The Practice Which leads to Nibbana - A Buddhist Library

translated as blue (n´la) can also be translated as black, or brown.All four of these kasiöas can be developed by using the colours ofdifferent parts of the body.For example according to the Abhidhamma commentary thecolour of the head hair, body hair, and iris of the eyes can be used todevelop the n´la kasiöa up to the fourth jhŒna or fifth jhŒna. (Thefour jhŒnas are found in the suttas whereas the Abhidhammaclassifies the jhŒnas as being five in number.) The yellow colour offat can be used to develop the yellow kasiöa up to the fourth or fifthjhŒna. The red colour of the blood, and flesh can be used to developthe red kasiöa up to the fourth or fifth jhŒna. And the white parts ofthe body such as the bones, teeth, and nails can be used to developthe white kasiöa up to the fourth or fifth jhŒna.White KasiöaIt is mentioned in the suttas that the white kasiöa is the best ofthe four colour kasiöas because of its ability to make the mindclear and bright. For that reason we will show how to developthat particular colour kasiöa first.To develop the white kasiöa you should firstly re-establish thefourth jhŒna based on mindfulness of breathing. Then when thelight produced by that concentration is bright, brilliant, and radiantdiscern the 32 parts of the body internally. Then discern the 32 partsof the body externally in a being sitting in front of you or nearbywhere you are sitting. Then amongst those 32 external parts discernjust the skeleton. If you want to discern that skeleton as repulsivethen you can also do that, but if you do not wish to, simply discernthe skeleton.Then having decided which is the whitest place of that skeletonand using that place, or by taking the white colour of the skeleton asa whole, or by taking the back of the skull as an object, pay attentionto it as "white, white".w 69