Kasina meditation is a form of concentration meditation that involves looking at something, such as a candle flame, a coloured disc, or even just the sky. It is believed that this type of meditation can help to sharpen concentration skills and develop insight.
There are ten traditional kasina objects, known as the Pathavi Kasina, Apo Kasina, Tejo Kasina, Vayo Kasina, Odata Kasina, Pita Kasina, Lohita Kasina, Nila Kasina, Akasa Kasina, and Aloka Kasina. Each kasina object is associated with a different element or colour, such as earth, water, fire, wind, or white.
To practice kasina meditation, one must first choose an object to focus on. This could be a physical object, such as a candle, or something in nature, like the sky or a river. The practitioner should then sit comfortably and gaze at the object, focusing on its characteristics such as colour, shape, or movement. This should be done for a few minutes, after which the practitioner can close their eyes and imagine the object in their mind for a couple of minutes.
Through consistent practice, kasina meditation is believed to have a range of benefits, including improved focus and awareness, reduced anxiety, enhanced self-awareness, and better emotional health.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Objects to focus on | Earth, water, fire, wind, blue, yellow, red, white, space, light |
Purpose | To develop concentration skills |
Method | Gaze upon an object without creating or indulging in any thoughts |
Time | 3 minutes of gazing, then 2 minutes of imagining the object with eyes closed |
What You'll Learn
Choose a kasina object
Kasina meditation is an ancient Buddhist practice where you focus on an object without any emotional thoughts. This helps sharpen your concentration and allows you to focus on the present moment.
There are several types of Kasina meditation, each with a different object of focus. Here are some options for choosing a Kasina object:
- Apo Kasina – Gazing upon water. You can use a bowl of water, ensuring that the colour of the container doesn't become the focus. A plain, pattern-free bowl is recommended.
- Tejo Kasina – Gazing upon fire. You can use a candle, an oil lamp, or even a campfire. Ensure your eyes do not get tired from heat exposure or brightness.
- Vayo Kasina – Gazing upon wind. You can do this meditation outdoors or by gazing out a window, focusing on the movement of the wind and feeling it on your skin.
- Odata Kasina – Gazing upon the colour white. You can use a piece of white paper or cloth, gazing at the colour until your mind becomes focused and peaceful.
- Pita Kasina – Gazing upon the colour yellow, or any other colour that you find calming and relaxing. By fixating on a single colour, you can train your mind to become more focused and aware.
- Aloka Kasina – Gazing upon a bright light. Find a place where you can gaze at a light source without interruption and observe the light, letting any thoughts that arise come and go.
- Earth Kasina – Using a light-coloured clay disc or an unused pizza stone as your object of focus.
- Light Kasina – Using a light shining on an unpatterned surface, such as a white carpet, lino, or tile. Alternatively, you can use a board with a hole in the centre, so the light shines through and creates an image on the ground or wall.
- Fire Kasina – Using a candle or a glass-fronted wood stove as your object of focus.
- Wind and Space Kasina – These meditations require no physical object, as you are focusing on the space in the air or the wind in the trees.
When choosing a Kasina object, it is important to select something that feels right for you and that you can gaze upon easily without getting distracted. You can also experiment with different objects to find what works best for you.
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Prepare your body and mind
Kasina meditation is a form of concentration meditation that involves looking at something, such as a candle flame, a coloured disc, or even just the sky. It can produce fascinating closed-eye visualizations and mystical visions.
Before you begin, ensure you are in a quiet place with minimal disturbances. Select a comfortable posture—you can sit, stand or recline. If you are sitting, it is recommended to do so on a small chair, with your back straight, and your gaze level with the object of your meditation. You should be able to see the object clearly without straining your neck.
Now, complete the following four mental preparations:
- Review the dangers of sense desires, arouse a longing for escape from them, and a renunciation that will help you overcome all suffering.
- Arouse joy by recollecting the special qualities of the Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha.
- Think about the path of renunciation entered upon by all Buddhas, Paccekabuddhas and noble disciples, and feel a sense of awe.
- Feel eager by thinking: "In this way I shall surely come to know the taste of the bliss of seclusion".
