Aṇguttara Nikāya
X. Dasaka-Nipāta
III. Mahā Vagga
The Book of Tens
Sutta 25
Kasiṇa Suttaṃ
Kasiṇa
Translated from the Pāḷi
by
Michael M. Olds
Once the Lucky Man addressed the bhikkhus, saying:
"Beggars!"
And "Bhante!" they replied
Then the Lucky Man said this to them:
"There are, beggars, ten kasiṇa[1] deployments.[2]
What ten?
One projects perception of the earth-kasiṇa above, below, across, united, immeasurable.
One projects perception of the water-kasiṇa above, below, across, united, immeasurable.
One projects perception of the firelight-kasiṇa above, below, across, united, immeasurable.
One projects perception of the wind-kasiṇa above, below, across, united, immeasurable.
One projects perception of the blue-kasiṇa above, below, across, united, immeasurable.
One projects perception of the yellow-kasiṇa above, below, across, united, immeasurable.
One projects perception of the red-kasiṇa above, below, across, united, immeasurable.
One projects perception of the white-kasiṇa above, below, across, united, immeasurable.
One projects perception of the space-kasiṇa above, below, across, united, immeasurable.
One projects perception of the consciousness-kasiṇa above, below, across, united, immeasurable.
These then, beggars, are the ten kasiṇa deployments."
[1] Kasiṇa. Objects of various sorts which are used to develop concentration. The common denominator is the elementary nature of these devices. Rocks not clocks. Things which allow observation without stimulating diffuse thinking. See References below: The forty Subjects of Meditation.
[2] Ayatanā. Spheres, ranges, domains, realms. Once the kasina is internalized and can be seen clearly with the mind's eye, it is used in various ways to assist in magic powers. The earth kasina can be projected onto a body of water so as to allow walking on water; projected into the sky so as to allow sky-walking; the space device can be projected on a wall or obstacle to allow one to pass through, and so forth.
References:
AN 10.25 Woodward n.1
Discussion: The forty Subjects of Meditation
The Book of the Ones: 455 and following.
Make an Earth Kasina
