The Inner Eye
The spiritual eye
A much talked about spiritual phenomenon is the opening of the ‘inner eye’ sometimes called one’s third eye. Ironically, one can ‘see’ the inner eye only when one closes the outer eyes. It is located at a point between the two eyebrows (broo-madhye) and is meant to be meditated upon with closed eyes with the eyeballs gently focussed on that point. Any forced focus to meditate cross-eyed will only result in eye pain. One may experience fleeting glimpses of this eye as one becomes better at meditation. A fully opened inner eye translates to higher level of consciousness and spiritual enlightenment. An open third eye without the accompanying spiritual evolution of a true seeker may grant one mere clairvoyance, intuitive/ psychic powers.
As with the cleansing of chakras, there are numerous instant methods, suggested by new age gurus and the internet, to open the spiritual eye - from placing crystals or gems between the brows to applying essential oils.
The inner eye is associated with the aagnya chakra, which is therefore named ‘third-eye chakra’. A spiritual aspirant need not concern himself with the various chakras, but needs to be aware of this chakra in order to focus the mind, during meditation. Truth and knowledge get revealed when one closes one’s eyes (and looks inwards).
Kutastha Chaitanya
Paramahamsa Yogananda, through his book, Autobiography of a Yogi, has extensively used and thereby popularised the phrase ‘Kutastha Chaitanya’ when referring to the third eye.
In his attempt to draw in western believers, he has also used the phrase ‘Christ Consciousness’ as an alternative. And he has boldly described the colours and the form in which one ‘sees’ the open inner eye.
According to a disciple of Yogananda, “There is no location* for the Kutastha or spiritual eye or Christ Consciousness. It is light that goes out from the deep astral spine through the medulla to the spiritual eye and is seen in the front of the forehead during meditation.
Also, known as the prefrontal lobe of the brain which is ‘the point between the eyebrows.’ This light can appear as close or far or it may be that you don’t see it at all for a time. It is best to first (with eyes opened) to look out and up, as if beyond the horizon and then hold your arm out with your hand in a fist with the thumb upward. Look at the thumb just to focus on something. Place your gaze a few inches above that horizon line. Imagine a mountain peak a few inches above that horizon. Then close your eyes and hold them there. Be sure there is no forced strain for the physical eyes. Consciously relax your eyes. That relaxation should assist in stopping the movement of the eyeballs. If your eyes move, just go back to focusing on your breathing. The eyes will eventually cooperate.Most of all always invite God’s presence and blessings into your meditation.
*physical location
Ola-gannu, holagannu
In the Katopanishad, Yama tells Nachiket, “*Close your eyes and see...”
In more recent times, Purandara Daasa, in an attempt to guide us to the sanctum sanctorum of spiritual consciousness has sung, “Kannina olage nodu Hariya, olaganninolage * nodu...”
*also called holagannu, i. e. holeyuva kannu (literally, eyes that sparkle)
Mahipathi daasaru has described his experience in one of his songs. He says when his inner eye opened, he discovered the path of the sushumna. Breaking through mooladhara, crossing swaadishtaana, recognising the futility of manipura, discovering God in anahatha, mastering vishuddha, unravelling aagnya, reaching sahasra, he saw the light of a thousand suns...
Light, light and more light, fragrant*, joyful, swirling, shining, flashing, cascading... like moonlight without the moon, brilliance without the heat, the gnyaanada kannu** opened and beheld the unimaginable and indescribable light within. The jeeva experienced the state of turiya*** and the tattvabhimaani devathes alongside the jeeva watched this light. The light revealed answers and explanations to every unanswered question and inexplicable concept of Vedas, and banished every kind of darkness, within and without. Thus daasaru called it ‘Bramhodaya’ (the dawn of enlightenment).