Kasiṇa [31] 283 practice of Seeing the different realms

The meditator performs the samāpatti in the dmp of mnk as mentioned above. The base of the dhamma sphere is the centre of kasiṇas. There are 10 kasiṇas in the whirl system; earth, water, fire, wind, green, yellow, red, white, light and space. The kasiṇas are the spheres. The meditator performs the samāpatti in these kasiṇas and merges them as one. This process begins with earth sphere as the base. The water sphere is in the earth sphere. The fire is in the water. The wind is in the fire. The green is in the wind. The yellow is in the green. The red is in the yellow. The white is in the red. The light is in the white. The space is in the light. They exist in layers. Then, the meditator performs the samāpatti inside the kasiṇas to see the human realm. Importantly, the meditator has to use his/her dhammakāya to perform the samāpatti in the kasiṇa.

283 _{In exoteric tradition, kasiṇa is the name for a purely external device for producing and developing}

concentration of mind and for attaining the four absorptions. It involves concentrating one‘s full and undivided attention on one visible object as the ‗preparatory image‘ (Pali: parikammanimitta) e.g. the coloured spot of a disc or a piece of earth etc. until one finally perceives, even with the eyes closed, a mental reflex, the acquired image (Pali: uggahanimitta). Now while continuing to direct one‘s attention to this image, there may arise the spotless and immovable ‗counter image‘ (Pali: paṭibhāga-nimitta), and together with that the ‗neighbourhood concentration‘ (Pali: upacāra-samādhi) will have been reached. While still persevering in the concentration on the object, one will finally reach a state of mind where all sense-activity is suspended, where there is no more seeing and hearing, no more perception of bodily impression and feeling, i.e. the state of the first mantel absorption (See NBD. p. 80). In Vd, the kasiṇas are a group of kasiṇa spheres internally existing in the dhamma sphere that makes the human body possible. They are used to practice until the vision of the meditator is able to see the different realms.

Illustration 09: The inner ten kasiṇas

Thereafter, he/she performs the samāpatti inside the dmps of the asura body [32], the peta [33] body, animals [34]285, hell beings [35]286, lokan beings [36]287, dbk288, rup289

285 _{Here it should be understood that the realm of animals is not limited to the human world only. It also}

refers to the hidden realms of the animals such as nāga (serpent deity) and so on.

286 _{Their realms is called ‗the Downward-path‘ (นรก na-rok; Pali: Niraya), or the nether or infernal world,}

usually translated as ‗Hell‘. See NBD. p.108.

There are eight levels of the hells. At the middle of each level, there is a major hell. Each major hell is surrounded by four smaller hells called ‗ussadaniraya‟. Each ussadaniraya hell has twenty subordinate hells called ‗yamaloka‘. The total number of hells in all levels is ‗456‘. All hells are located underneath the Mount Sumeru at the centre of the ‗kama-phop‘.

287 _{Their realm is called lokanta (โลกันต์นรก lokan-narok). The lokanta realm is located underneath the}

‗phopsam‘ and is three times its size. It is the lowest hell and is lower than the avecī hell. It is said that in the hells of the ‗phopsam‘, the hell beings are tortured by extreme heat. But, in the lokanta, the beings are tortured by extreme cold.

288 _{The realm of heaven beings is called ‗sawan (สววรค์)‘. There are six levels of the heavens of the sense}

sphere. 1) The first is called ‗Cātummahārājikā‘ or the realm of the four kings. It is divided into four territories. The eastern territory is governed by King Vadhataraṭha, the king of the Khonthan [Thai] gods. The southern territory is governed by King Virūḷhaka, the king of the giant gods (demon, yak). The western territory is governed by King Virūpaksa, the king of the bird gods. The northern territory is governed by King Vessuvaṇa, the king of the serpent gods. 2) The second heaven is called ‗Tāvatiṁsā‘ or the realm of the ‗thirty-three devas‘. This heaven is governed by King Sakka. 3) The third heaven is called ‗Yāmā‘ or the realm of the Yāma gods. It is governed by King Suyāma. 4) The fourth heaven is called ‗Tusitā‘ or the

and arup290. The bases of their dhamma spheres are the kasiṇa. Then, he/she performs the samāpatti in the kasiṇa to clearly inspect their realms.

It is very important to use the dhammakāya to perform the samāpatti to see, to know and to question the beings in each realm. Because the eyes of other cruder bodies are unable to see and know as precisely as the dhammakāya, only this the meditator using the dhammakāya is able to communicate with the beings in each realm.

This practice supports the meditator to see and to understand the causes of birth in different realms. In other words, it is called ‗cutūpapātañāṇa‘ or the knowledge of the death and rebirth of beings. When the meditator is able to see this, the text provides the method for recollecting of his/her and other‘s past existences. This practice facilitates recollection of past lives or ‗pubbenivāsānussatiñāṇa‘.