Buddha Abhidhamma - Ultimate Science - BuddhaNet

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Practical Coupling of Bhàvanà with Nimitta
Parikamma-bhàvanà takes as it object parikamma-nimitta and uggahanimitta.
Upacàra-bhàvanà and appanà-bhàvanà take pañibhàga nimitta
as their object. This coupling of bhàvanà with nimitta will be
illustrated by the meditation on pathavã-kasiõa.
Pathavã-kasiõa is prepared by covering a tray or a circle about
one span and four fingers (i.e. about 12 inches) in diameter with
dawn-coloured clay. If there be not enough clay of dawn colour,
some other clay may be placed underneath. The surface of the
clay should be made as smooth as possible. This hypnotic circle
is known as kasiõa-mandala.
Now this earth-circle is placed at a suitable height about
two and a half cubits (i.e. about 45 inches) away from the place
where one is going to sit. One should sit comfortably keeping
the upper part of the body erect.
1 Parikmamma-nimitta and Parikamma-bhàvanà
The meditator looks at the earth-circle attentively, saying
mentally or inaudibly: “Pathavã, pathavã” or “earth, earth”. Now,
from this time onwards, the earth-circle that he is looking at is
called ‘parikamma-nimitta’ and the meditation he is doing is called
‘parikamma-bhàvanà’.
2 Uggaha-nimitta and Parikamma-bhàvanà
After meditating for some time, perhaps weeks or months, he
will be able to close his eyes and visualise the object. This means
that he could see the earth-circle vividly in his mind as he has
seen it with open eyes even though his eyes are closed. This
visualised object or acquired image is called ‘uggaha-nimitta’.
Although the image has changed, his bhàvanà does not
change yet. At this stage he is meditating on uggaha-nimitta with
parikamma-bhàvanà.