Breath Nimitta

My Sketchbook Express attempt to capture a very rough and ready outline of a developing nimitta, i.e., a sign which arises during meditation. This movie is compacted somewhat, and many of the segments lack precision, a result of my lack of artistic ability added to ignorance in how to use Final Cut Express and Shake.

The Moon has a lunar month with a phase length of roughly 29.5 days. For example, a New Moon appearing on June 1 will range through a waxing Quarter Moon on June 9, Full Moon on June 15, waning Quarter Moon June 23, returning to New Moon by July 1.

With regard to mythological usage, reference to a full moon possibly refers to the nimitta, or sign, that appears in meditation practice, that is, the interior vision of a moon-like sphere emerging from clouds. The 'clouds' here can be seen to be several other such spheres, and together they are like a cluster of pearls. Perhaps this is what is referred to by Heaven's Pearly gate. This image will at times appear with a flat base, as if it were appearing over a dark wall, so in this sense it looks like a rising moon, or quarter moon.


From a Tibetan Shangpa tradition of the Wisdom Dakini Niguma:

"In particular, her special instructions included the Great Empowerment of Illusory Body, which she bestowed to him on the night of the fifteenth day of the fourth lunar month, by the light of the full moon."

From Of the Life of St Brigit:

"In the eighth day of the lunar month was she born. On the eighteenth did she take the veil on her head. On the twenty-eighth did she go to heaven. Together with the eight virgins was Brigit consecrated."

This nimitta gently arises from nothing as a pulsating wisp, slowly building to its full 'moon-in-the-clouds' appearance on the back of subtle back and forth movements of spirit within the meditator. The eighth day above perhaps points to the 'rising moon' appearance, and the eighteenth of the month is presumably just after the sign is well established. One of the orbs will expand to form an organic looking tunnel, bright at the point opposite the viewer.

Of interest is the Western myth of the Were-Wolf, a human being who changes to a wild beast whenever the Moon is full, suggesting that the appearance of the sign is not wholly dependent on the meditator being in a fully relaxed state of serenity, as is suggested by Theravadin practices.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• meditation
• nimitta
• moon