เมื่อเริ่มเห็นวงกลมสีดำและจุดสว่างในการปฏิบัติธรรม ยังไม่ควรด่วนตัดสินว่าคืออะไร หน้าที่ของผู้ปฏิบัติคือกำหนดรู้ไปเรื่อย ๆ อย่างสบายใจ แล้วค่อย ๆ ขยายเวลานั่งให้นานขึ้น เพราะยิ่งให้เวลามาก กุศลก็จะยิ่งชำระมลทินให้ละเอียดขึ้นWhen a dark circle and a point of light begin to appear during practice, there's no need to rush to decide what it is. A meditator's duty is simply to keep maintaining awareness, at ease, and gradually extend the sitting time — the more time given, the more finely the wholesome can cleanse the remaining stains.
Someone relayed a question on behalf of a fellow practitioner at a retreat in Chonburi, describing their experience: on days one and two, they saw a first circle that was black, giving a sense that something lay within it; afterward, a point of light appeared at its center, the size of a needle's tip. On day two, the first circle was again black, but a second circle appeared, white and larger than the day before. Looking at the white circle, it opened from the center and expanded into a passage, again giving a sense that something lay within — is this similar to the various spheres said to lie within?
No Need to Rush to a Conclusion — Just Keep Maintaining Awareness
Pra Ajarn explained that it's not yet possible to determine exactly what's been seen. What can be done is simply to keep maintaining awareness — the sphere of knowing is the sphere of becoming established. Whatever has worked before, continue doing that; or wherever the point of perception feels most at ease, rest still at the center of that brightness. Staying still, merit will flow continuously into the center of that light, cleansing the stains until they gradually lighten and disappear on their own.
These Signs Show That the Hindrances Have Been Cleared
Pra Ajarn offered his appreciation, noting that seeing these things shows have already been cleared, the veiling elements already removed, which is why this state has appeared. But whatever state appears remains under the care of the Triple Gem and of nibbana; our task is simply to maintain awareness continuously, without losing it, and everything will gradually develop on its own. A human being's role is nothing more than to keep maintaining awareness. Whatever signs or good experiences appear will become tools that let us sustain concentration for longer periods.
Extend the Sitting Time as Good Signs Appear
Where before one might have managed one or two hours, once these signs appear, they give a focal point and encouragement, and we should extend the time further. Once this tool has appeared, more time supports the arising of newer, better, more impressive signs — which in turn encourage us to keep extending the time, from two hours to three, three to four, all the way to twelve, until there are enough signs to sit through day and night. This is exactly what we were born for — to reach the kaya, to reach the Triple Gem within. As signs appear that show our progress, we should keep extending the time further and further; this is something we must cultivate, sitting continuously for longer stretches, which will also affect our work in daily life. The more time we give, the more cleanses and remedies, bringing and liberation, connecting us with an ever more refined, ever more powerful knower. The merit that flows in becomes both purer and more sacred than before, letting the Wheel-Turning Monarch within our sphere of merit multiply that merit further and help us more in our work and affairs. Before we ever descended to be born, the most important goal was to reach the Triple Gem within; once reached, building further merit and perfections becomes easy, convenient, and maximally effective. Nothing surpasses reaching the Triple Gem within — not even becoming a Wheel-Turning Monarch compares.