Third eye

For other uses, see Third eye (disambiguation).

17th century representation of the 'third eye' connection to the 'higher worlds' by alchemist Robert Fludd.

The 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 developed the capacity to use their third eyes are sometimes known as seers.

Contents

1 Symbolism

1.1 In Hinduism and Buddhism
1.2 In Surat Shabda Yoga
1.3 In the Western Wisdom Teachings
1.4 Elsewhere

2 Technique
3 Physical basis: the pineal gland?
4 References and books
5 See also

Symbolism

In Hinduism and Buddhism

In Hinduism and Buddhism, the third eye is a symbol of enlightenment (see moksha and nirvana). This is commonly denoted in Indian and East Asian iconography with a dot, eye or mark on the forehead of dieties 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

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 Teachings

According 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.

Elsewhere

The movement The Nation of Gods and Earths, founded by Clarence 13X in the 1960's, has proposed that the mind is a third eye.

The third eye is used in many arts, such as in yoga, in Chinese martial arts like Kung Fu (with Ch'an training, the religion of Shaolin), and in Japanese martial arts like Karate and Aikido (both use Zen Buddhism as a philosophy).

Technique

In Taoism and some Chinese martial arts, "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 designed 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.

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 third eye is in fact a part of the main meridian, the line separating the left and right hemispheres of the body). This chakra point can easily be stimulated by approaching something to it, whether by a finger or an object, or just by pressing the tongue on the upper palette of the mouth just over the 2 middle teeth, with the eyes well opened. Using proper breathing technique, whether from yoga, zen or any other kind of meditation, to make the ki (c'hi) flow through it is the most efficient way to feel it. The third eye allows to feel the vibrations (or just to feel the presence) of anything that is alive around the person. Some talk about very experienced people use it for different purpose, but they then have to go to higher levels of energy than ki (c'hi).

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.

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 of the 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.

References and books

Hale, Teresa (1999). The Book of Chakra Healing. [ISBN 0906920971]
Radha, Siviananda (2004). Kundalini Yoga for the West. New York: Shambhala [ISBN 1932018042]
Sharp, Dr. Michael (2005). Dossier of the Ascension: A Practical Guide to Chakra Activation and Kundalini Awakening. [ISBN 0973537930]

Hinduism
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