Among the classical meditative practices of early Buddhism, the fire kasina (tejo kasina) stands out as a direct doorway into the experience of inner light. At once ancient and strikingly modern, this method, originally described in the Visuddhimagga, invites the practitioner to gaze deeply into the glowing presence of fire, then close the eyes and follow its imprint as it journeys inward. In this, it offers a close analogue to phosphene-based meditations and reveals its relevance for the path we call the Yoga of the Inner Light.
The Fire Kasina in Classical Theravāda
The fire kasina is one of the ten kasina meditations (kasiṇa kammaṭṭhāna) described in the Visuddhimagga (5th century CE), the great manual of Theravādin meditation composed by Buddhaghosa. In it, the meditator gazes at a small flame, traditionally a circular patch of glowing embers or an oil lamp flame, until the image becomes fixed in mental perception. This afterimage, or nimitta, becomes the focal object once the eyes are closed. The practitioner then stabilizes and refines this inner light, entering deeper states of concentration (samādhi) and potentially the jhānas (absorptions). Here is the first step into this realm for you:
The key stages in fire kasina meditation are:
- External gazing at the flame.
- Generation of an afterimage (the phosphene or nimitta).
- Internal stabilization of the image as a visual field or disc.
- Transformation of the nimitta, often into a clear bright light.
- Absorption and merging with the light, leading to deeper meditative states.
These steps are functionally identical to the phosphene sequence we have described: starting with light-induced stimulation of the retina and visual cortex, followed by the emergence of form constants: rings, spirals, or discs, which may stabilize and eventually morph into formless inner luminosity.
Phenomenology of Light in the Fire Kasina
The inner light accessed via the fire kasina is not metaphorical. It is visual, sensory, and real. The flame serves as both symbol and catalyst. Its brightness imprints itself on the visual system and gives rise to afterimages that behave much like phosphenes: they shimmer, pulse, shift color, and evolve into stable geometric forms or radiant fields. In many accounts, the nimitta begins as orange or red, then clears into a radiant white-golden light, appearing behind the closed eyes in deep meditative silence.
In this, the fire kasina provides a controlled entry point into the world of inner light, avoiding the ambiguity of pure visualization. It is not a symbolic fire one imagines but a real fire one sees. This objectivity grounds the meditation in direct perception, which later gives way to the transformation of perception itself.
The Fire Kasina as a Method in the Yoga of the Inner Light
When seen through the lens of our phosphene research, the fire kasina reveals itself as an ancient form of inner light induction, optimized over centuries for the generation of vivid internal luminosity. Unlike more abstract or visualized meditations, it uses a physiological gateway—light-induced entoptic imagery, as the foundation for transpersonal awareness.
The Yoga of the Inner Light, as we have developed it, begins precisely here: with the flickering of light behind the eyes, whether induced by sunlight, pressure, or in this case, the fire kasina. The nimitta that arises becomes not only an object of focus but a portal, a doorway to the inner realms of consciousness, where form becomes energy, and perception becomes illumination.
We might see the fire kasina as a ritualized phosphene practice, in which external fire awakens the internal light. It enables the meditator to:
- Learn to stabilize light phenomena in consciousness
- Observe the morphogenesis of inner form
- Recognize the shift from perception to pure luminosity
- And ultimately, to dissolve the self in radiant awareness
In advanced stages, the nimitta can swell to fill the visual field, becoming a luminous inner world—what some have called the “field of pure light” or “the blazing void.” In this sense, the fire kasina serves as both practice and revelation: it generates the light, and it shows us that the light is our own.
Tibetan Parallels and Tantric Reflections
Though not part of the mainstream Tibetan lamrim or ngöndro frameworks, the essence of the fire kasina reappears in several tantric and Dzogchen contexts, particularly in references to luminous vision, the thigle (drops of light), and the clear light (od gsal) experiences.
In Dzogchen, practitioners speak of “the inner lamp,” which appears during dark retreat or deep meditation as a brilliant point or field of light arising from the heart or forehead. This inner lamp behaves much like the nimitta of the fire kasina, and practitioners are instructed to rest in this light without effort, allowing its radiance to reveal the true nature of awareness. Some dark retreat lineages even describe the spontaneous appearance of colored discs, rings, or luminous orbs—forms nearly identical to fire kasina afterimages and phosphene geometries.
In Tibetan dream yoga, too, light plays a central role: the practitioner learns to stabilize inner luminosity as a doorway into lucid awareness. In several Nyingma and Bön texts, visions of light, fire, and swirling energies accompany the dissolution process at death—closely resembling the stages of nimitta unfolding in fire kasina and phosphene meditation.
Thus, while the fire kasina per se may not be codified in Tibetan liturgy, the phenomenology of inner fire and light is deeply present, and parallels abound.
A Modern Protocol
To integrate the fire kasina into the Yoga of the Inner Light, one may follow a simplified and safe procedure:
- Lighting the Flame
Use a stable candle or ghee lamp at eye level in a dark room. Sit upright at a comfortable distance (approx. 1–2 meters). - Gazing
Gaze at the flame with relaxed, half-lidded eyes. Do not strain or force focus. Remain attentive to the edges of the flame, noticing its shape and color. - Closing the Eyes
After 1–2 minutes, gently close the eyes. Observe the afterimage, a shimmering orb or flame-like pattern, without trying to hold or manipulate it. - Stabilizing the Nimitta
Let the inner flame grow steady. If it fades, reopen the eyes briefly and resume. Eventually, the nimitta may stabilize, expand, and brighten into a full-field light. Also experiment with looking to the far right or far left with eyes closed. See what it brings. - Resting in the Light
Abandon all effort and rest in the light. Allow its presence to saturate awareness. Notice the absence of self, the clarity, and the peaceful radiance that may emerge. - Integration
After 20–40 minutes, return slowly to the outer world. Reflect on the nature of light as consciousness, and the luminous field as the basis of perception itself.
This protocol harmonizes ancient Buddhist methods with the neurological precision of phosphene awareness. It stands as a bridging practice between cultures, epochs, and inner technologies.
Conclusion
The fire kasina is not just an exotic relic of ancient Buddhism; it is a powerful and phenomenologically precise method to access the inner light. By using the visible flame to ignite the invisible radiance within, it demonstrates the path that all inner light yoga must eventually follow—from outer perception to inner knowing, from form to formless, from fire to pure light.
In the Yoga of the Inner Light, fire is not merely an element, it is the very spark of awakening/illumination. When we gaze into its heart, we find our own essence. Shunyam Adhibhu
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