What is Goenkaji's standpoint about the light?

[Sekha]

I am wondering what is Goenkaji's standpoint about the light.

As far as I know, he recommends not to give it any importance. Is this correct? (I am addressing here those who have taken long courses in his tradition).

And what is the reason for this choice? I remember having heard it is because it leads to the arising of iddhis, that may turn out to be a hindrance for the meditator, as it may drive him away from dissecting the reality. Is this correct?

[LonesomeYogurt]

Are you referring to a nimatta? Or does "the light" refer to something else? I don't know much about the U Ba Khin system and its terminology, but I remember clearly at the one course I took that the general emphasis was on ignoring any countersigns that arose, or at least not investing too much worth into them. That might change as someone goes deeper, you might want to ask Ben!

[Sekha]

Are you referring to a nimatta? Or does "the light" refer to something else?

I refer to alokasañña

[mikenz66]

Hi Sekha,

As in these sorts of quotations?

4.2 The Removal of Sloth-and-torpor
A prominent antidote to sloth-and-torpor, mentioned on frequent
occasions in the Pali discourses, is the development of
"perception of light", alokasañña, together with mindfulness
and clear comprehension (e.g. DN I 71). Some discourses associate
the expression "perception of light" with a mind that is
"open", viva.a, and "uncovered", apariyonaddha, by day and
by night, and indicate that such "perception of light" will lead
to knowledge and vision (DN III 223). This suggests the expression
"perception of light" to refer to the development of
mental clarity.

Analayo's "From Craving to Liberation – Excursions into the Thought-world of the Pali Discourses"
viewtopic.php?f=31&t=3860&start=40

See also:
viewtopic.php?f=25&t=14716#p213561
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html


Mike

[Sekha]

yes, the suttas mention the perception of light in the two contexts referred to by B. Analayo. In the hindrance removal formula, it seems to appear as an antidote to 'dullness & drowsiness', just as loving-kindness is mentioned for ill-will, inner tranquilisiation of the mind for excitement and worry, and unperplexity about wholesome states in the case of doubt.

However, elsewhere the Buddha rather mentions 'ārambhadhātu nikkamadhātu parakkamadhātu' which according to PTSD are synonyms for viriya. The reason for this might be that in the beginning it is not possible to focus on the light as one generally does not perceive it, but one can surely make an effort!

The Patisambhida magga recommends alokasañña to fight out dullness and drowsiness. And at AN 4.41 for example, the perception of light, together with divasañña (a rather obscure term ThanB translates as 'perception of daytime [at any hour of the day]', the Atthakatha says it refers to the previously mentioned alokasañña and the Tika says it refers to the sunlight and the moonlight! [if I am not mistaken]) is said to lead to 'knowledge and vision'.

So I want to know what Goenkaji has to say about it. I know that in one ten-day course's discourse he says that during is own first course he saw the light, but that his teacher had told him not to pay any attention to it. And on the other hand, those practicing according to the visuddhimagga use it a lot. So I am trying to understand where the contradiction lies.

[James the Giant]

In the 10-day discourses, the light Goenkaji talks about is a nimitta, which is different from what you are talking about, alokasañña.