Once you have completed these steps, you are ready to begin your Kasina meditation practice.
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Focus on the object
The first step in kasina meditation is to select an object of focus. Kasina meditation involves looking at something, and there are many objects that can be used for this purpose. The Buddha taught ten kasina meditations, which are:
- Pathavi Kasina – Gazing upon earth
- Apo Kasina – Gazing upon water
- Tejo Kasina – Gazing upon fire
- Vayo Kasina – Gazing upon wind
- Odata Kasina – Gazing upon white
- Pita Kasina – Gazing upon yellow
- Lohita Kasina – Gazing upon red
- Nila Kasina – Gazing upon green
- Akasa Kasina – Gazing upon space
- Aloka Kasina – Gazing upon light
These ten kasinas are derived from the earth's different elements or their primary colours. The idea is to simply gaze upon the object without developing any emotion or thought towards it. This is a basic yet profound practice that is simple and does not require many skills.
- Choose an object that feels good to you or one that you have a connection with.
- The size of the object is variable, but it should be comfortable for you to gaze at without straining your neck or eyes.
- Place the object in a position that is comfortable for you to sit and view it without developing any discomfort in the neck, shoulders, etc.
- If you are using a coloured disc, it should be a few inches in diameter.
- If you are using a candle, place it in a relatively dark place and ensure it is not windy.
- If you are using water, use a plain, pattern-free bowl and ensure the colour of the container does not become the focus of your attention.
- If you are focusing on wind, you can practice this anywhere outside.
- If you are focusing on light, shine it on the floor, particularly if the floor is unpatterned. Alternatively, you can use a board with a hole in the centre so that the light shines through and the image on the ground or wall becomes the object of focus.
- If you are focusing on space, you can simply sit next to a window and gaze outside, focusing on the sky.
Once you have selected your object, the next step is to observe its characteristics. You can repeat its characteristic mentally to help you focus solely on the object. For example, if you are focusing on water, you can repeat "water, water" to yourself. Gaze gently at the object and relax into it, as strong and rigid focus can create strain. Eventually, an image will arise from the object. It might appear floating in front of the object, or it might be the reverse image of it. It might move, or it might be still.
Refrain from forcing the image to do something or trying to change it, as that will become the new focus of your attention. Instead, relax into it and let it happen naturally. Keep observing the image and noting its characteristics. Develop it, enrich it, and make it your total focus of attention. Let everything else fade away so that there is just the image, and relax into it. Eventually, your mind will become fully absorbed into the image.
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Observe the retinal afterimage
Observing the retinal afterimage is a crucial aspect of Kasina meditation. This technique involves focusing on a specific object, known as the "kasina", which can be a candle flame, a coloured disc, or even your computer screen. Here's a step-by-step guide to observing the retinal afterimage during Kasina meditation:
Step 1: Choose Your Kasina
Select an object that feels right for you. It could be a coloured disc, a candle flame, or an image on your screen. Ensure that the object is placed comfortably in front of you, so you can gaze at it without straining your neck or shoulders.
Step 2: Gaze at the Kasina
Gently gaze at your chosen kasina. You can repeat the name of the object mentally, such as "fire, fire" or "blue, blue". This helps you focus solely on the object. Try to relax your gaze and avoid rigid focusing, as it may create strain. It's important to find a balance between paying attention and not trying too hard, as the image often appears when you're not paying it too much attention.
Step 3: Observe the Retinal Afterimage
After gazing at the kasina for a while, close your eyes and observe the retinal afterimage. This is an optical illusion that appears after looking at something bright or gazing at an object for an extended period. The afterimage may appear as the inverse of the original image, with blurred and vivid parts. It may also fade in and out or move around.
Step 4: Be Patient and Persistent
Don't be discouraged if you don't see the retinal afterimage right away. It may take some time and practice. If you don't see it at first, try shining a bright light on your closed eyelids for a few seconds after closing your eyes, as this can help the afterimage "pop" into awareness.
