The Practice Which leads to Nibbana - A Buddhist Library

The four colour kasiöas have been explained above. Below isa brief description of how to develop the remaining six types ofkasiöa meditations.The Earth Kasiöa MeditationTo develop the Earth Kasiöa you should firstly find an area ofplain earth, the reddish brown colour of the sky at dawn, that is freefrom sticks, stones, and leaves, and then draw a circle about 1 footacross with a stick or some other instrument. Then you should lookat that circle of earth and note it as "earth, earth, earth." You shouldlook at that circle of earth with your eyes open for a while and thenclose your eyes and see if you can visualize an image of the circle ofearth. If you are unable to visualize the sign in this way then youshould re-establish your concentration based on mindfulness ofbreathing, or on the white kasiöa, up to the fourth jhŒna. Then withthe assistance of your light of concentration you should look at thatcircle of earth that you have prepared. When you can visualize thenimitta of that circle of earth as clearly as if you were looking at itwith your eyes open then you can move from that place and gowherever you like and continue to develop that nimitta.You should not pay attention to the colour of the nimitta as anobject or to the characteristics of the Earth element of hardness,roughness etc., but just keep your mind concentrated on the perceptionof the ordinary concept of earth. You should then continue todevelop this learning sign until you are able to remove the five hindrancesand attain upacŒra samŒdhi at which time the nimitta willbecome the paÊibhŒga nimitta.At this time the nimitta will be exceedingly pure and clear.You should then expand the size of that paÊibhŒga nimitta a littleat a time until it fills all ten directions and then develop concentrationon it up to the fourth jhŒna.w 75