Peeling Lotus Pedals: Meditative Visual Experiences in Theinngu Tradition of Myanmar

April 28th, 1015 - 1100: Dr Pyi Phyo Kyaw, Shan State Buddhist University
Peeling Lotus Pedals: Meditative Visual Experiences in Theinngu Tradition of Myanmar
This paper explores the visual experiences described by practitioners in Theinngu meditation tradition of Myanmar. The founder, Theinngu Sayadaw Venerable U Ukkaṭṭha (1913-1973), led a lay life until in his mid-40s and only then took up meditation, going on to become a respected meditation teacher. Rapid, strong, and rhythmic breathing, along with the contemplation of the intense, usually unpleasant, bodily sensations, have become emblematic meditation techniques and experiences of Theinngu tradition. Beyond these aspects, teachers and practitioners also describe a variety of visual experiences encountered in their practice. Visual images-such as the sign of ugliness or decomposing body (asubhanimitta), the idea or perception of skeleton (aṭṭhikasaññā), and the signs related to the passive mind (bhavaṅga-citta)-are some of the most common meditative visual experiences discussed among the practitioners. I document these visual experiences and discuss how some meditators experience them as spontaneously arisen experiences while for other practitioners they are actively visualised experiences. I also show how such visual images may become more subtle as the practice continues. This paper draws on a diverse range of sources including the dhamma talks and guided meditations given by Theinngu meditation teachers, the works written by practitioners, and my own experiences and observations made over the past 15 years.