Teaching of Luang Pu Doo

Teaching of Luang Pu Doo

Once there was a meditator who commented to Luang Pu Doo, "Brightness in samadhi isn't good, because it is a kilesa and may encourage desire." 

[To give some background, when some people's minds settle down in samadhi, a bright nimitta may appear. I once communicated with a Westerner, follower of Thich Nhat Hanh/Plum Village lineage. He loved to meditate, and he had no idea why this bright blue light would appear in his meditation after his mind became peaceful. It was actually a good sign, which demonstrated he had really great potential and ability. But some meditators would argue that this is samatha and not vipassana]

Luang Pu Doo replied, "It is not wrong to say that it may involve desire. But first, we have to rely on desire [e.g. desire to meditate or enjoy peace and happiness in meditation]. Just do not become obsessed with the brightness or get lost in the nimitta. But instead we should use it to our advantage [to reach a deeper state of samadhi and cultivate wisdom]. 

To use an analogy, it is like walking in the dark. We need fire to light our torch. Or to cross a broad ocean, we need a boat or vessel to sail with. But when you finally reach the shore, you can't use the boat anymore, because you have finally reached land. 

Brightness of mind as a result of samadhi, can be useful to someone with intelligence. 

To cultivate the brightness of paññā on the inside, of which there is no comparison."

As it is mentioned in the Suttas, 

"Monks, there are these four kinds of brightness. What four? The brightness of the moon, sun, fire, and wisdom. These are the four kinds of brightness. The best of these four kinds of brightness is the brightness of wisdom.” [Ābhāsutta, An4.14]