subject: What Is The "Light" Of Enlightenment? And How To Put It To Use! [print this page] What Is The "Light" Of Enlightenment? And How To Put It To Use!
We've all heard of it. Many have seen it. It's the light seen in deep meditation the "light" of enlightenment. To us it's a metaphor. "Seeing the light;" like "opening your eyes," and "awakening," are just figures of speech, but we're wrong here. Knowing the light's source you can produce it, and use it to guide your practice to meditation's highest rewards. Here's what you need to know.
What Is The Light Of Enlightenment?
A room can appear to brighten. "White light" has been reported. Enlightenment breakthrough has been described as "ten suns shining." Such light might seem mystical, even imaginary, but it's an actual sensation. What causes it?
What Causes Light Sensations?
The cause of the light is attention. How is this possible? Let me explain.
In eyes-open meditation (Zen practice for instance), good attention holds the eyes still. This creates a fixed retinal image that uses up photo pigment (like exposing photographic film), causing visual distortion in the form of light. The light therefore has a physical cause, and more important, you can produce it. You can create light sensations simply by gazing at a spot and focusing attention.
Seeing the light signals, or confirms, attention. Thus with it you can monitor attention see where you are going,' and guide your meditation. This is a highly efficient "feedback meditation method" - a power tool that sharpens with use and cuts through everything. Produce and make use of the light and you're guided straight to your goal.
Guided By The Light Guidance Better Than A Guru?
The guidance offered by the light is "feedback" something necessary for skill learning. Skilled meditation requires attention. Attention makes it work. The more focused and sustained your attention, the more you benefit.
Put another way: the less your mind wanders the more you gain. Using light as feedback you can hold on to attention and prevent wandering. (It's like having a built-in Guru monitor every moment of meditation for accuracy.) Light sensations tell you you're on target. Disappearance of these "feedback signals" alerts you to drifting away. Light provides the information you need to succeed. This is the "feedback method." Here's how it's done.
How To Produce The Light
First you need a focusing point a target for attention. A pea size bull's eye on a two inch round of paper will do (or even a spot on the floor). Specially designed discs however, help create light sensations. These "Focusing Discs" are freely available at the Straight Line Meditation website.
Place your disc on the floor; sit erect, and focus with a gentle gaze on the bull's eye. When distortion (light) appears, shift your attention to that. Hold on as you'd hold on to an anchor. The light anchors attention assuring you meditation's active ingredient.'
"Go Into The Light?"
It's been said "Go into the light." Beware this advice. It lets your mind wander. (You'll soon lose feedback - your anchor for attention.) Holding on to the light gives you straight line meditation: the shortest distance to your goal. Here's the key to successful meditation.
The Key To Success: Guidance From The Light
When you sit down to meditate, the key to success is recognizing feedback signals. Light signals attention. (Seeing the light you are paying attention to your attention.) When your mind wanders, your eyes wander and the light disappears. That's your (feedback) signal to get back on target. Return to the bull's eye; focus on the halo of light and re-anchor attention. With feedback, you'll never again be helpless in the face of a wandering mind.
Build Practice Skill With Feedback
Without feedback, meditation practice skill your power of concentration, develops slowly. (Indeed, it may not develop at all!) The light guides the growth of practice skill. Empower your practice with feedback and you'll "see the light" in more ways than one.
