Phenomena of Initial Dhyana

When the mind quiets down during breath observation, opening the eyes may reveal a patch of darkness. This is a favorable sign indicating the initial stage of meditative concentration, as the mind shifts from clinging to the six dusts (objects of sense) to turning inward, no longer perceiving external sensory objects. However, it remains obscured by the realm of form aggregates, resulting in the experience of darkness. If one continues to deepen the meditative concentration, even with closed eyes, the visual field may become bright. Nevertheless, there remains a considerable distance to traverse before breaking through the realm of form aggregates.