Path of Freedom [Vimuttimagga]

Subjects of Meditation 127yogin grasps the sign in a prepared place, and is not able to do so in a nonpreparedplace. He follows what is expedient in the practice of the red kasina.This yogin applies a red colour resembling that of the Bandhujivaka floweron cloth, plank or wall, in the shape of a triangle or a square. Or, he makesa mandala of red flowers. He edges it with another colour. Thus he preparesthe red sign. He grasps the sign through three ways: through even gazing,skilfulness and the elimination of disturbance. The rest is as was fully taughtbefore.The red kasina has ended.THE WHITE KASINAQ. What is the white kasina? What is the practising of it? What areits salient characteristic, function and near cause? How is the sign grasped?A. The thought that is produced relying on the white sign—this is calledthe white kasina. The training and the undisturbed dwelling of the mind—theseare called the practising of it. Sending forth the mind into the white sign isits salient characteristic. The non-abandoning of the perception of white isits function. Undivided thought is its near cause."What are its benefits?": There are eight distinctive benefits. A man isable to attain to the emancipation of the beautiful, and the positions of masteryof the white. 1 He overcomes rigidity and torpor, dispels darkness, producesbrightness and arouses the divine eye through the white kasina. The otherbenefits are the same as those taught in the earth kasina. He who practisesthe white kasina sees the colour of white prevailing everywhere."How is the sign grasped?": A man who takes up the white kasina graspsthe white sign either in a prepared or natural place. The practised yogingrasps the sign in a natural place. He sees the sign in various places—inwhite flowers, moonlight, sunlight, starlight or a round mirror. Beginningwith these, he sees the sign always before him, through pleasure and throughpain. Thus the after-image of the white sign occurs to him. The new yoginis different. The new yogin grasps the sign in a prepared place. He is notable to grasp it in a non-prepared place. He follows what is expedient in thepractice of the white kasina. This yogin makes a mandala on cloth, plankor wall in the shape of a triangle or a square, with colour resembling that ofthe morning star. He edges it with another colour. Thus he prepares thewhite sign. He grasps the sign through three ways: even gazing, skilfulnessand the elimination of disturbance. (The rest) is as was fully taught before.The white kasina has ended.1. Oddta abhibhayatana. In the sastra mentioned above, this, the seventh abhibhayatana,is associated with Usanastdrakd (Sk.), Osadhitdrakd (Pali), the morning star. D. II,page 111 confirms: Seyyathdpi ndma osadhi-tdrakd oddtd oddta-vannd oddta-nidassandoddta-nibhdsd.