Hi,
Yogic Gazing Techniques.
This is a subject that has interested me lately,well past six months…I’m starting this partly in response to Posts 20-23 in this threadand the bearing it has on some of things i’ve been exploring and researching lately.
By gazing techniques i tend to mean using external reference points such as candles,points in physical space, the nose-tip, the bridge of the nose between the eyebrows . This is what is often referred to though i do wish to include internal gazing as such.
So inner trataka ,antar trataka & outer trataka.The exercise that was referenced in above thread touches on some points…The excercise i encountered suggested starting off with outer trataka and moving to inner.
I’ll pull you something remarked on from the [FONT=Franklin Gothic Medium]Trataka & Antar Trataka [/FONT]chapter of the bihar publication ‘Meditations from the Tantras’ .Bearing in mind this has had some relevance to some previous discussions on how when our inner gaze develops energy is not lost because the senses are introverted.When we train the sense to intovert,when concentration is on an inner object it gains energy.
I’m not so much interested in what is occuring on a theoretical level on that of dynamics of trataka or general gazing practices practices.Though this does interest me.Don’t get me wrong. All feedback is appreciated.
It’s all relevant.
But i’m interested in those that incorporate it into their sadhana, yoga practice as it considered a staple in some systems even hatha yoga. Infact one of the shtakarmas the bodily cleansing techniques regarded as integral to hatha yoga trataka is a cleanser ,probably third-eye but probably over-all too.
I’m interested in any feedback.Experiences on the how,tips adivce etc,mechanics.
For example-
Are there measures you use to ensure a point of convergence?. Do you try out antar trataka or other gazing technques?.
It is said that trataka unlocks a storehouse of energy.Energy is routinely wasted through sensory data bombardment on a daily basisWhen we practice trataka, ‘to gaze steadily’ it devolps concentration.
"The power of the mind is great but through desires and energy-wasting pastimes this energy of mind is wasted in all directions…
It is only when we relax and partly cut-of this sensory awarness that we become conscious of all this mental activity."
It does also say to back up actually what Surya Deva said about energy not getting wasted or lost as much
I’ll let people offer their input as this is a big subject and i could’nt cover it all adequaetly without doing it some justice and seeing what other people might think.
I am personally interested in feedback on mechanics and whether say we must find thte point of convergence with outer ,how one does or ensures that ,then do we move to inner trataka o r what other gazing techniques you might employ or have employed, tried out etc.For example -viisualise a candle, externally i mean ---->then close your eyes and continue to visualise it.I also practice nose-tip gazing. And i hear in one form of Taoist yoga it was used as prelimary before opening up the thrid-eye. In one instance we went from distance to -nose-tip ,to nose-> bridge, kutashta(between eyeborws) and then ajna proper aprox. where the pineal & pituitary glands are located.
I would love to hear what you might practice or what your thoughts and input might be on this albeit vast subject