Path of Freedom [Vimuttimagga]

Subjects of Meditation 123light of other forms, is able to burn whatever he likes, 1 is able to know firethrough the arising of brightness. The other benefits are equal to those ofthe earth kasina. Owing to the practice of the fire kasina, a man is able tosee fire everywhere."How is the sign grasped"?: The man who takes up the fire sign graspsthe sign in fire, i.e., in a natural or a prepared place. Here, a practised yogingrasps the natural sign. (He grasps the sign) on seeing any fire, i.e., a grass-fire,a wood-fire, a forest-fire or a house that is on fire. He develops the natural orthe prepared as he pleases and sees the appropriate sign. Thus the afterimageof fire occurs to him. The new yogin is different. He is able to graspthe sign only in a prepared place and not in an unprepared place. He followswhat is expedient in the practice of the fire kasina. The new yogin shouldat first gather fuel, heap it up in a clean place and burn it. He burns it frombelow, at about the time the sun rises or sets. He does not think of the smokeor the flames that rise up. He sends his mind towards the fire sign by directingit to the middle of the thick flames and grasps the sign through three ways:through even gazing, skilfulness [423] and the elimination of disturbance.(The rest) is as was fully taught before.The fire kasina has ended.THE AIR KASINAQ. What is the air 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 the air sign — this is calledthe air kasina. The training and the undisturbed dwelling of the mind are calledthe practising of the air kasina. Sending forth the mind into the air sign is itssalient characteristic. The non-abandoning of air perception is its function.Undivided thought is its near cause."What are its benefits?": There are three distinctive benefits in airkasina: a man is able to go about with the speed of air, to cause windto rise and coolness to prevail. The other benefits are the same as thosetaught in the earth kasina. One follows what is expedient in the practiceof the air kasina."How is the sign grasped?": A new yogin grasps the air kasina throughtwo ways: through sight and touch. How does he grasp the sign throughsight? That yogin, seeing a field of sweet potatoes, a bamboo grove or agrass-land moved by the wind, reflects on air perception. He grasps thesign through three ways: through even gazing, skilfulness and the elimination1, The first four are similar to those of Vis. Mag. : 175—6.