Difference between revisions of "Kasinas"
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
[[File:Death001.jpg|thumb|250px|]] | [[File:Death001.jpg|thumb|250px|]] | ||
<poem> | <poem> | ||
| − | In [[Buddhism]], [[kasiṇa]] ([[Pali]]; [[Sanskrit]]: [[kṛtsna]]) refers to a class of basic [[visual objects]] of [[meditation]]. There are | + | In [[Buddhism]], [[kasiṇa]] ([[Pali]]; [[Sanskrit]]: [[kṛtsna]]) refers to a class of basic [[visual objects]] of [[meditation]]. There are [[ten kasiṇa]] mentioned in the [[Pali]] [[Tipitaka]]: |
[[earth]] ([[paṭhavī kasiṇa]]), | [[earth]] ([[paṭhavī kasiṇa]]), | ||
| Line 14: | Line 14: | ||
[[bright light]] ([[āloka kasiṇa]]). | [[bright light]] ([[āloka kasiṇa]]). | ||
[[File:Es 3.jpg|thumb|250px|]] | [[File:Es 3.jpg|thumb|250px|]] | ||
| − | The [[kasiṇa]] are typically described as a colored disk, with the particular {{Wiki|color}}, properties, {{Wiki|dimensions}} and {{Wiki|medium}} often specified according to the type of [[kasiṇa]] | + | The [[kasiṇa]] are typically described as a colored disk, with the particular {{Wiki|color}}, properties, {{Wiki|dimensions}} and {{Wiki|medium}} often specified according to the type of [[kasiṇa]]. |
| − | [[ | + | The [[earth kasiṇa]], for instance, is a disk in a red-brown {{Wiki|color}} formed by spreading [[earth]] or clay (or another {{Wiki|medium}} producing similar {{Wiki|color}} and {{Wiki|texture}}) on a screen of canvas or another backing material. |
| − | + | [[Kasiṇa]] [[meditation]] is a [[concentration]] [[meditation]] (variously known in different [[traditions]] as [[samatha]], [[dhyana]], or [[jhana]] [[meditations]]), intended to settle the [[mind]] of the [[practitioner]] and create a foundation for further practices of [[meditation]]. | |
| − | Although practice with [[kasiṇas]] is associated with the [[Theravāda]] [[tradition]], it appears to have been more widely known among various [[Buddhist]] schools in [[India]] at one time. [[Asanga]] makes reference to [[kasiṇas]] in the [[Samāhitabhūmi]] section of his [[Yogācārabhūmi]]. | + | In the early stages of [[kasiṇa]] [[meditation]], a [[physical object]] is used as the [[object]] of [[meditation]], being focused upon by the [[practitioner]] until an eidetic image of the [[object]] [[forms]] in the practitioners [[mind]]. |
| + | |||
| + | In more advanced levels of [[kasiṇa]] [[meditation]], only a [[mental]] image of the [[kasiṇa]] is used as an [[object]] of [[meditation]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Unlike the [[breath]], [[Buddhist]] [[tradition]] indicates that some [[kasiṇa]] are not appropriate [[objects]] for certain higher levels of [[meditation]], nor for [[meditation]] of the [[vipassana]] ([[insight]]) type. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The [[ten kasiṇa]] are part of the forty [[kammatthana]]: [[objects of meditation]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | They are described in detail by [[Buddhaghosa]] in the [[meditation]] section of the [[Visuddhimagga]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | A survey of [[meditation]] techniques in the UK found that those who do [[kasiṇa]] practice [[form]] about 3-15% of total [[meditators]][ | ||
| + | |||
| + | Although practice with [[kasiṇas]] is associated with the [[Theravāda]] [[tradition]], it appears to have been more widely known among various [[Buddhist]] schools in [[India]] at one time. | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Asanga]] makes reference to [[kasiṇas]] in the [[Samāhitabhūmi]] section of his [[Yogācārabhūmi]]. | ||
</poem> | </poem> | ||
{{W}} | {{W}} | ||
[[Category:Meditation]] | [[Category:Meditation]] | ||
Latest revision as of 06:58, 3 October 2015
In Buddhism, kasiṇa (Pali; Sanskrit: kṛtsna) refers to a class of basic visual objects of meditation. There are ten kasiṇa mentioned in the Pali Tipitaka:
earth (paṭhavī kasiṇa),
water (āpo kasiṇa),
air, wind (vāyo kasiṇa),
fire (tejo kasiṇa),
blue, green (nīla kasiṇa),
yellow (pīta kasiṇa),
red (lohita kasiṇa),
white (odāta kasiṇa),
enclosed space, hole, aperture (ākāsa kasiṇa),
bright light (āloka kasiṇa).
The kasiṇa are typically described as a colored disk, with the particular color, properties, dimensions and medium often specified according to the type of kasiṇa.
The earth kasiṇa, for instance, is a disk in a red-brown color formed by spreading earth or clay (or another medium producing similar color and texture) on a screen of canvas or another backing material.
Kasiṇa meditation is a concentration meditation (variously known in different traditions as samatha, dhyana, or jhana meditations), intended to settle the mind of the practitioner and create a foundation for further practices of meditation.
In the early stages of kasiṇa meditation, a physical object is used as the object of meditation, being focused upon by the practitioner until an eidetic image of the object forms in the practitioners mind.
In more advanced levels of kasiṇa meditation, only a mental image of the kasiṇa is used as an object of meditation.
Unlike the breath, Buddhist tradition indicates that some kasiṇa are not appropriate objects for certain higher levels of meditation, nor for meditation of the vipassana (insight) type.
The ten kasiṇa are part of the forty kammatthana: objects of meditation.
They are described in detail by Buddhaghosa in the meditation section of the Visuddhimagga.
A survey of meditation techniques in the UK found that those who do kasiṇa practice form about 3-15% of total meditators[
Although practice with kasiṇas is associated with the Theravāda tradition, it appears to have been more widely known among various Buddhist schools in India at one time.
Asanga makes reference to kasiṇas in the Samāhitabhūmi section of his Yogācārabhūmi.
