STAGE I: RECOLLECTIONS (ANUSSATI)
REFLECTING ON THE DHAMMA 

These attributes comprise the essence of the Buddha, which is THE DHAMMA. The Buddha is Dhamma in concrete form, while Dhamma is Buddha in abstract form. This was why the Buddha said, “One who sees me sees the Dhamma, and one who sees the Dhamma sees me”. 


Dhamma can also be seen as the essence of spirituality, or the essence of Divinity or God, which is LOVE. The Buddha called this essence the Divine Dwelling (brahma vihara), which was described in the form of the Fourfold Experience of – Universal Benevolence (Metta), Empathetic tuning into others feelings of sorrow and happiness as if it were one’s own (Karuna), The selfless happiness derived from the freedom from self-centred emotions (Mudita), Introspective tranquillity and peace of mind independent of the circumstantial vicissitudes of life (Upekkha). 


Therefore when reflecting on the Dhamma, one should reflect on these same attributes of the Buddha, but in abstract form: Dispassion (viraga), Compassion (metta, karuna), Selfless Happiness (mudita), Tranquillity (samadhi), and In+sight (pañña). By understanding the meaning of these attributes, one begins to appreciate them and cultivate them. Understanding the Dhamma is important for the practice, because it is the extraordinary technique of purifying the mind. Dhamma includes the means (magga) to Nirvana as well as the end (phala), which represent the benefits gained from the practice. 
For an intelligent person the Dhamma becomes a map to find the way to Nirvana. This Dhamma is the Harmonious Perspective. Without the Dhamma one cannot reach the goal. We cannot depend on teachers blindly, because they may lead us in the wrong direction. It is only by understanding the road properly ourselves that we can reach the goal. Treading the spiritual path is a matter of intelligence and strength of mind. This is why the Buddha said, “I do not teach the dhamma like showing the way to a blind man who has to trust me blindly and follow me, but I am like a surgeon who operates on the eye and makes the blind man see for himself. Then he has to have confidence only in himself and not in me”. The more we follow the way, the more we begin to understand the way. The more we understand the way the more we begin to follow the way correctly and so reach the goal. Knowledge of the benefits of the practice encourages one to practice.