Vimuttimagga meditation object: special sphere

Andrew S, modified 4 Years ago at 5/7/19 10:22 PM
Created 4 Years ago at 5/7/19 10:16 PM

Vimuttimagga meditation object: special sphere

Posts: 4 Join Date: 5/5/19 Recent Posts
Hi,

In the Vimuttimagga on Chapter VII "By Way of Person" pp 68-70 there is a section on what meditation objects should be used by different types of people.

There are two kinds of men who walk in hate, namely, (the man) of dull
faculties and (the man) of keen faculties. A walker in hate who has dull faculties
should practise the four immeasurables. By this he will be able to overcome
hatred.
The walker in hate who has keen faculties, being one endowed with
wisdom, should practise the (meditation of the) special sphere. Thus should
one practise and dispel hatred.


Does anybody know what special sphere refers to? A quick word-search didn't bring up any other occurrences of the term. The only other occurences of the term sphere refer to the sphere of infinite -space, -consciousness and -neither-perception-nor-non-perception, but I don't think its referring to those.

Thanks for any input.
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terry, modified 4 Years ago at 5/15/19 11:33 AM
Created 4 Years ago at 5/15/19 11:33 AM

RE: Vimuttimagga meditation object: special sphere

Posts: 2426 Join Date: 8/7/17 Recent Posts
Andrew S:
Hi,

In the Vimuttimagga on Chapter VII "By Way of Person" pp 68-70 there is a section on what meditation objects should be used by different types of people.

There are two kinds of men who walk in hate, namely, (the man) of dull
faculties and (the man) of keen faculties. A walker in hate who has dull faculties
should practise the four immeasurables. By this he will be able to overcome
hatred.
The walker in hate who has keen faculties, being one endowed with
wisdom, should practise the (meditation of the) special sphere. Thus should
one practise and dispel hatred.


Does anybody know what special sphere refers to? A quick word-search didn't bring up any other occurrences of the term. The only other occurences of the term sphere refer to the sphere of infinite -space, -consciousness and -neither-perception-nor-non-perception, but I don't think its referring to those.

Thanks for any input.

aloha andrew,

   Suzuki roshi used to say, "we're all the worst horse," referring to the buddhist parable of the four horses, one which needs to be beaten, one which runs hearing the lash, one which runs seeing the whip, and one which runs seeing only the shadow of the whip.

   I'd stick to practicing the brahmiviharas.

   Perhaps the "special sphere" refers to the one pearl, the universal omnibeing. The "sphere of infinite space..." reminds me of the buddha's parinibbana, where he cycles through the jhanas and the "spheres." One wonders how the one of keen faculties, "endowed with wisdom," should be a "walker in hate." A walker among haters, perhaps. Yet, when the buddha walks, the haters cease to hate.

terry
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Milo, modified 4 Years ago at 5/15/19 11:49 AM
Created 4 Years ago at 5/15/19 11:49 AM

RE: Vimuttimagga meditation object: special sphere

Posts: 371 Join Date: 11/13/18 Recent Posts
Andrew S:
Hi,

In the Vimuttimagga on Chapter VII "By Way of Person" pp 68-70 there is a section on what meditation objects should be used by different types of people.

There are two kinds of men who walk in hate, namely, (the man) of dull
faculties and (the man) of keen faculties. A walker in hate who has dull faculties
should practise the four immeasurables. By this he will be able to overcome
hatred.
The walker in hate who has keen faculties, being one endowed with
wisdom, should practise the (meditation of the) special sphere. Thus should
one practise and dispel hatred.


Does anybody know what special sphere refers to? A quick word-search didn't bring up any other occurrences of the term. The only other occurences of the term sphere refer to the sphere of infinite -space, -consciousness and -neither-perception-nor-non-perception, but I don't think its referring to those.

Thanks for any input.


Hi Andrew,

This may be referring to certain colors of kasina which were supposed to counteract strong tendencies to hatred (Red, blue, white, and yellow I think). In other words, a subset of kasinas with 'calming' colors. Can you point to your translation?
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Milo, modified 4 Years ago at 5/15/19 11:52 AM
Created 4 Years ago at 5/15/19 11:52 AM

RE: Vimuttimagga meditation object: special sphere

Posts: 371 Join Date: 11/13/18 Recent Posts
https://www.hongaku.net/40-objects-of-meditation.html
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Milo, modified 4 Years ago at 5/15/19 11:54 AM
Created 4 Years ago at 5/15/19 11:54 AM

RE: Vimuttimagga meditation object: special sphere

Posts: 371 Join Date: 11/13/18 Recent Posts
For context, these meditation objects were supposed to be assigned to meditators by their teachers based on the meditators character.

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