Meditation Center Of D.c. Virginia

The Meditation Center of D.C. (M.D.C) is a non-profit organization and a Buddhist temple, whose primary purpose is teaching meditation. It is our conviction that individual peacefulness of mind underlies the collective potential for harmony and peace in the world. M.D.C. operates under the Dhammakaya Foundation, headquarters in Thailand, a non-governmental organization of the United Nations.M.D.C was founded in Virginia in 2001 by a group of people interested in the practice of meditation. The meditation center is located in the beautiful city of Alexandria, Virginia. The center is on the hill looking down the pond. The settled atmosphere creates the tranquil environment perfectly suited for meditation.

The Ancient Concept of The Middle Way

Lord Buddha referred to “The Middle Way” as a path that leads to enlightenment by avoiding the two extremes of sensual indulgence and self-mortification. And from avoiding both extremes, one will gain vision and knowledge that leads to Peace, Supreme Knowledge and Enlightenment.However, according to many well-known Meditation Masters, the real knowledge of meditation practice on the path of “The Middle Way” had been lost from this world for about 500 years after the passing away of the Lord Buddha. The Re-discovery of The Middle Way“The Middle Way” concept of meditation became lucid and more practical to meditation practitioners again in 1916 after the attainment of “Dhammakaya” of Luang Pu Wat Paknam (The late Abbot of Wat Paknam), a renowned Buddhist Monk and a celebrated Meditation Master.

Luang Pu is the one who laid his life down in the condition of gaining the supreme truth of The Lord Buddha. In 1916, at the age of 33, he had sat down in the posture of meditation and made a vow that he would never rise up again and sat till death if he could not find the supreme truth of the Lord Buddha. And with his strong determination, he meditated the whole night until he finally revealed the real path and the body of supreme truth, “The Middle Way and The Dhammakaya”.

The Essence of Dhammakaya

The word “Dhammakaya” is an ancient word means the Body of Enlightenment (Dhamma means the truth or the enlightenment and Kaya means body). This term was found many places in many old Buddhist scriptures both in Theravada and Mahayana schools. It is not the new term or new theory from the Teaching of the Lord Buddha.

Dhammakaya is the body that transformed Prince Sidhatta to The Lord Buddha. The enlightenment of the historical Buddha is explained as his mind became perfectly refined and purified to the same level of the refinement and purity of the Dhammakaya, and thus attains the body of enlightenment. The Dhammakaya is therefore seen as central to the Teaching of the Lord Buddha.