Q & A
Q: I’ve tried visualising Luang Pu Doo, but I couldn’t see anything. How can I improve?
A: It takes time. Always visualise. Set the image before your eyes so you can see it clearly, without looking up or down. Don’t stare at the image. Just look for a moment, then close your eyes.
Q: So, I just look?
A: Yes, just look. Then close your eyes and visualise the image with your eyes closed. If Luang Pu Doo’s image disappears, open your eyes and look again. Don’t forget to chant smoothly and gently while doing so.
Q: Should I chant while looking?
A: Yes. You can alternate between the Mantra, Phra Maha Jakkapat, and the Triple Gems. Or use “Naamo Bodhi Satto Brahmapanyo” and chant until…
Q: Can we look at any image?
A: Yes, any image.
Q: Could it be an image of Luang Pu Thuad or the Buddha?
A: Yes, any of them.
Q: Sometimes, when I focus on an image, it seems to change. Why is that?
A: It’s natural. The image may change on its own.
Q: So, I just observe without questioning why it changes?
A: Yes, just observe. In your meditation practice, your only duty is to observe the image calmly, without staring.
Q: If the image changes from Luang Pu Doo to Luang Pu Thuad, should I keep observing?
A: Yes, that’s a good sign. It means your practice is progressing.
Q: Does the image have to change?
A: How often do you look at his picture? The more often you do, the more natural it is for the image to change. Sometimes, you might even see him wink, smile, or move. The image can take on various motions.
Q: Do these motions always change?
A: Yes, they are not under your control.
Q: So, just observe without staring?
A: Correct. Don’t stare.
Q: Is this method part of meditation?
A: Yes, just observe and learn from the sacred energy.
Q: Is it better to visualise Luang Pu Doo’s image with eyes open or closed?
A: Keeping your eyes open is better.
Q: I see. So, I’m supposed to visualise in my mind?
A: Yes, use your inner vision.
Q: For example, if I look at the image with my eyes, I might see him standing and walking in my mind.
A: Exactly. Your eyes may see the physical image, but your inner vision perceives the sacred energy.
Q: Should I keep observing his image in my daily life?
A: Absolutely.
Q: But sometimes the vision fades. What should I do then?
A: Open your eyes and look again.
Q: Should I keep practising this way until I can visualise him without looking?
A: Yes, eventually you’ll be able to visualise without looking.
Q: It will happen automatically?
A: Yes, it’s quite simple once you practise enough. [Smiles]
Q: How can I ask Luang Pu Doo a question by looking at his picture?
A: When the image changes, ask your question in your mind.
Q: Can I ask any question?
A: Yes, but ask only about things you truly don’t know.
Q: Only Dhamma-related questions?
A: Correct.
Q: People often ask about things like lottery numbers.
A: That’s not appropriate. If you do that, the image will fade.
Q: So, we should only ask Dhamma-related or practice-related questions?
A: Exactly. If you want to ask about past lives, say, “May I learn about the sacred energy.”
Q: How do I know if I’ve received a correct answer?
A: When you ask something you genuinely don’t know, you can trust the answer is correct.
Q: How long does it take to visualise Luang Pu Doo’s image?
A: It varies. Some can do it in a day, while others take years.
Q: A friend asked how we can visualise the sacred light above the head.
A: That doesn’t happen for everyone. It often occurs to those who have practised extensively in past lives.
Q: How can we tell if someone has practised for a long time?
A: Look at their daily behaviour. Are they easily angered by minor things? If not, they’ve likely practised for a long time. This ties to the Brahmavihara practice.
Q: Should we practise Brahmavihara as we visualise?
A: Yes, but gently and smoothly. Don’t be strict with it.
Q: So, there’s no need to be serious?
A: Correct, practise with equanimity, calmly.
Q: But it’s hard to stay calm.
A: It takes time and more practice. Eventually, it will become automatic.
Q: Should practice be done in the morning?
A: Yes, early morning, around 4 or 5 AM, is ideal. Evening can be tense for many.
Q: Should I focus on the image at the centre of my forehead?
A: You can look anywhere. Just don’t concentrate too hard.
Q: It feels like the image covers my whole body.
A: That’s alright.
Q: Should we ask Luang Pu Doo for guidance?
A: Yes, always ask for his guidance and energy in every practice.
Q: If I can’t see anything, is that because he doesn’t permit it?
A: If you see something, it’s because he’s allowing it.
Q: We should always follow the Great Master?
A: Yes, his teachings are connected to sacred energy and have little to do with the material world. Our practice is not about personal gain.
Q: So, we should help others without expecting anything in return?
A: Exactly, that’s the right attitude.
Q : Always practicing ?
