WRA4 – MEDITATION AND KARMIC WAVES

Foreword:

This article is based on our personal reflections on brainwaves and karmic consequences. It is a metaphor that helps express the influence of the mind in the process of creating karma — without equating the energy waves mentioned in this writing with the definitions found in physics or neuroscience.

This Universe is nothing but energy in various forms.

When a thought begins to move, it creates energetic waves.

1. Brainwaves

Brainwaves that oscillate with large amplitudes up and down provide the very conditions for karma to arise.

Karma is the result of moving brainwaves, manifesting as physical forms or phenomena perceivable by the senses. At that moment, the “Cause” = the energy of Thought generated by brainwaves, combines with the “Condition” = the energy of the External Environment, giving rise to phenomena — called Karma. Karma is the Effect of the Cause — which is Thought. What we think, we will reap, so we must be extremely careful with our thoughts.

A karmic wave begins as a tiny brainwave, then resonates with compatible energy waves from the surrounding environment, forming a tsunami that sweeps you away. That is why, when the Karmic Wave arrives — whether positive or negative — if you do not possess Concentration Power, which is the force that keeps your mind still and blocks the Karmic Wave, then even if you recognize it, know you’re being swept away, and wish not to be swept away — you still cannot escape it.

Angels, demons, or even certain individuals may influence our thoughts, causing us to lose control of our minds by disrupting the amplitudes of our brainwaves. But if our brainwaves are motionless, then no one can interfere with our thoughts — just like a frozen lake surface where external movements cannot generate any waves.

Meditation brings the brainwaves to stillness. In the Delta state, brainwaves have a very low amplitude (minimal deviation from equilibrium) and a frequency that is nearly zero (no fluctuation), appearing almost as a straight, motionless line. This is the state where the mind is “unmoving, unshaken,” as the Buddha taught. And zero, no matter how many times it is multiplied, still remains zero.

Ordinary people only enter the Delta state during deep, dreamless sleep when they are unaware of the world around them. However, advanced meditators can consciously bring their brainwaves into the Delta state while remaining fully aware of their surroundings. Intermediate-level practitioners can usually guide their brainwaves into the Theta state. (To understand more about brainwaves, see “Meditation in the Light of Science” by Venerable Thích Thông Triệt – pages 135 to 149.)

During the time when we are able to reduce the amplitude and frequency of brainwaves to near zero, karmic waves cannot arise, and past karmic waves are blocked from continuing to propagate. Thus, old karma gradually dissolves, more or less. It is like a tsunami that meets a strong enough barrier and can no longer move forward — its destructive impact is greatly diminished compared to if it had been left unchecked.

2. The Human Body

Only the human body, with its subtle and intricate physical design, can achieve this miracle through meditation — something that beings in other realms, with different forms, cannot do. Though the human realm contains both good and evil, it is a precious environment for cultivating the mind and practicing liberation.

The Buddha compared the rarity of a human body to a blind turtle living in the depths of the ocean, surfacing only once every hundred years, and by sheer coincidence encountering a piece of driftwood with a hole — through which it manages to put its head. (See scriptural reference below.) In this analogy, the Cause is the Turtle, and the Condition is the Driftwood — both are rare individually, and their meeting even more so.

Humans often wish to be celestial beings, unaware that celestial beings long to be reborn as humans — for only the human form offers the chance to practice and attain freedom from the suffering of samsara. (See scriptural reference below)

A human life is fleeting — just a few days when compared to time in higher realms. It’s like spending ten long years studying (in other realms), only to take a one-hour exam (in the human world). But when the exam comes, we forget to focus on answering the questions, distracted by small talk with fellow test-takers.

Because the human body is precious, and human time even more so, countless forces — both wholesome, unwholesome, and mixed — seek to seize our bodies and our time through various means. If you are not awake enough to recognize the jewel within this impermanent shell, and let it be swept away by layer upon layer of karmic waves, that would be one of the greatest regrets in this world.

This is why one hour of meditation may redeem countless future lifetimes. When the Mind’s waves stop, the World’s waves calm. A peaceful mind creates a peaceful life.

If meditation is deep and long enough, one may never have to endure another rebirth — for the karmic waves have ceased completely.

3. Raising Frequency

Today’s world is overwhelmed by waves of information that leave you feeling disoriented. You constantly strive to obtain as much information as possible, fearing you might miss something important. You allow yourself to be buried under piles of dirt, hoping to find a few specks of gold. But in reality, you are often buried in dirt and rarely find any gold.

So, what is the secret to letting pure gold naturally appear before you, without having to dig painfully through the dirt?

