Path of Freedom [Vimuttimagga]

Subjects of Meditation 73meditation, jhdna, takes prepared earth and makes a mandala.not meditate on non-prepared earth.He shouldON MAKING A MANDALAQ. How is a mandala made ?A. If a yogin desires to make a mandala on the ground, let him at firstselect a calm place in the monastery, or a cave, or a place under a tree, or adeserted, covered place unlit by the sun, or a place on an unused road. Inall such places, let him keep a distance of one fathom, sweep the place cleanand make it smooth. In such places let him, with clay of the colour of dawn,prepare the ground in order to cause the arising of the sign. Taking a moderatequantity in a vessel, let him carefully mix it with water and remove grass,roots and dirt from it. With the edge of a cloth let him remove any dirt thatmay be on the swept place. Let him screen the sitting place and exclude thelight, and make a couch of meditation. Let him make a circle accordingto rule, neither too near nor too far. Let the circle be flat and full and withoutmarkings. After that let watery clay unmixed with any other colour or unmixedwith special colour be applied. It should be covered and protecteduntil it is dry. When it is dry, [413] it should be edged with another colour.It may be of the size of a round rice-sifter, a metal gong and may be circular,rectangular, triangular or square. Thus it should be understood.According to the principal teacher's instructions, a circle is the best.The mandala may be made on cloth, on a board or on a wall. But it is beston the ground. This is the teaching of predecessor teachers.METHOD OF EARTH KASINA MEDITATIONQ. How should one meditate upon the earth kasinalA. A yogin who wishes to meditate upon the earth kasina should atfirst consider the tribulations of sense-desires, and again he should considerthe benefits of renunciation.TRIBULATIONS OF SENSE-DESIRES ILLUSTRATEDIN TWENTY SIMILESQ. How should he consider the tribulations of sense-desires?A. Because they produce little pleasure and severe pain, they are full oftribulations. 1 (1) Sense-desires are likened to a bone because of scanty1. The first ten simi es are at A. Ill, 97: Atthisankhalupamd kdmd vuttd Bhagavatd, bahudukkhdbahupdydsd, ddinavo ettha bhiyo. Mamsapesupamd kdmd vuttd BhagavatdTinukkupamd kdmd Angdrakdsupamd kdmd Supinakupamd kdmdYdcitakupamd kdmd Rukkhaphalupamd kdmd Asisunupamd kdmdSattisulupamd kdmd Sappasirupamd kdmd vuttd Bhagavatd, bahudukkhd bahupdydsdddinavo ettha bhiyo.