Date: 09/20/2025 09/21/2025
Location: Star Lake Meditation Center
Teacher: Shilin Long
Sitting Meditation
Recognizing Light and Visual Phenomena in Meditation
During deeper relaxation and concentration, many meditators experience “light phenomena”—flashes, colors, glowing dots, or wave-like shadows. These experiences are natural effects of physiology and attention, not supernatural signs. Understanding them prevents confusion and helps maintain stable awareness.
1. What Are Light Phenomena? Natural Results of Relaxation and Focus
1. Residual activity in the visual system
Even with eyes closed, visual neurons fire weak signals.
2. Heightened sensory awareness
A calm mind perceives subtle internal signals more clearly.
3. Not supernatural
Most visual phenomena have a clear physiological or psychological basis.
2. Common Types of Light and Visual Experiences
1. Light dots or flashes
Like tiny stars appearing and fading.
2. Color fields
White, gold, blue, purple—simply neural signals.
3. Flowing patterns
Water-like, cloud-like, or wave-like motions.
4. Vague images or scenes
Dream-like images during deep relaxation.
3. Why Visual Phenomena Occur in Meditation
1. Physiological activation
The visual cortex produces spontaneous signals.
2. Psychological sensitivity
Focused attention makes subtle experiences noticeable.
3. Mental imagery
Subtle thoughts and memories manifest as inner images.
4. Do Light Phenomena Indicate Progress? Avoid Misinterpretation
1. Not signs of awakening
They do not represent spiritual attainment.
2. Often the byproduct of concentration
Not the essence of deep meditation.
3. Chasing lights leads to distraction
Making them a goal disrupts true practice.
5. How to Respond Properly: Neither Pursue nor Resist
1. Do not chase
Expectation makes the mind tense.
2. Do not resist
Light phenomena are harmless.
3. Stay with your primary object
Breath or body awareness should remain central.
6. When Light Phenomena Require Attention
1. When excitement arises
Indicating over-effort or imbalance.
2. When you lose the main object
Means attention has drifted into fantasy.
3. When fear or discomfort emerges
A sign of tension or misunderstanding.
7. The Value of Light Phenomena in Practice
1. Indicates increased sensitivity
Awareness becomes more refined.
2. Trains non-attachment
Learning to observe without clinging.
3. Teaches “seeing appearances as appearances”
They arise and pass—nothing to grasp.
Conclusion
Light and visual phenomena in meditation are neither achievements nor obstacles.They are natural manifestations of a relaxed and attentive mind.When practitioners stay centered, treating phenomena with equanimity, meditation deepens into true tranquility and clarity.