Spend time upholding precepts and practicing meditation. This will raise your awareness—or what people commonly refer to as raising your frequency. However, the frequency that is raised is that of the body, making it more light and graceful, while the brainwave frequency should actually be lowered—as low as possible—until it nearly becomes a flat line, like Delta waves. Low-frequency brainwaves, paradoxically, generate high-frequency bodily energy. This is the beautiful paradox of the Universe: when the mind is still, the body shines; when the brain is calm, the body becomes light and agile. The bodily frequency you emit will then resonate with external energies of similar high frequency.

According to the laws of the Universe, a new consciousness gives rise to new form, or attracts forms that match it. That means you’ll either find the answer to your question within yourself, or the answer will come to you. For example, you type a question online, and the right answer appears immediately—or perhaps not at first, but eventually the right one finds its way to you. Sometimes, you might coincidentally meet a person or situation that gives you the answer (though in reality, nothing is truly coincidental).

You might think, “How could the right answer just show up online?” Or you might believe that algorithmic platforms only push the content they want you to read, not what you truly seek. In fact, you can always switch to more neutral search engines like Duck Duck Go. But from our perspective, no matter which browser you use, the information aligned with your level of awareness will always find its way to you. Some information may not even originate purely from human intellect, but may be influenced by celestial beings—or even demons—according to the unfolding of karma in this world. So everything begins within you, not from the outside.

Therefore, follow the Buddha’s teaching:

“Bhikkhus, here are the roots of trees, here are empty huts. Meditate. Do not be negligent. Do not later regret it. This is my instruction to you.”

(See the sutta containing this passage in the reference below.)

REFERENCES:

• Excerpt of the Blind Turtle: Pali Canon / Samyutta Nikāya / 48. VIII. The Keyhole

(3) (S.v,456)
2) Monks, suppose this great earth were covered entirely with water, and a man threw a yoke with a single hole into it. The east wind carries it westward, the west wind eastward, the north wind southward, and the south wind northward. A blind turtle rises to the surface once every hundred years.
3) What do you think, monks, could that blind turtle, surfacing once in a hundred years, manage to insert its neck into that yoke with a hole?
— Venerable Sir, it would be extremely difficult for that blind turtle to do so!
4) Monks, it is equally difficult to obtain a human birth. It is equally difficult, monks, for a Tathāgata, an Arahant, a Fully Enlightened One, to appear in the world. It is equally difficult, monks, for the Dhamma and Discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata to shine in the world.
5) But now, monks, you have attained a human birth, and the Tathāgata has appeared in the world, an Arahant, a Fully Enlightened One. The Dhamma and Discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata now shine in the world.

• The Heavenly Realm of the Devas: Pali Canon / Khuddaka Nikāya / Volume I / Chapter 3b / Section IV

(LXXXIII) (Tik. IV, 4) (It. 76)

Monks, when a Deva (heavenly being) is nearing the end of their life and must abandon the celestial body, five signs appear beforehand: their garlands wither, their garments become soiled, sweat appears under their armpits, their complexion turns dull, and they no longer delight in their heavenly seat.

Knowing this, the other Devas speak three words of encouragement:
“From now on, noble one, may you go to a fortunate realm!
Having gone to a fortunate realm, may you receive what is rightfully to be received.
Having received it, may you abide there wisely and well.”

Hearing this, a monk asked the Blessed One:
“Venerable sir, what is meant by going to a fortunate realm of the Devas?
What is meant by receiving what is rightfully to be received?
And what is meant by abiding wisely and well?”

The Blessed One replied:
“Monks, being born as a human is what is meant by going to a fortunate realm of the Devas.
And when, as a human, one gives rise to faith in the Dhamma and Discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata, this is what is meant by receiving what is rightfully to be received.
When such faith is firmly rooted and unwavering, not shaken by ascetics, brahmins, gods, Māras, Brahmās, or anyone in the world – this is what is meant by abiding wisely and well.”

• Meditate Well: Pali Canon / Saṁyutta Nikāya / Volume 4 – Salāyatana Saṁyutta / Chapter 9 – Nibbāna Saṁyutta

I. Body (S.iv,359)

1. Monks, I shall expound to you the unconditioned and the path leading to the unconditioned. Listen carefully.
2. And what, monks, is the unconditioned? The complete cessation of greed, the cessation of hatred, the cessation of delusion – this, monks, is called the unconditioned.
3. And what is the path leading to the unconditioned? Mindfulness of the body – this, monks, is called the path leading to the unconditioned.
4. Thus, monks, I have taught you the unconditioned and the path leading to it.
5. Monks, whatever a Teacher should do for the welfare of his disciples, out of compassion and kindness, I have already done for you.
6. Monks, here are the roots of trees, here are empty huts – meditate! Do not be heedless! Do not regret it later! This is my exhortation to you.