Step 5: Cultivate Equanimity
Whatever you experience during this practice is fine. Don't get attached to any particular outcome. Simply observe the retinal afterimage with a sense of calm and acceptance. Over time, the afterimage will tend to become more stable and clear, reflecting your improved concentration.
Step 6: Experiment with Different Kasinas
Feel free to experiment with different kasinas to find what works best for you. You can try using a candle flame, coloured discs, images on a screen, or even just gazing at a spot. Each kasina will provide a unique experience, and you may find some easier to work with than others.
Remember, the key to observing the retinal afterimage in Kasina meditation is to be patient, persistent, and non-judgmental. With regular practice, you'll find that your concentration improves, and the retinal afterimage becomes more stable and clear.
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Repeat the cycle
So, repeat the cycle: gaze at your chosen kasina object—be it a candle flame, a coloured disc, a bowl of water, or something else—for around thirty seconds to a minute or two. Relax your eyes and facial muscles as you do so. When you notice some visual distortion or colour bleeding, close your eyes and observe the retinal afterimage. This afterimage might be dark or light, depending on the brightness of your chosen object. It might wander, spin, morph, flicker, or fade. Don't worry about that; just keep your attention on it, tracking its every movement with a high degree of interest.
When the afterimage eventually fades away completely, open your eyes and stare at your chosen object again. Repeat this cycle over and over. The more you repeat it, the more powerful the effects will become. Eventually, something beyond the retinal afterimage will begin to glow. If you're using a candle flame, this will be a red dot; stay with that until it's gone, then open your eyes and go back to staring at the flame. If you're using a coloured disc or another object, you'll notice an image that seems more purified and clean.
Keep repeating the cycle. The image will become clearer, brighter, more refined, and more stable. If you're using a candle flame, the red dot will be joined by green, blue, and purple rings, with intricate yellow lines in the middle that shift and spin at high speed. Paying attention to this movement will develop your attention-tuning skills, which will be useful for other meditation styles.
Keep repeating the cycle. The image, known as the nimitta, will start to oscillate between different colours, develop fine details, change shape, and even seem alive. The longer you repeat the cycle, the more remarkable the show will become. Your internal intentions and inclinations will have more and more control over the nimitta's shape, colour, and movement.
Eventually, the nimitta will fade away, but it will return, altered, and then fade again, only to return once more. Repeat the cycle over and over. After looking at the flame or disc and closing your eyes, you'll start to notice that more of the background of the candle flame will generate after-images around the central image. These peripheral images may begin to stabilise and spread out. This is what's known as "the murk".
Keep repeating the cycle. The murk will become more organised, and you'll be able to navigate it better. You'll start to uncover its secrets. You can either focus on a specific colour or pay attention to how the subtle colours in the murk are organising themselves into shapes. Both approaches will lead to remarkable results.
Keep repeating the cycle. The murk will become well-defined and will no longer earn its name. The nimitta and the murk will become more interactive with each other. You can control their interactions through repetition of the cycle. Eventually, you'll gain a level of mastery that gives you the ability to make the images however you wish and the colours exactly as you prefer.
Keep repeating the cycle. You'll enter realms of liquid fluency and mastery that are open, vast, hyper-real, and seemingly alive. You'll feel as if you're fully lucid dreaming while still being awake. You'll be able to craft hyper-real images with a level of detail and perfection far beyond what you imagined your mind could generate.
Keep repeating the cycle.
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Frequently asked questions
Kasina meditation is a form of concentration meditation that involves looking at something, such as a candle flame, a coloured disc, or water. The objective is to sharpen one's concentration skills by gazing upon an object without developing any emotion or thought towards it.
The benefits of Kasina meditation include increased focus and awareness, controlling anxiety, promoting emotional health, enhancing self-awareness, lengthening attention span, and reducing age-related memory loss. It can also lead to the development of "supernatural powers" or "miracles", according to Buddhist analogies.
There is no one-size-fits-all meditation, so it's important to choose a Kasina object that feels right for you. You can select from a range of options, including earth, water, fire, wind, different colours, space, and light. Choose something that you feel drawn to or that you have a natural affinity for. For example, if you are naturally drawn to the colour blue, you might choose a blue disc as your Kasina object.