Calm Abiding 8: Visualizing Objects

Verse 16

The waves of subtle and coarse thoughts return to their source.
Undisturbed, the river of mind flows naturally.
Free from the contaminations of dullness and torpor,
May the still ocean of calm abiding be dependable.

Instructions

In this meditation you will be visualizing three spheres of colored light. Visualize the spheres about the size of a pea. 
Let the breath be natural during the meditation, resting in the visualization during the minutes of silence.

Meditation

  • Bring your attention to your forehead center and visualize a white sphere of light. 
  • If the mind wanders, gently bring your attention back to the white sphere at your forehead. 
  • Rest your mind naturally on the white sphere. 
  • If your attention wanders, recognize how long it takes to catch and bring your attention back to the white sphere. 
  • Place your mind at your throat center and visualize a red sphere of light. 
  • Allow your mind to rest naturally on the red sphere in your throat center.
  • Place your mind at the heart center while visualizing a blue sphere. 
  • If you need more support, breathe into the heart center while you visualize a blue sphere of light. 
  • Place your attention on the white sphere in your forehead center…the red sphere in your throat center…the blue sphere in your heart center…holding all three spheres gently with your attention. 
  • Dissolve all three spheres and rest your mind. 
  • Visualize the three spheres once again resting with ease.

After Mediation

  • Did your mind calm while visualizing colored light? 
  • Did your mind calm down more when you were visualizing one of the spheres or all three simultaneously? 
  • Did you find it easier to rest the mind on internal objects more than external objects or vice versa? 
  • What supports calming your mind more when you have a lot to put your attention on or less? 

During the Day

When opportunities allow, visualize the three spheres of light, one at a time or all three. Be aware that we fill our minds constantly with visualizations, we call thoughts. Become familiar with directing your thoughts to assist in calming the mind.