In Jainism, leśyā (लेश्या) is a subtle state of the soul, not just a physical color seen with the eyes.

1. What is leśyā?

• Leśyā = “coloring” of the soul by our bhāva (inner thoughts, emotions, intentions).
• According to Jain philosophy there are six leśyās:

1. Krishna (black) – very cruel, violent, hateful 2. Neel (blue) – jealousy, depression, sadness 3. Kapot (grey/brown) – carelessness, laziness 4. Tejo (red) – starting to become good, but still mixed with passion 5. Padma (yellow) – compassion, restraint, purity increasing 6. Shukla (white) – completely pure, full of equanimity, like Arihant/Siddha state

• The first three are inauspicious, pulling the soul down.
• The last three are auspicious, lifting the soul upwards.

You can read a simple explanation with story here and a Q&A style explanation here .

2. Does “seeing red/white while meditating” mean leśyā?

Directly, no. Important distinction:

• Leśyā is:

- A spiritual/psychic state of the soul. - Described with color names only symbolically, to show purity/impurity of inner bhāva. - Known through doctrine and self‑observation of tendencies (anger, greed, compassion, etc.), not usually by what physical color you “see” with closed eyes.

• Colors seen in meditation (red, white, etc.) can come from:

- Pressure on the eyes / blood flow. - Activity of the mind and imagination. - Subtle nervous‑system effects when you focus deeply.

Jain scriptures explaining leśyā do not say: > “If you see red light, your leśyā is Tejo; if you see white light, your leśyā is Shukla.”

Instead, they connect leśyā with intentions and choices. Example: the six travelers at the fruit tree – from “cut the whole tree” (black leśyā) to “eat fallen fruits only” (white leśyā). Their decision and attitude, not visual colors, show leśyā.

So:

• Seeing red or white inner colors = a mental/physical experience during meditation.
• Leśyā = the inner quality of your thoughts at that time (violent? greedy? peaceful? compassionate?).

They may co‑exist in the same moment, but one is not proof of the other.

3. How meditation “lightens” leśyā in Jain view

When you do genuine Jain dhyān (like samayik, pratikraman, dharma‑dhyān, śukla‑dhyān):

• You reduce:

- Anger, ego, greed, deceit. - Attachment and aversion.

• You increase:

- Forgiveness, humility, compassion, self‑control, equanimity.

Then, your leśyā moves:

• From darker (krishna/neel/kapot)

→ towards lighter (tejo/padma/shukla).

This “moving from dark to light” is inner transformation of character, not a guaranteed shift in what colors you see with eyes closed.

Even if:

• You see no color at all, but your mind is full of kṣamā (forgiveness), mārdav (humility), sarvodaya-bhāva (welfare of all) → your leśyā is becoming lighter.
• You see bright white, but you are full of anger or pride → your leśyā is not shukla.

4. Practical way to understand your leśyā in daily life

Instead of asking: > “Which color do I see in meditation?”

Jain dharma would ask:

• How do I react when:

- Someone insults me? - I get a chance to cheat for profit? - I see a weak or suffering being?

• Do I:

- Plan harm? Enjoy others’ pain? → darker leśyā - Prefer gentle ways, minimum harm? → moving to tejo/padma - Spontaneously think of everyone’s good, with equanimity? → closer to shukla.

You can use this as a simple test after meditation:

• “After this session, am I:

- More peaceful? - Less reactive? - More kind in speech and action?”

If yes, then your leśyā is really getting lighter, whatever inner colors you saw.

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Summary

• Leśyā = inner spiritual “color” of the soul, defined by bhāva and karma, not by physical or mental lights.
• Colors you see with closed eyes in meditation are not themselves leśyā, and Jain scriptures do not equate them.
• Real purification of leśyā happens when thoughts, words, and actions become non‑violent, truthful, humble, and detached.
• Use your character and reactions, not visual effects, as your Jain measure of leshyā becoming lighter.