Path of Freedom [Vimuttimagga]

124 Vimuttimaggaof disturbance. Thus he grasps the sign through sight. How does he graspthe sign through touch? In a calm abode, a new yogin makes an openingin the wall, inserts a pipe of bamboo or reed into it and sits near it, lettingthe wind that comes through it touch his body. Thus he grasps the air signthrough touch.A practised yogin is able to grasp the sign whenever the wind toucheshis body whether he is sitting, walking, standing or lying down. Thus theafter-image of air occurs to him. He is unlike the new yogin.The air kasina has ended.THE BLUE-GREEN KASINAQ. What is the blue-green kasina? What is the practising of it? Whatare its salient characteristic, function and near cause ? What are its benefits ?How is the sign grasped ?A. The thought that is produced relying on the blue-green kasina — thisis called the blue-green kasina. The training and undisturbed dwelling of themind are called practising. Sending forth the mind into the blue-green signis its salient characteristic. Non-abandoning of the blue-green perception isits function. Undivided thought is its near cause."What are its benefits?": There are five benefits. In the blue-greenkasina, a man attains to the emancipation of the beautiful. He acquiresthe position of mastery of the blue 1 that is like a blue flower. He can changeall things to blue. He sees the colour of blue anywhere through the practiceof the blue kasina. 2"How is the sign grasped ?": The yogin grasps the sign in a preparedplace or in a natural place. That yogin sees (the sign) in blue flowers, blueclothes or in blue-coloured things everywhere. He sees it always before him,in pleasure or in pain, and thus the after-image of the blue-green sign occursto him. A new yogin is different. He grasps the sign in a prepared place.He is not able to grasp it in an unprepared place. He follows what is expedient1. Lit. Nila abhibhdyatana. D. Ill, 260: Attha abhibhdyatandni, the eight positions ofmastery.The following is from the Abhidharma Sangiti Pary ay a Pada Sdstra:- One having nointernal perception of form sees external forms, blue, indigo-coloured, indigo inappearance, indigo in brightness. As cloth of Benares dyed the colour of the Ummakaflower, deeply blue, is blue, indigo-coloured, indigo in appearance so it is when onehaving no internal perception of form sees external forms Seeing such forms, hethinks: "I know, I see". Thus he perceives. This is the fifth position of mastery.D. II, 110: Ajjhattam arupa-sanni eko bahiddhd-rupdni passati nildni nila-vanndninila-nidassandni nila-nibhdsdni—seyyathd pi ndma ummd-puppharh nilam nila-vannamnila-nidassanam nila-nibhdsam—seyhathd vd pana tarn vattham Bdrdnaseyyakam ubhatobhdgo-vimafthamnilam nila-vannam nila-nidassanam nila-nibhdsam—evam eva ajjhattamarupa-sanni eko bahiddhci-nlpani passati nildni nila-vanndni nila-nidassandni nila-nibhdsdni,"Tdni abhibhuyya jdndmi pazsdmiti" evam-sanni hoti, idarh pancamam abhibhdyatanath.2. Only three are treated in Vis. Mag. 176.