A : Always visualise… set the picture in your line of sight, so you could see clearly. No need to look up or bend down, remember not to stare at the picture. Just look for a while and then close your eyes.
Q : Just look?
A : Just look, then close your eyes, visualise the picture when you close your eyes. Whenever Luang Pu Doo’s picture has disappeared, open your eyes and take a look again. Do not forget to chant, smooth and gently.
Q : Chanting and looking at the same time?
A : Correct, both Mantra, Phra Maha Jakkapat and the Triple Gems, you can switch. Or Namo Bodhi Satto Brahmapanyo.
Q : Take one’s time?
A : No schedule, no time limit, it depends on individual.
Q : Depend on each person, any pictures that we could take a look, sir?
A : Right. Any pictures.
Q : Luang Pu Thuad, or the Lord Buddha image
A : Any of them.
Q : Sometime when focused on specific picture, I wondering why the picture has changed.
A : Could not control, the picture always change.
Q : Just look, not wondering about why?
A : Sure, just look, your duty during meditation practice is just looking at the picture, smoothly looking, not stare.
Q : Have to change, I meant the picture.
A : How often did you look at his picture, if more often, surely changing is normal. Sometime you will see that he winks, smiles, stands up, etc.
Q : Is it not the meditational device ?
A : Just look, and learning about the sacred energy.
Q : Example, my eyes look at the sitting posture of his picture, but my vision could see him stand up and walk past.
A : Correct, your eyes could see the picture, but your vision could perceive the sacred energy.
Q : Eyes opened, our mind is absorbed, observe.
A : Correct.
Q : So we could vision his picture in any moment of our daily life.
A : Absolutely.
Q : Then, sometime that vision disappears. What next?
A : Then open your eyes, and look again.
Q : Keep learning about looking and visualising until we could visualise Luang Pu Doo’s picture, by no looking at all.
A : Visualise by no looking at all.
Q : Automatic.
A : Sure, [answer with smiling] this practicing is very easy.
Q : How we could ask the queation to Luang Pu Doo, just looking at the picture.
A : Whenever the motions change, just ask.
Q : Any question?
A : Whenever you visualise him moving, just ask the question in your mind, but remember to ask about things that you have no answer at all.
Q : Question just only about Dhamma ?
A : Correct.
Q : People always ask about lotto.
A : That’s not good. The image in your mind will disappear.
Q : Just about Dhamma Question or about practicing.
A : Sure, if somebody would like to ask about the past life, the question must be? May I ask and learn about the sacred energy.
Q : May I ask and learn about the sacred energy: tell him, May I ask and learn about the sacred energy, then he will answer.
A : But you have to be good at consideration.
Q : Sometimes I asked, but could not understand the answer.
A : Ask him more that you do not understand.
Q : Sometime it is like he did not answer by himself, I get vision of another Venerable.
A : That’s right, we call this relating and connecting to sacred energy.
Q : How do we know that it is the correct answer?
A : Whenever we ask about something that we really do not know the answer to, we could accept that answer as correct.
Q : Body relaxation is important also?
A : Sure, body and mind are related, always linked, so it should be harmonised. Then your practice goes well.
Q : Then practicing to visualise Luang Pu Doo’s Picture, or anything about practicing, should preferably be in the morning?
A : Correct, early morning around 4-5 is good. One tends to think about family or work at evening time, so it is tense for everyone.
Q : It feels like when we are watching TV.
A : Correct, and in any postures. You can lay down, close your eyes, open your eyes, just looking, thinking like this. Your mind is like a recorder that could memorise his picture.
Q : So we visualise his picture, and what after that?
A : Do not practice just by yourself. Always ask for the stage of spiritual perfection achieved by Luang Pu Doo, ask for the knowledge, do not think that you could do it by yourself. Not just for energy, it is connected by his sacred energy.
Q : I get it.
A : First of all, ask for the stage of spritural perfection achived by Luang Pu Doo and remind to him, in every practicing.
Q : Sometime, could not see anything, is that cause he won’t permit, right?
A : If you could see something, it is because he let you know that.
Q : Always follow the Great Master.
A : For his teaching, actually it is involved with the sacred energy, and dedicating all merits to the three worlds, is not related to much with the real world, We just do for nothing, that is the matter.
Q : With our heart, no matter or what, just help others for nothings.
A : Correct, like this, someone come to visit you, but you could senses that there is something wrong about the spirits which come by, you could dedicate all merits suddenly, no need to tell anyone or that person, if you could do like this, it is so perfect.
Q : Have to vision and also chanting Phra Maha Jakkapat.
A : That’s the main point. If you were lots of skills about the visions, you could see the future.
Q : Also automatic.
A : Right. Or sometime if it were like something bad will happen, you could know.