Meditation, at its deepest levels, reveals experiences that many find difficult to articulate or contextualize. One of these profound phenomena is the perception of light forms, or phosphenes, during meditation. These occurrences, often misunderstood as mere hallucinations or tricks of the mind, are deeply rooted in spiritual traditions. This chapter explores the experience of seeing light beings, contextualizing it within meditation practices like those of Tibetan Buddhism and the Yoga of Naropa, and drawing parallels to the luminous visions of mystics like Hildegard von Bingen. Next time we will explore what you can hear in deep meditation!
Phosphenes: Lights of the Inner Cosmos
Phosphenes are spontaneous light phenomena seen with closed eyes, typically emerging during deep meditative states. Neurologically, they are tied to the activation of the brain’s visual cortex or subtle interactions within the nervous system. Spiritually, these lights are seen as manifestations of the subtle energies flowing through the human body, aligning with the ancient understanding of prana or chi. These luminous patterns and beings have long been recognized as indicators of progress in meditative practices.
Hildegard von Bingen’s Illuminations
Hildegard von Bingen (1098–1179), a Benedictine abbess and mystic, experienced and documented extraordinary visions during her deep states of contemplation. Her writings and illustrations in Scivias (1142–1151) describe spiraling mandalas, celestial beings, and radiant patterns—imagery remarkably akin to what dedicated meditators report today. Hildegard described these phenomena as divine revelations, affirming her connection to God and her sense of spiritual awakening. These visions are not unlike the descriptions of light tunnels, radiant jewels, and celestial forms experienced in modern meditation practices.
The Yoga of Naropa and the Four Lights
The Tibetan master Naropa, a seminal figure in Vajrayana Buddhism, offered teachings on the yogic process of awakening that include descriptions of luminous phenomena. Naropa’s teachings on Tummo (inner heat) and the Six Yogas describe distinct phases of visionary experiences:
- White Light: Initial meditation often reveals tiny white or blue dots, which appear scattered like stars in the sky. This marks the awakening of subtle energy.
- Red Glow: With deeper practice, light becomes more structured, taking on warmer tones, symbolic of deeper energetic activation.
- Radiant Patterns: Eventually, meditators encounter kaleidoscopic, fractal-like patterns that evoke mandalas, the geometric expression of cosmic order.
- Void Luminosity: The culmination of these visions is a state where light dissolves into radiant emptiness, reflecting the true nature of reality—shunyata.
Naropa and later Tibetan masters teach that these light experiences are signs of progress in dissolving egoic boundaries and entering states of higher awareness.
Parallels in Advaita Vedanta
From the Advaita Vedanta perspective, such light experiences signify the dissolution of the boundary between the observer and the observed. The radiant lights are seen as arising from the infinite source of consciousness (Brahman). Ramana Maharshi, a modern proponent of Advaita, would remind practitioners that these lights are beautiful but transient phenomena on the path to self-realization. The true realization comes when one recognizes that the seer, the light, and the source are one.
Meditation and the Nervous System
From a physiological perspective, light experiences in meditation align with changes in the nervous system. Meditation activates the parasympathetic nervous system, calming the body and enhancing blood flow to the brain’s visual centers. This activation can stimulate the pineal gland, historically referred to as the “seat of the soul,” which may contribute to the perception of light phenomena.
Additionally, practitioners often describe feelings of deep relaxation or even rapture accompanying these visions. This correlates with the release of neurochemicals like serotonin and dopamine, amplifying the sense of awe and connection to a greater reality.
Divine Connection Through Light
Seeing light beings or luminous patterns during meditation is not a random occurrence—it reflects the meditator’s deepening connection to the divine. These lights often carry messages or intuitive insights, acting as a bridge between the physical and spiritual dimensions.
- Light Tunnels: These often symbolize a journey inward, a passage to deeper layers of consciousness.
- Kaleidoscopic Patterns: These fractals reflect the universal order and interconnectedness of life.
- Radiant Beings: Sometimes perceived as Christ, Buddha, or other divine figures, these beings are projections of the infinite consciousness reaching out to the individual.
Embracing the Experience
For many, the first encounter with these phenomena can be unsettling. Seeing radiant lights, shapes, or beings with closed eyes can feel like stepping into an unfamiliar dimension. However, these experiences are a natural progression on the path of meditation. They are reminders of the subtle dimensions of existence and markers that the practice is deepening.
Hildegard, Naropa, and You: A Unified Path
The experiences described by Hildegard von Bingen, the teachings of Naropa, and the insights of modern meditators reveal a universal truth: the perception of light during meditation transcends culture and tradition. It is a phenomenon that speaks to the shared spiritual anatomy of humanity, a pathway to unity with the divine source.
Incorporating this understanding into meditation practice can transform one’s journey. By embracing these lights as gifts of awareness rather than dismissing them as mere hallucinations, meditators can move beyond doubt into a profound sense of connection.
Lets go on the Path to the Divine!
When meditating deeply, seeing light beings or luminous patterns is not a sign of insanity but a hallmark of progress. These phenomena have been observed and revered across spiritual traditions, from Hildegard’s radiant visions to the yogic practices of Naropa and the kaleidoscopic experiences of modern meditators. They remind us of our innate connection to the divine and offer a glimpse of the boundless consciousness that underlies all existence.
So, if you encounter these lights during meditation, take heart. You are walking the same luminous path as saints and mystics, yogis and seekers. Allow these lights to guide you deeper into the mystery of your being, where the boundaries of self dissolve and only the infinite remains.
External Phosphenes?
Now a friend of mine who meditates a lot just shared the photograph below of a house where a high lama was meditating with some people, photographed by a high light sensitive camera during the night. I cannot judge this phenomenon of external light happening during meditation, but it seems to indicate that if we see phosphenes, the light can even be detected from outside, if the meditator is really intensely committed.
Shunyam Adhibhu
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