This group is dedicated to the Kasina, a visual meditation object as described in the Pali canon. It is typically a circular or hemispherical device as an aid to concentration. There are 40 different kasinas described in the Pali canon, but there is no reason that many more cannot be described given the basic guidelines and an understanding of its purpose and use. Some of the Kasinas were based on the 4 elements, "Earth," "Air," "Fire," and "Water." Others were dedicated to the visible planets, such as Venus and Mars, and still others were dedicated to the primary colors. The purpose of the kasina is to develop the use of the visual sense without grasping at visual "objects." The kasina is meant to be gazed upon, not looked at. The brush stroke and details are to be ignored, which is easiest done by defocusing the eyes and only observing the 'luminance' of the object. Luminance is the general range of light that is emitted or reflected by an object, and not the characteristics of the object.

This Yahoo group is a service of Sotapanna Jhanananda (Jeffrey S, Brooks) for the Great Western Vehicle.

~May you become enlightened
in this very lifetime~