By George A. Boyd © 2003
One of the siddhis meditators seek in their meditation
is the ability to be able to see clearly. This faculty, called clairvoyance,
seeing with the inner eye, or metavision, usually develops slowly over
time.
Gaining an understanding of what comprises inner seeing,
however, can enhance this faculty. The following inner vehicles and principles
mediate inner seeing:
Types of Inner Seeing
The two eyes of the astral body - these inner
eyes are sensitive to elements of matter beyond the range of the physical
eyes, such as energies of the electromagnetic spectrum beyond visible
light, and finer particles of matter such as atoms and subatomic quanta.
They also can sense the subtle etheric substrates of matter comprising
the information ether, and the holographic ether, on which the records
of experience (Akashic Records) are traced. They also can view the constructions
of astral matter: thought forms, the scenery of the other Planes, and
the inhabitants of those realms.
The astral eyes awaken spontaneously when the Astral
Soul is unfolded. They are also stimulated by the practice of concentrating
on the point between the eyebrows in the astral body, by direct projection,
and by tratakam.
The forehead eye of the astral body - sometimes
called the third eye or cyclopean eye, this center brings intuitive knowledge
of the inner Planes. It mediates mandalic reasoning, which discerns the
landmarks and phenomena of the inner Planes. It permits the identification
of correspondences on parallel Planes.
The forehead eye awakens spontaneously when the Astral
Soul is unfolded. It is also stimulated by the practice of concentrating
on the center of the forehead in the astral body, by tratakam, and by
the Hong Sau and Kriya Yoga techniques taught by Kriya Yoga adepts.
Intuitive vision of the vehicles of the Superconscious
Mind - as the Soul Spark, Planetary Soul, Monad, and other ensouling
entities evolve, they awaken the vehicles of the Superconscious mind.
The brow center (point between the eyebrows) of each of these vehicles
provides a panoramic intuitive vista of the phenomena of the Planes on
which it is anchored, and the contents of the vehicle. These vehicles
may be found on each Plane: contemplation of them will yield much information
about the inner worlds.
Concentrating on the brow center of selected vehicles
enhances the ability to access Superconscious vehicular vision. The
advanced self-study practices of Raja Yoga, including meditation on
the inner vehicles, or meditation on the archetypes or forms of these
vehicles, also activate this faculty.
Global Intuitive Knowledge Center - variously
called Buddhi, the Illumined Mind, Bodhi, or the Wisdom Mind, this center
synthesizes and integrates the multidimensional strata of vehicular visioning
into one comprehensive picture. It is the inmost covering over the ensouling
entity. It evokes Gnosis, the awakening of the Soul's Knowledge of itself,
which in turn permits you to see the Soul in others.
The Global Intuitive Knowledge Center is developed
by the practices of Jnana Yoga and Kundalini Yoga, which awaken discernment
and awareness within each of the vehicles up to the level of the ensouling
entity.
The inner seeing of the spirit - while the spirit
is more commonly associated with the faculty of feeling (faith) and listening
(hearing the words of the inner guide and the rapturous strains of the
Nada), it too has a faculty of vision. These "eyes of the heart" behold
the inner Planes, the spiritual guide and the inhabitants of the inner
Planesbut more importantly, they see the spirits of others. This
faculty moves beyond phenomenal vision, which views the content
of the vehicles as phenomenoncolors, forms, archetypes, etc.to
essential vision, which sees the spiritual heart of others.
Spiritual seeing is developed by focusing the attention
upon the spirit, and by the sustained practice of Nada Yoga.
Mental seeing - this faculty is mediated by concentrating
the attention. You are familiar with the practical applications of mental
seeing, such as comprehension of new subjects in school and the visualization
of goals and plans to carry them out. But concentration and contemplation
of the attention are at the bottom of meditational insight as well. Focusing
the attention allows you to become aware of the content of the inner vehicles,
and direct energy to that focal point. It is this energetic function of
sustained concentration that acts to stimulate and awaken the inner faculties
of the mind; concentration upon the visioning faculties specifically strengthens
them.
