Easy but Deep EP.2: Looking Through
From Luang Pu Dhammachayo’s guidance at Wat Phra Dhammakaya — “Easy but Deep” Series, Episode 2
After learning from EP.1 that “stopping still for even one minute is already worthwhile,” Luang Pu now teaches the correct way to “look” during meditation.
Core Teaching: Look As If You’re Not Looking
Luang Pu teaches that when we sit in meditation, we must “look as if we’re not looking” — we are still looking, but looking with deep awareness, looking through gently.
Many people, when they sit down to meditate, immediately try to “stare” at the center of the body or “focus” on the crystal ball until they become tense and get a headache. That’s why Luang Pu says: don’t press your eyeballs — let them stay in their natural position, as if looking forward, then gently close your eyelids.
How to Do It: Look Through with Subtle Awareness
- Close your eyes gently — don’t squeeze them shut, don’t press your eyeballs
- Relax the mind — look through as if there’s a tiny dewdrop or clear diamond at the center of your body
- Don’t touch it — this jewel is so precious that you dare not touch it; you can only look through it gently
- Listen to the meditation word deeply — don’t just listen passively or get distracted until you forget to listen; if you listen deeply, the meditation word will carry great meaning
Why “Look Through”?
If you try to “stare” or “focus hard,” the mind tenses up and meditation doesn’t progress. Looking through keeps the mind in a state of aware but not tense — this is the heart of “Easy but Deep” meditation.
“Look as if you’re not looking, but not looking is just like looking.” — Luang Pu Dhammachayo
Lesson Summary
EP.2 teaches that meditation is not about “forcing” the mind, but about gently letting the mind rest at the center of the body. Look through with awareness, without tension, without staring — and the mind will gradually become still.
Watch the original video: Easy but Deep EP.2: Looking Through (YouTube)
All teachings: All Teachings | Original Video
Source: YouTube ID ZS7CIqlK9o8 — Easy but Deep 1 EP.2: Looking Through
Looking Through — The Right Way to Look in Meditation
Luang Pu Dhammachayo teaches that the correct way to look in meditation is “looking through” — not staring, not straining, but looking gently as if through a clear glass window.
Why Look Through?
Many people meditate but wonder why their mind won’t become calm. The reason is often that we’re tensing up, staring too hard, or straining too much. Looking through helps relax the mind and enter meditation more easily.
The Correct Method
1. Close your eyes gently, or half-open, half-closed
2. Look lightly toward the center of the body, about 2 inches above the navel
3. Don’t press your eyeballs, don’t tense your facial muscles
4. Look as if through a clear glass — not staring, not straining
5. Let the mind relax and chant gently: “Samma Araham”
Signs You’re Doing It Right
- You feel relaxed, not tense
- Your mind gradually becomes calm
- Sometimes light or visions appear
- You feel warmth at the center of the body
Common Mistakes
– Staring at your eyeballs until you get a headache
– Tensing your forehead until your head hurts
– Trying to force images and becoming stressed
– Sitting too long without knowing when to rest
Remember: “Easy but Deep” — the easier it is, the more effective it becomes. Try practicing looking through every day, and you’ll feel the difference. 🙏
