Third eyeThe third eye is a
metaphysical and
esoteric concept referring in part to the
ajna (brow)
chakra in certain eastern and western spiritual traditions. In
New Age spirituality, the third eye may alternately
symbolize a state of
enlightenment or the evocation of
mental images having deeply-personal
spiritual or psychological significance.
The third eye is often associated with
visions, clairvoyance, precognition, and
out-of-body experiences, and people who have allegedly developed the capacity to use their third eyes are sometimes known as
seers.SymbolismIn
Hinduism and Buddhism, the third eye is a symbol of
enlightenment (see
moksha and
nirvana). The third eye is the ajna chakra (sixth chakra) also known as brow chakra or brow centre. This is commonly denoted in
Indian and East Asian iconography with a dot, eye or mark on the forehead of deities or enlightened beings, such as
Shiva (God of Destruction), the
Buddha, or any number of
yogis, sages and
bodhisattvas. This symbol is called the "Third Eye" or "Eye of Wisdom", or, in Buddhism, the
urna. In Hinduism, it is believed that the opening of Shiva's third eye is the end of the universe.
Many Hindus wear a
tilak between the eyebrows to represent the third eye.
In
Surat Shabda Yoga, initiation by an Outer Living
Satguru (Sat - true,
Guru - teacher) is required and involves reconnecting
soul to the Shabda (the Audible Life Stream) and stationing the Inner Shabda Master (the Radiant Form of the Master) at the third eye (tisra til)
chakra.
In the Western Wisdom TeachingsAccording to
Max Heindel's Rosicrucian writings, called
Western Wisdom Teachings, there are in the
brain two small organs called the
pituitary body and the
pineal gland. This last gland is also called by medical science as "the atrophied third eye"; however, these teachings describe that none of them is atrophying: the pituitary body and the pineal gland at the present time are neither evolving nor degenerating, but are dormant. It is said that in the far past, when man was in touch with the
inner worlds, these organs were his means of ingress thereto, and they will again serve that purpose at a later stage.
According to this view, they were connected with the involuntary or
sympathetic nervous system and to regain contact with the inner worlds (to reawaken the pituitary body and the pineal gland) it is necessary to establish the connection of the pineal gland and the pituitary body with the
cerebrospinal nervous system. It is said that when that is accomplished, man will again possess the faculty of perception in the higher worlds (i.e.
clairvoyance), but on a grander scale than it was in the distant past, because it will be in connection with the voluntary nervous system and therefore under the control of his
will.
ElsewhereThe third eye is used in many
meditation schools and
arts, such as in
yoga, qigong, many
Chinese martial arts, Ch'an Buddhism, and in some
Japanese martial arts like
Karate and
Aikido (both use
Zen Buddhism as a philosophy).
Technique to Open Third EyeIn
Taoism and many traditional Chinese religious sects such as "chan", "third eye training" involves focussing attention on the point between the eyebrows with the eyes closed in various qigong postures. The goal is at first to be able to fix one's attention while other physiological changes are happening in the body. Eventually, this training is said to allow one to keep one's attention properly on the opponent or opponents in a physical confrontation. Students who undertake such training often report experiencing feelings of pressure, pulsing, tingling and other sensations between the eyebrows and around the forehead area. However, opening third eye can not depend on this focusing only. This only allows one to tune in to the right vision. Generally, opening third eye requires strong energy to explode all clogged channels and supplies constant energy to maintain it.
In theory, the third eye, also called
mind's eye, is situated right between the 2 eyes, and expands up to the middle of the forehead when opened. It is one of the main
chakras--the sixth chakra (the third eye is in fact a part of the main meridian, the line separating the left and right hemispheres of the body).
Some claim that the chakras can be opened via chakra gemstones, and that to open the third eye requires an amethyst that has been cleaned under flowing water before use.Overall, techniques to open third eye can be classified into following categories: 1
.Chanting prayers: One of the powerful ways to open third eye or boost energy is thorugh chanting. Here is a list of some more powerful prayers in boosting energy and pave the way to opening third eye:
(A) om ma ni ba mi horn (B) se ba se de da ga (c) 0091000
2.Hand gestures: This is the way to connect energy of the universe. Many hand gestures can be used to connect some more advanced energy into human body.All of them draw energy into different channels of human body.
3.Graph observation: Some graphs have the ability to produce strong energy. If one focus on connecting with the energy from those graphs, the energy can be very powerful. The simples example is swastika.Generally, it will take ten years for a beginner to gain some abilities or to open third eye fully. As a result, it is stronlgy advised to regard the practice as a way toward englightment instead of gaining abilities. In the beginning phase, one usually sees some light in forehead. Sometimes you can see some characters or numbers. All these are showing good signs. However, they are still very far away from real opening. As the practice goes deeper, one usually experience that our body has some solid fragments which prevent energy flow. At this phase, one is on the right path. As times goes by, the solid fragments become gaseous and finally the third eye will open.
