Visual Attention Exercise

Folks,

I've been trying something similar to the Kasina practice and I found it was really great in getting deeply concentrated. What I've been doing is looking at a visual scene with fixed eyes and then tracing out the individual elements with my attention (without moving the eyes). It's really something.

I found a window is a good place to look because of the frame. I let the attention settle on an object and get concentrated on it so the eyes are fixed like with a kasina (you should be looking at a solid image, your eyes should not move at all). Then, if there's a fence, for example, I will trace each picket with my attention and then move on to something else until the whole image has been picked apart.

You can even use it as a jumping off practice and gradually expand what you are doing that with to include the body and it's sensations and then the mind and so forth.

Has anyone else played with anything like this? I get the feeling that you could do the same thing with some of those images from, say, tibet with all of the Gods and little details and what not.

"Has anyone else played with anything like this?"

Yes. It's called "vipassana."

indeed. I guess the point would be that if it's rough with something subtle, then you can pick apart something visual or auditory to get the noting going. I found it useful, I thought someone else might as well.

I was kidding you - I discovered vipassana on my own, too. Many times!