The Practice Which leads to Nibbana - A Buddhist Library

w 5212. A stretched out spiders web (uggahanimitta & paÊibhŒga nimitta)13. A film of cloud (uggaha nimitta and paÊibhŒga nimitta)14. A lotus flower (uggaha nimitta and paÊibhŒga nimitta)15. A chariot wheel (uggaha nimitta and paÊibhŒga nimitta)16. A moon's disk (uggaha nimitta and paÊibhŒga nimitta)17. A sun's disk (uggaha nimitta and paÊibhŒga nimitta)In most cases a pure white nimitta like cotton wool is the uggahanimitta because the uggaha nimitta is usually not clear and bright.When the nimitta becomes bright like the morning star, sparklingand clear this is the paÊibhŒga nimitta. When the nimitta is like aruby or gem and is not bright it is the uggaha nimitta, and when it isbright and sparkling it is the paÊibhŒga nimitta. The rest of the shapesand colours should be understood in the same way.The nimitta appears to different people in different ways becauseit is produced by perception. The difference in perception of differentmeditators before the nimitta arises produces different types ofnimittas. Even though mindfulness of breathing is only one meditationsubject it can produce various types of nimittas depending onthe individual.When you have reached this stage it is important not to play withyour nimitta. Do not let it go away from you and do not intentionallychange its shape or appearance. If you do this your concentrationwill not develop any further, and your progress will stop. Yournimitta will probably disappear. So at this point when your nimittafirst appears, do not change your concentration from your breath tothe nimitta. If you do you will find it disappears.If you find that the nimitta is stable and your mind on its ownbecomes fixed on it, then just leave your mind there. If you forceyour mind to come away from it you will probably lose your concentration.