The process of opening third eye is very slow. However , some tricks can speed up the process to some degree. Those special tricks are usually taught at more advanced meditation courses offered in each sect. The effect usually depends on the energy the beginner has. The more energy the beginner has, the more views the beginner gain. Most people' third eyes begin to work with the function of seeing the color of energy. However people do differ a lot. Some people see pastlife more easily. As time goes by, the functions of third eye approach perfection.
Physical basis: the pineal gland?
Some, including
Rick Strassman, have suggested that the third eye is in fact the partially dormant
pineal gland, which resides between the two hemispheres of the brain. This concept is supported by the
pinealocytes, one type of cells within the pineal gland, having a strong resemblance to the photoreceptors of the eye. Additionally, the pineal gland is said to excrete
dimethyltryptamine (DMT), which is believed to be a chemical precursor to
dreams, near-death experiences, meditation, visions, and other forms of awareness that aren't well understood yet.
While still speculative, this indicates that the pineal gland could be the physical manifestation of the third eye. Various types of lower
vertebrates, such as
reptiles and amphibians, can actually sense light via their pineal gland which serves to synchronize their
circadian rhythm to the daily light/dark cycle.
Current medical understanding states that the pineal gland is a producer of the hormone
Melatonin, which has a role in regulating the body's
circadian rhythm to the daily light/dark cycle and also assists with the
immune system.
See also:
Pineal gland and Melatonin In popular cultureThe third eye has been displayed in many varieties of fiction, often to denote a transcendent evolution which may also grant the recipient the ability to see through time or be in communication with a spiritual being. An example of its use this way can be found in the videogame
killer7, in which a young boy (Emir Parkreiner) shoots himself on the roof of a hotel during a full moon. Instead of dying, however, a third eye opens on his forehead and he is reincarnated as Garcian Smith, who has the power to give life to the dead, and becomes spiritually bound to his deity mentor.
In November
1956 the book
The Third Eye by Lobsang Rampa was published in the
United Kingdom. The book claims to tell the true story of a
Buddhist monk's training in
Tibet, and contains a description of a surgical operation in which a third eye is drilled into Rampa's forehead, giving him the ability to read other people's
auras. This type of operation is known as
trepanation. The Third Eye is a controversial book as it contains
New Age and
Occult themes that are not part of standard Buddhist teachings. It was also shown that the book was written not by a Tibetan monk, but by a man from
Devon called Cyril Hoskin (1910 - 1981) who had never been to Tibet and spoke no Tibetan.
The American band
Tool also makes reference to "prying open my third eye" in a track from their 1996 release
Ænima named "Third Eye". Though many believe this is simply a tribute to the comedian
Bill Hicks, it can also be attributed as a facet of the bands psychedelic nature. Some find it to correspond to their numerous references to LSD use, and their use of manufactured
DMT.On the
underground hip hop scene, many
emcees and rappers (for example,
Hieroglyphics, Dilated Peoples, and Blackalicious) use the idea of "transcending" spiritually and having a higher power speak through their rhymes/flows/freestyles. This has led a few artists to start using the term "third eye" in their lyrics as a means to take their verses and their consciousness to a higher level, rather than rap about worldly possessions. The
Hieroglyphics crew's first collaborative album was titled
3rd Eye Vision, and the third eye concept is featured prominently in the group's
logo.
The third eye is also seen in Japanese animation. One popular example is in the series
Dragonball Z through the character of Tien. Tien had trained to unlock his third eye, or the 6th gate to his Chakra, but eventually trained to the point where his third eye became so advanced, it created a physical manifestation so the Third Eye became clearly visible.
In another series,
3x3 Eyes the female lead, Pai, is the last Sanjiyan Unkara, a race of triclops that possess the secret to immortality; the third eye possesses its own personality and is the source of the Sanjiyan's power, vanishing completely from view when closed. In
Elfen Lied, the female main character, Lucy, is a
diclonius: a mutated variant of humans with an overly developed pineal gland that gives them telepathic abilities, as well as the ability to telekineticly manipulate solid matter through the use of, what is known through the anime as, "vectors". Also,
Gaara from the
Naruto series manipulates sand into the shape of an eyeball, connecting it to his optic nerve, allowing him to open his third eye.
Hopefully, this posting will help and give some incite to those of you that may be interested in working on your Third Eye Chakra. Personally, I think it would be interesting to be able to see beyond our 3D dimension and maybe gain some knowledge that may help us all live a better life. Hey, you never know! Nothing ventured, nothing gained! You lose.Amethyst and Lapis Lazuli are good for working with the Third Eye chakra if you want to use that approach."All that we are is a result of what we have thought"!Bobby Sharpewww.myspace.com/akuasharpe
