Why are you staring at a candle?

2010-11-14T06:22:00.000-08:00

It sounds a little creepy.

The room is pitch black except for the flame of one candle. The air is still; the flame is at ease. You stare silently at the tip of the wick, into the deepest, hottest part of the flame, until your eyes start to tear. You close your eyes and see the image of the flame burned into the space between your eyes. The mental chatter has ceased.

The image becomes clearer. You see color, shape. You direct your consciousness with one-pointed focus. Everything else falls away. Your object is clear.

This is the power of trataka.

One of the six purification techniques, "trataka" is a Sanskrit word meaning "concentrated gazing." You can gaze at any object, although a mirror is not recommended and a flame is the most practical option. Gazing at a flame is said to have a balming effect on the nerves, including the optic nerve. On the level of body, trataka is said to even be able to cure eye diseases (a provocative claim). On the level of mind, the consciousness becomes focused. Psychic powers are said to develop in some people when this happens. Think of the Sorcerer, the Hypnotist, delving into unconscious levels of mind with your absolute, unwavering attention.

On a practical, day-to-day level, trataka induces calm in our busy lives. The recommended minimum practice is only 5 minutes per day. Practice at night before bed is said to be deeper than morning practice.

As I'm an avid reader, my eyes are accustomed to making many small, quick movements. When I practice trataka, I feel the impulses in my eye muscles wanting to twitch away, look quickly at something else and then back at the flame. I've noticed that these impulses to move the eyes, which I do my best to overcome, occur when something moves in my mind. The mind is the switch, the eye movement is the reaction. Of course, allowing the eye to move would also allow the mind to move, which it loves to do, and that's an important aspect of intellect. But this practice is about focus, about delving into the level of mind that precedes the intellect. Call it consciousness, call it the unconscious, call it the soul. The process and result are the same.

As with any deep practice, remember to take precautions and practice under the guidance of a teacher. Trataka is not right for every person all the time. Those with a history of mental disturbances, especially schizophrenia, are discouraged from practicing trataka.

Here's the best explanation of trataka I've ever read. Many thanks to Open Buddha blog.

Thank you also for Karl Straub for leading a trataka practice at Semkye Ling Meditation House in August, thereby inspiring my practice.

Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi relaxing

2010-08-02T09:40:00.000-07:00

A little inspiration for how to take it easy:

Photo used with permission. Source: http://www.arunachala-ramana.org/photos/restored_photos/restored_photos.htm

Main River Yoga

Why are you staring at a candle?

Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi relaxing