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Color kasina meditation?

Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2014 12:45 am
by EmptyCittas1by1
The Visuddhimagga says that one should meditate on the color kasina just as they would an earth kasina. For that, Buddhaghosa says that we shouldn't pay attention to the color or characteristic of the earth element, but we should "apprehend the color as dependent on its physical support". He also says that the kasina should have no traces of blue, yellow, white, or red.

If this is the case, then how do we meditate on a color kasina in the same way as an earth kasina if:

-We aren't supposed to pay attention to the color
-The earth kasina isn't supposed to have traces of any color

Is color kasina meditation simply earth kasina meditation with different colors?

Re: Color kasina meditation?

Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2014 4:06 am
by santa100
EmptyCittas1by1 wrote: If this is the case, then how do we meditate on a color kasina in the same way as an earth kasina if
I don't do Kasina meditation but by reading Vism's page 119, it's not the case that we simply don't pay attention to the color. Instead, it says: "The colour should not be reviewed. The characteristic should not be given attention. But rather, while not ignoring the colour, attention should be given by setting the mind on the [name] concept as the most outstanding mentaldatum, relegating the colour to the position of a property of its physical support.". Footnote #8 then further explains what it means.
Is color kasina meditation simply earth kasina meditation with different colors?
Yes and No. Yes since the emphasis should not be on the colors themselves but on the [name] concept. No because the Blue, Yellow, Red,etc. Kasina (page 164) unlike the earth one, can be made from a variety of objects like lotuses, flowers, colored cloth, etc. In the case of the earth kasina, any traces of blue, red, yellow,etc. would create the "four faults" of the earth kasina. Needless to say, due to intricate details of kasina meditation, it's better to be done under the close guidance of a meditation teacher..

Re: Color kasina meditation?

Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2014 9:34 am
by Spiny Norman
EmptyCittas1by1 wrote: -We aren't supposed to pay attention to the color
I think it's useful to clearly distinguish between the colour and element kasinas. As I understand it the method of working with the colour kasinas is to immerse oneself in the colour. And similarly with the element kasinas, where one immerses oneself in the element.