In many spiritual traditions and mystical teachings, the journey from form to formlessness is one of the most profound transformations a seeker can undergo. It is the path from the limited identity of the mind to the infinite expanse of the soul, and this journey is often illuminated by inner landscapes — particularly the appearance of certain colors during meditation. Among these, the color red holds a powerful symbolic role. Mystics and spiritual organizations alike have written about this landscape of red as a precursor to entering realms beyond the mind, into the formless void of pure consciousness.
In the teachings of Sant Mat and Surat Shabd Yoga, which emphasize the practice of inner meditation on the divine Light and Sound, the color red is seen as an essential marker on the spiritual journey. Practitioners are often guided to focus on the inner Light during meditation, and the appearance of red signals a shift in the spiritual energy of the individual. It is a color associated with the root of one’s existence — representing physical vitality, power and the life force that sustains the body.
However, in the context of meditation, red begins to transform into something far more significant. According to Sant Mat, red is the threshold that leads beyond the mind. It marks the boundary where the physical world starts to fade and the meditator begins to move inward, beyond the senses and ego. Red is often followed by subtler colors and eventually leads to the appearance of white or golden Light, symbolizing purity and spiritual awakening. As one progresses through these inner colors, there is a dissolution of form — a shift from identifying with the body and mind to experiencing the formless essence of the soul.
The Sikh tradition, especially in the teachings of Guru Nanak, offers a similar perspective on the journey from form to formlessness. Guru Nanak’s meditations on the divine Sound Current (Naad) and inner Light reveal that spiritual progress involves transcending the mind and entering a state of formlessness, where the individual soul realizes its oneness with the Infinite.
In Guru Nanak’s Japji Sahib, he speaks of the stages of spiritual growth, where the seeker moves beyond the limitations of the mind. The appearance of the color red can be seen as representing the base of human desires and physical attachment. It is the force that binds one to the material world. Yet, through meditation, this same force is transformed into spiritual power — red becomes a gateway to move beyond the ego, and the meditator realizes that they are not the body, but an eternal soul. The eventual appearance of the white Light, as described by Guru Nanak, symbolizes the complete dissolution of form, where the soul merges with the Divine and enters the formless state of pure consciousness.
Mystics from various traditions have written about the symbolic power of red in the process of spiritual awakening. Rumi, the great Sufi mystic, often refers to fire and transformation in his poetry. Red, in this context, is the color of burning passion — not just in a worldly sense, but as a metaphor for the soul’s longing to transcend the ego and return to its divine origin. Rumi speaks of the heart being set aflame with the desire to reunite with the Beloved, and red becomes the fire that consumes the ego, leading the seeker to the formless realms beyond the mind.
In Kabbalistic teachings, red is associated with the Sephiroth of Gevurah, which signifies strength, judgment and discipline. It is a force that both destroys and refines, much like the role of red in the mystical landscape. Red energy, in its raw form, represents the challenges and trials of the spiritual path — the ego clinging to form and resisting transformation. But as one meditates and transcends this energy, red gives way to the divine Light, which carries the soul into formlessness and unity with the Divine.
In Eastern philosophies such as Advaita Vedanta and Buddhism, the concept of formlessness is often described as the ultimate realization of self. In Advaita, this is referred to as Nirguna Brahman — the formless aspect of the Absolute, beyond all attributes. The color red, with its association to desire and material life, is transcended as the seeker moves toward realization of their true nature, which is beyond form, beyond the mind.
Similarly, in Zen Buddhism, the experience of red can be seen as symbolic of the kleshas (mental afflictions) or desires that bind the mind to form. Through meditation, the practitioner learns to observe these desires and, gradually, to let go. The transition from red to white in meditation parallels the journey from attachment to emptiness (Sunyata) — the formless void where all dualities dissolve and the meditator experiences unity with all things.
Modern spiritual organizations, especially those focused on meditation, often refer to the color red as a critical phase in the journey of spiritual awakening. Organizations such as Radha Soami Satsang Beas emphasize the importance of recognizing inner colors, like red, during meditation on the Sound Current (Shabd). For them, red represents a stage where the practitioner begins to withdraw from the external world and enters the inner realms of consciousness.
Similarly, House of Empathy, a spiritual organization focused on meditation on Light and Sound, teaches that the color red marks the beginning of a deeper spiritual transformation. In their practice, red signifies the power of inner energy and the transition from form to formlessness. As practitioners meditate on the inner Light, red appears as a symbol of strength and transformation, guiding them through the stages of letting go of the mind and the ego. For House of Empathy, this journey is not merely an abstract concept but a direct experience that leads to a state of formlessness, where the practitioner realizes the true nature of their being.
These organizations teach that as one moves beyond the energy of red, the soul enters higher planes of existence, eventually reaching formlessness. This formless state is described as a realm of pure Light, where the mind no longer functions and the meditator experiences the reality of their eternal, unbounded soul.
The color red, in all these traditions, is a powerful symbol of transformation. It represents the vital force that initially binds us to form, but it also holds the key to transcending form. As the meditator moves through red, they feel the energy of transformation intensifying. Eventually, red gives way to white — the symbol of purity, clarity and the infinite. This white Light marks the final stage of the spiritual journey, where the soul is no longer limited by the mind or body and enters a state of pure formlessness.
In this final stage, described by mystics and spiritual teachers alike, the mind falls silent, and the soul merges with the infinite. The landscape of red has served its purpose, guiding the meditator beyond the limitations of the physical and mental realms and into the boundless space of the formless void.
