Mark of calm (Buddhism)

In the process of Buddhist meditation, an object is selected, such as a kasina device. The physical device is called [parikammananimitta]

, the mark of the preliminary exercise.. Fixing the eyes on the kasina during prolonged contemplation leads to retaining a mental image of the kasina which is an exact copy of the original and which may be visualized as clearly as the concrete object. This is referred to as mark of grasping or [uggaha-nimitta]

. Concentration on this mental image is [parikamma samadhi]

, preliminary concentration. Further concentration leads the mental image to give way to an abstract idea or concept, divested of phenomenal reality and free from all the faults of the original object. This is [patibhaga-nimitta]

, the mark of the equivalent or after-image. This arises when the mind has reached [upacara-samadhi]

or access concentration. These three nimittas are the objects of the three stages - parikamma, upacara and appana - of intense concentration obtained in the development (bhavana) of meditation.