kasiṇa

Pāli term of uncertain etymology denoting a device used as a meditation object, mainly in the Theravāda tradition. The object functions as a support for concentration and the mind and the object become one. The Pāli Canon provides a list of ten kasiṇa: earth, water, fire, wind, blue, yellow, red, white, space (ākāśa), and consciousness (viññāṇa; Skt., vijñāna). As an example of kasiṇa practice, the meditator may set up a coloured disk a few feet away. This object is known as the preparatory image (parikamma-nimitta). He concentrates his attention on this until a mental image of it, known as the acquired image (uggaha-nimitta), arises. By directing attention further towards this a perfectly clear and stable counter-image (paṭibhāga-nimitta) is produced, and at this point the meditator will have reached the threshold of the trances (dhyāna).

A Dictionary of Buddhism, Oxford University Press, 2003, 2004 (which is available in electronic version from answer.com)

Kasiṇa1 [Vedic kṛtsna] (adj.) entire, whole J iv.111, 112.

Pali-English Dictionary, TW Rhys Davids, William Stede,

Kasiṇa2 [Deriv. uncertain] (nt.) one of the aids to kam- maṭṭhāna the practice by means of which mystic meditation (bhāvanā, jhāna) may be attained. They are fully described at A v.46 sq., 60; usually enumerated as ten [sāvakā dasa k˚ -- āyatanāni bhāventi]; paṭhavī˚, āpo˚, tejo˚, vāyo˚, nīla˚, pīta˚, lohita˚, odāta˚, ākāsa˚, viññāṇa˚ -- that is, earth, water, fire, air; blue, yellow, red, white; space, intellection (or perhaps consciousness) M ii.14; D iii.268, 290; Nett 89, 112; Dhs 202; Ps i.6, 95; cp. Manual 49 -- 52; Bdhd 4, 90 sq., 95 sq. -- For the last two (ākāsa˚ and viññāṇa˚) we find in later sources āloka˚ and (paricchinn') ākāsa˚ Vism 110; cp. Dhs trsl. 43 n. 4, 57 n. 2; Cpd. 54, 202. -- Eight (the above omitting the last two) are given at Ps i.49, 143, 149. -- See further J i.313; iii.519; DhsA 186 sq. There are 14 manners of practising the kasiṇas (of which the first nine are: k˚ -- ânulomaŋ; k˚ -- paṭilomaŋ; k˚ -- ânupaṭilomaŋ; jhānânulomaŋ; jh˚paṭi˚; jh˚ -- ânupaṭi˚; jh˚ -- ukkantikaŋ; k˚ ukk˚; jh˚k˚ -- ukk˚) Vism 374; cp. Bdhd 5, 101 sq., 104, 152. <-> Nine qualities or properties of (paṭhavi -- ) kasiṇa are enumd at Vism 117. -- Each k. is fivefold, according to uddhaŋ, adho, tiriyaŋ, advayaŋ, appamāṇaŋ; M ii.15, etc. -- kasiṇaŋ oloketi to fix one's gaze on the particular kasiṇa chosen J v.314; ˚ŋ samannāharati to concentrate one's mind on the k. J iii.519.
   -- āyatana the base or object of a kasiṇa exercise (see above as 10 such objects) D iii.268; M ii.14; Ps i.28, etc.; -- ārammaṇa=˚āyatana Vism 427 (three, viz. tejo˚, odāta˚, āloka˚). -- kamma the k. practice J i.141; iv.306; v.162, 193. -- jhāna the k. meditation DhsA 413. -- dosa fault of the k. object Vism 117, 123 (the 4 faults of paṭhavī -- kasiṇa being confusion of the 4 colours). -- parikamma the preliminary, preparatory rites to the exercise of a kasiṇa meditation, such as preparing the frame, repeating the necessary formulas, etc. J i.8, 245; iii.13, 526; DhsA 187; -- ˚ŋ katheti to give instructions in these preparations J iii.369; ˚ŋ karoti to perform the k -- preparations J iv.117; v.132, 427; vi.68; -- maṇḍala a board or stone or piece of ground divided by depressions to be used as a mechanical aid to jhāna exercise. In each division of the maṇḍala a sample of a kasiṇa was put. Several of these stone maṇḍalas have been found in the ruins at Anurādhapura. Cp. Cpd. 54 f. 202 f. J iii.501; DhA iv.208. -- samāpatti attainment in respect of the k. exercise Nd2 4668 (ten such).

Pali-English Dictionary, TW Rhys Davids, William Stede,