation: Divya Brahma.
Who Can Access This Sacred Space?
This special realm is not accessible to just any being. Entry is reserved for divine beings with a particular calling. This includes those who assist Bodhisattvas in perfecting their virtues (pāramitā), those dedicated to protecting the world, and those who guard the Buddha’s teachings (Sāsana) wherever they exist on Earth. In essence, it is for those who support beings on the path to enlightenment, whether they are future Buddhas, Pacceka Buddhas, or Arahants.
Others rarely have the thought to come here, nor are they permitted. The deities in this realm are notably less attached to sensual pleasures (kāma), which are abundant in the divine worlds. They may indulge in celestial comforts, but only to a limited degree, perhaps 20% to 40% of their time.
The remaining 60% or more is devoted to their meditative practice and their noble duties. The beings here are those with greater wisdom (paññā). Other, less wise deities, as the Buddha taught, may exhaust their divine lifespan and fall back into the human world or even into one of the four lower realms of suffering (apāya), according to their kamma.
A Realm Born from the Compassion of the Buddhas
This realm does not appear to be a naturally occurring world but rather something created and sustained by the resolution of the Buddhas (Buddhādhiṭṭhāna). It exists because of their immense compassion, established as a support system for those noble beings who assist in the great work of spiritual liberation mentioned earlier.
Through your own Third Eye meditation, you can explore further. You may see humans who passed away while in a state of deep concentration (samādhi), but without having fully mastered the jhānas. Due to their karmic habit of meditation, they can be reborn in this intermediate state. Here, they can continue their practice, attain the jhānas, and strive for even higher planes of existence. This shows a direct potential path for dedicated human practitioners.
A Call to Practical Exploration and Final Blessings
I encourage you to explore this for yourself. Investigate with your intention: ‘What kind of powerful beings are here? How do they practice? Are the things shared in this teaching true?’ Through your Third Eye meditation, or what is known as the Divine Eye (Dibba-cakkhu-ñāṇa), you have the ability to see this. There are many more details I have not mentioned, which you can discover on your own.
For those whose Third Eye is not yet awakened, I offer this teaching so that one day, when it does awaken, you can practically explore these truths. This investigation is a part of calmness meditation (Samatha Bhāvanā) and will grant you a profound understanding of these subtle aspects of reality.
As we conclude this 17th practical session on the Third Eye and the Divvy Brahma state, may the power and blessings of the Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha,the Triple Gem, be with you. May you gain the ability to comprehend these matters and experience them practically. May you develop in calmness and wisdom.
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!
