<p>It is said that <a href="http://dhamma.wikia.com/wiki/Nimitta" rel="nofollow noreferrer">a <strong>nimitta</strong> appears together with <strong>uppādo</strong> (origin of existence), <strong>pavattaṃ</strong> (continuity of it)'</a>.</p>

<p>Nimittas arise, and if your intent is not the continuity of this nimitta, another nimitta will arise in its place. In meditation we try to keep to one nimitta. “Uppādo” means arising. When anusaya (temptations) arise due to āsava (cravings), we need to stop that temptation and be at “pavattam” (continuity of it or go with it). </p>

<p>If we go along with the unbroken and consistent maintaining (“pavattaṃ”), then it becomes a nimitta (literally a “sign”). A nimitta is a characteristic that is associated with a particular act. For example, for an alcoholic a picture of an alcohol bottle or a bar (or where one normally drinks), or even seeing a friend with whom one drinks often, can be a nimitta; when any of such a “symbol” comes to the mind, it reminds of the drinking act and gets one in the “mood”. Now you will see that it is not so difficult to ignore a nimitta.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-05-01T03:11:58.753Z
2017-05-01T03:11:58.753Z
Saptha Visuddhi
<p>Go back to your object of meditation. Don't pay attention to nimitta, just let go of it. if you hold nimitta, you'll become crazy in no time. Trust me.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-05-07T20:23:49.293Z
2017-05-07T20:23:49.293Z
LomX
<p>Nimitta cannot be ignored in jhana because the nimitta itself is <em>one-pointedness</em> (<em>ekaggatā</em>), where the mind (<em>citta</em>) itself becomes the nimitta &amp; the mind is glued unmoving to the nimitta. </p>

<p>An analogy is a wheel that is fixed to an axle and spins around the axle. Being fixed to the axle is the nimitta/ekaggatā. The mind being expansively conscious, luminous &amp; blissful is the wheel. </p>

<p>In the Pali suttas, the Buddha did not mention the nimitta because he only mentioned ekaggatā.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-05-01T01:43:03.700Z
2017-05-01T01:59:23.407Z
2017-05-01T01:59:23.407Z
Dhamma Dhatu
<p>Once I reach a nimitta during jhana meditation, do I then move focus to it or keep in the object? Do I ignore the nimitta, or is it one of those things that is very hard to ignore?</p>

<jhana><nimitta>
Focus on the object or nimitta?
# Focus on the object or nimitta?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-04-30)

Once I reach a nimitta during jhana meditation, do I then move focus to it or keep in the object? Do I ignore the nimitta, or is it one of those things that is very hard to ignore?

**Tags:** jhana, nimitta


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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2017-05-01. Score: 3

Nimitta cannot be ignored in jhana because the nimitta itself is *one-pointedness* (*ekaggatā*), where the mind (*citta*) itself becomes the nimitta & the mind is glued unmoving to the nimitta.

An analogy is a wheel that is fixed to an axle and spins around the axle. Being fixed to the axle is the nimitta/ekaggatā. The mind being expansively conscious, luminous & blissful is the wheel.

In the Pali suttas, the Buddha did not mention the nimitta because he only mentioned ekaggatā.


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### Answer by username_1 on 2017-05-01. Score: 1

It is said that [a **nimitta** appears together with **uppādo** (origin of existence), **pavattaṃ** (continuity of it)'](http://dhamma.wikia.com/wiki/Nimitta).

Nimittas arise, and if your intent is not the continuity of this nimitta, another nimitta will arise in its place. In meditation we try to keep to one nimitta. “Uppādo” means arising. When anusaya (temptations) arise due to āsava (cravings), we need to stop that temptation and be at “pavattam” (continuity of it or go with it).

If we go along with the unbroken and consistent maintaining (“pavattaṃ”), then it becomes a nimitta (literally a “sign”). A nimitta is a characteristic that is associated with a particular act. For example, for an alcoholic a picture of an alcohol bottle or a bar (or where one normally drinks), or even seeing a friend with whom one drinks often, can be a nimitta; when any of such a “symbol” comes to the mind, it reminds of the drinking act and gets one in the “mood”. Now you will see that it is not so difficult to ignore a nimitta.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2017-05-07. Score: 0

Go back to your object of meditation. Don't pay attention to nimitta, just let go of it. if you hold nimitta, you'll become crazy in no time. Trust me.


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