Path of Freedom [Vimuttimagga]

122 Vimuttimaggapractising. Absorption in the water kasina is its salient characteristic. Nonabandonmentof water perception is its function. Undivided thought is itsnear cause. 1There are five distinctive kinds of benefits belonging to (the practice of)the water kasina: a man is able to dive into the earth and come out of iteasily; to shake palaces, mountains or the earth; to bring down rain; causewater to gush from his body and make that (water) appear as it were the ocean.The (other) benefits of the water kasina are the same as those of the earthkasina. One who practises the water kasina well, sees water in all places."How is the sign grasped"?: The man who accepts the water kasinagrasps the sign in water, i.e., natural or prepared water. Here, a practisedyogin grasps the water sign in a place where there is no water or on seeingwater in various places, i.e., in a well, pot, pond, swamp, river, lake or lagoon.Thus he can see (the sign) wherever he likes, and can arouse the after-imageof water. He is unlike a new yogin. A new yogin has to grasp the signin a prepared place. He is not able to practise the water kasina with skill inan unprepared place. Thus that yogin, at first, should find out a calm place,in the monastery or in a rock cave or under a tree, which is not too dark andwhere the sun does not scorch. It should be a place where there is no dustor wind and where there are no mosquitoes, gadflies or other impediments.In such a place, he buries a bowl or a water pot in clean earth, and makes therim level with the ground. The circumference should be one fathom. Itshould be filled with rain-water and unmixed with any colour. The bowl orpot should be full to the brim. Here, he should dwell on the perceptionof water, and take the sign through three ways: through even gazing, skilfulnessand the elimination of disturbance. The rest is as fully taught beforeunder the earth kasina and the sphere of neither perception nor non-perception.The water kasina has ended.THE FIRE KASINAQ. What is the fire kasinal What is the practising of it? What are itssalient characteristic, function and near cause? What are its benefits? Howis the sign grasped?A. The thought that is produced relying on fire —this is called the firekasina. The undisturbed dwelling of the mind —- this is called practising.The skilfulness of sending the mind forth into the fire sign is its salientcharacteristic. Non-abandonment of fire perception is its function. Undividedthought is its near cause."What are its benefits"? There are five distinctive benefits. These aredisplayed in the fire kasina. A man is able to produce smoke and flame,is able to reveal things through producing brightness, is able to destroy the1. In the question it is "manifestation".