HOW DO I DEVELOP & IMPROVE THE PERCEPTION OF LIGHT? - Dhamma Q&A

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast.

In this segment, we look at the question that has been asked:

"I am quite keen to see whether I can improve my ‘āloka-saññā’ meditation. It was kindly explained [at a recent Dhamma session]. Still I could not take in every thing that was explained. I have meditated on a bright white light only. Will you be able to explain it more on how to proceed?”

To answer this question we

• - examine some key sutta references and Buddha's teachings on light and the perception of light
• - briefly revisit the perception of light as the medicine for dullness & drowsiness and the Buddha's teaching to Venerable Mahamoggallana (prior to his full awakening) on the seven ways to overcome drowsiness
• - explain how applying the perception of light to other meditations can aid concentration and deepen insight
• - look at the relationship with colour and white light and how we can use that to improve our practice.

Suttas mentioned in this segment:

• — Samādhibhāvanā Sutta (AN 4.41)
• — Dutiyasūriya Sutta (SN 56.38)
• — Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta (SN 56.11)
• — Tevijja Sutta (Iti 99)
• — Ghoṭamukhasutta (MN 94)
• — Pacalāyamāna Sutta (AN 7.61)
• — Karaṇīyametta Sutta (Sn 1.8)
• — Suttatthasamuccayabhūmi (Pe 6)

Bohoma pin to the person who asked this Dhamma question.

PLEASE NOTE - you can send in questions via the voice messaging feature on the anchor.fm website or podcast app OR via email suttameditationseries[at]gmail.com.

A VIDEO with presentation slides has been uploaded to the Sutta Meditation Series YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ndc9M4gRjZI