Raja Yoga practices and tratakam are specific to developing
the faculty of directed concentration. But nearly any form of meditation
exercise that focuses the attention enhances the faculty of mental seeing.
Metavisional Seeing - this is seeing with the
attentional principle, which is a wave of consciousness (chetan) encased
in various vehicles that give it a form (purusa). This inner eye of consciousness
is ever-awake (Turiya). When it is fully activated, it can access any
other form of seeing by utilizing intention to gather information from
that center.
Raja Yoga, Tratakam, and Purusa Dhyan develop metavisional
seeing. Doing direct projection with the attention united with the attentional
principle will dramatically demonstrate to you the depth and power of
the insight that can be gained by this simple techniquethrough
this means, you can experience Samadhi, in which vast intuitive knowledge
is revealed to you.
The Role of Tratakam
Tratakam or steady gaze is a method that can help you
rapidly activate your inner faculties of seeing. We reproduce this method
here for you study and practice so you can begin to improve your ability
to see the phenomena of the inner Planes, and the spirit and Soul in others.
The Practice of Tratakam
Excerpted
from the Yoga of the Seven Mudras:
Introducing the Mudrashram® System of Integral
Meditation
©1990 by George A. Boyd
Tratakam means steady gaze. Tratakam is the focusing
of the mind stuff (chittam) on specific anatomical or psychic locations,
with an aim to awaken the awareness and energy within these foci. The
seven basic anatomical centers used for tratakam, with their implications
are as follows:
1) Root of nose (between the eyebrows) tratakam - directs
the mind stuff into the Superconscious Mind, and brings about union
with the Higher Self.
2) Middle of nose tratakam - directs the mind stuff
into the metaconscious mind, and brings about union with the Self.
3) Tip of nose (closest to the mouth) tratakam - directs
the mind stuff through the unconscious mind into absorption (laya) with
the Higher Self.
4) Medulla oblongata tratakam - directs the mind stuff
into the AUM vibration, and union with the Cosmic Consciousness Center.
5) Third ventricle (above and behind pituitary gland)
tratakam - directs mind stuff into union with the attentional principle
(nirat)
6) Pineal gland tratakam - directs mind stuff into
the Nada and brings union with the spirit (surat).
7) Perineum tratakam - directs mind stuff into the
seat of the Kundalini and allows vision of the awakening kundalini shakti
energy.
Advanced Tratakam
Sit in an upright pose, with your eyes closed. Select
one of these seven tratakam to use as your meditation focus. Concentrate
the mind stuff in that focus and hold it steady, and notice the changes
in your energy and awareness. Allow the energy to carry your mind stuff
into complete union with the attentional principle, the spirit, the center
you are meditating upon, or the Kundalini. Enjoy and contemplate that
state for as long as you wish. Return to normal awareness, and do grounding
meditation if necessary.
Practice of tratakam that is done for longer periods
of time will lead to recognition of, union with, and mastery over each
of these principles. Tratakam is a direct button to stimulate these principles
of consciousness, and bring about absorption and Samadhi.
Advanced tratakam aids in the practice of advanced Raja
Yoga by strengthening the ability to concentrate and focus the mind stuff
(dharana), and is essential in the development of the ability to use Superconscious
abilities or powers (siddhi).
After mastering these seven basic methods, additional
tratakam you may wish to experiment with are:
8) Temporal lobe tratakam - directs the mind stuff
into awareness of the present moment.
9) Anahata nadam tratakam - holding the attention
above and behind the right ear, the mind stuff is directly absorbed
into the Nada, which becomes audible through this means, as if sounding
in the air.
10) Whole body tratakam - contemplating the whole
body, the higher forms and vehicles of the metaconscious and Superconscious
Mind are experienced
11) Spatial tratakam - contemplating the fine particles
in the space around the body leads to the awareness of the atomic and
subatomic realms and other dimensions of existence.
12) Eye to eye tratakam (darshan) - steadily gazing
directly into the eyes of a Master or Liberated Soul while that One
is in Samadhi brings about vision of one's own inner form (swarup) and
that of the Master.
Practice these tratakam and master them and they will
improve your ability to practice all the techniques you have learned so
far and the ones that are to come.
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