Some Trataka basics

[Guest guest]

(Note: The below is from KUNDALINI YOGA by SRI SWAMI SAVANNA.

<http://www.SivanandaDlshq.org/saints/siva.htm> There is no specific

mention of Tantra or use of the Tantric image)

 

'Tartan' is steady gazing at a particular point or object without

winking. Though this is one of the six purificatory exercises, it is

mainly intended for developing concentration and mental focusing. It is

very useful for the students of Hatha Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga and

Raja Yoga. There is no other effective method for the control of the

mind. Some of the students who claim that they belong to Jnana Yoga,

neglect such important exercises since they are described under Hatha

Yogic portions. Sri Ramana Maharshi the famous Jnani of Tiruvannamalai,

was doing this exercise. You could have seen it clearly if you had been

to his Ashram for his Darshan. While seated on his sofa in his room, he

used to gaze on the walls. When he sat on the veranda in an easy-chair,

he steadily looked at the distant hills or at the sky. This enabled him

to keep up a balanced state of mind. Nothing could distract his mind. He

was very calm and cool always. He was not at all distracted by any one

even though his Bhaktas might be talking and singing by his side.

 

EXERCISES

 

(1) Keep the picture of Lord Krishna, Rama, Narayana or Devi in front of

you. Look at it steadily without winking. Gaze at the head; then at the

body; then at the legs. Repeat the same process again and again. When

your mind calms down look at a particular place only. Be steady till

tears begin to flow. Then close the eyes and mentally visualize the

picture.

 

(2) Gaze on a black dot on a white wall or draw a black mark on a piece

of white paper and hang it on the wall in front of you.

 

(3) Draw the picture Om (!) on a piece of paper and have it before your

seat. Do Trataka on it.

 

(4) Lie down on an open terrace and gaze at a particular bright star or

on the full moon. After some time, you will see different colors of

lights. Again some time later, you will see only a particular color

throughout, and all other surrounding stars will disappear. When you

gaze at the moon, you will see only a bright moon on a black background.

At times you will see a huge mass of light all around you. When gazing

becomes more intense, you can also see two or three moons of the same

size and at times you cannot see any moon at all even though your eyes

may be wide open.

 

(5) Select at random any place in the open sky in the morning or evening

hours and gaze at it steadily. You will get new inspirations.

 

(6) Look at a mirror and gaze at the pupil of your eye.

 

(7) Some people do Trataka at the space between the two eyebrows or at

the tip of the nose. Even during walking, some persons do Trataka at the

tip of the nose.

 

(8) Advanced students can do Trataka at the inner Chakras, (Padmas).

Muladhara, Anahata, Ajna and Sahasrara are the important centers for

Trataka.

 

(9) Keep a ghee-lamp before you and gaze at the flames. Some astral

entities give Darshan through the flames.

 

(10) Very few Yogins do Trataka on the sun. It requires the help of an

experienced man by their side. They begin to gaze on the rising sun and

after gradual practice they do Trataka on the sun even in the midday.

They get some special Siddhis (psychic powers) by this practice. All are

not fit for this Sadhana. All the first 9 exercises will suit everyone

and they are harmless. The last one, sun-gazing should not be attempted

until you get the help of an experienced man.

 

INSTRUCTIONS

 

When you do the practice in your meditation room, sit in your favorite

Asana (posture), Siddhasana or Padmasana. At other times you can do in a

standing or sitting posture. Trataka can be profitably done even when

you walk. As you walk along the streets, do not look hither and thither.

Gaze at the tip of the nose or toes. There are many persons who do not

look at the face when they talk to others. They have their own gaze at a

particular place and talk. No particular Asana is required for this

Sadhana.

 

When you gaze at a picture, it is Trataka. When you close your eyes and

mentally visualize the picture, it is Saguna Dhyana (meditation with

form). When you associate the attributes of God such as omnipresence,

omnipotence, omniscience, purity, perfection, etc., the name and the

form of the object of Trataka will automatically disappear and you will

enter into Nirguna Dhyana (abstract meditation).

 

Do Trataka for two minutes to start with. Then cautiously increase the

period. Do not be impatient. Gradual steady practice is required. Gazing

at a spot even for three full hours continuously counts for nothing, if

the mind is wandering. The mind also must be on the spot. Then only you

will advance in this practice and attain many psychic powers.

 

Those who cannot gaze steadily for a second in spite of several

attempts, need not worry much. They can close their eyes and gaze at an

imaginary spot at the space between the two eyebrows.

 

Those who have very weak eye-capillaries should do Trataka after closing

their eyes on any imaginary spot within or without. Do not tax your eyes

by over-practice. When you feel tired, close your eyes and keep your

mind on the object of Trataka. When you sit and do Trataka do not shake

the body.

 

Trataka improves eyesight. Many who had some eye-troubles have realized

immense benefits by Trataka. Going beyond one's own power and gazing at

the sun without any help may produce serious troubles. For gazing on the

sun you must have your guide by your side. The Guru will prescribe some

oil to rub on your head to avoid such serious troubles and to cool the

system. You should apply honey to your eyes at night when you practice

sun-gazing.

 

The same object of gazing will appear as something else during the

practice. You will have many other visions. Different people have

different experiences. You will not even believe certain things when

others tell you of their experiences. Trataka alone cannot give you all

Siddhis. After the control of the mind, when it becomes steady, you will

have to manipulate the mind by prescribed methods for the attainment of

powers. Therefore the powers that are obtained by this practice may vary

in different persons. It depends upon the further training of the mind,

in a particular way.

 

Young aspirants, who pose as big Yogins, neglect such practices and ask

whether this practice is Moksha. Certainly that practice itself is not

Moksha. Different practices are for the attainment of Moksha. One can

attain the goal by a particular method, others by different methods.

Remember this point always. Otherwise you will be neglecting all the

methods. You will be misguided and lose the goal if you neglect the

Sadhana.

 

By the practice of Trataka, diseases of the eyes are removed. Eye-sight

improves. Many have thrown away their spectacles after taking to this

practice. Will-power is developed. Vikshepa is destroyed. It steadies

the mind. Clairvoyance, thought-reading, psychic cure and other Siddhis

are obtained very easily.

 

Once again I will tell you that Bhakti Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Hatha Yoga,

Karma Yoga, etc., are not incompatibles like Cocaine and Soda

Bicarbonate. They are not antagonistic to each other. Do not neglect

this exercise for the mere reason that it comes under Hatha Yoga

portions. Even though you may claim to be a student of Jnana Yoga or

Bhakti Yoga, you can take to this practice. It is a very effective

powerful remedy for a wandering mind. It prepares the mind undoubtedly

for perfect Dhyana and Samadhi. This is assuredly a means for the end.

You must ascend the Yogic ladder or stair-case step by step. Several

persons have been benefited by this useful exercise. Why not you, also,

dear friend, sincerely attempt to practice this from this moment? I have

given you different exercises for Trataka. Select any one of the methods

that suits you best and realize the spiritual benefits. Do this for one

month regularly and let me know your experiences, benefits and also

troubles, if any.

 

This email was cleaned by emailStripper, available for free from

http://www.papercut.biz/emailStripper.htm