Trāṭaka - The Practice of Still Gaze (part one)

Every weekend is a surprise. Saturday is working day in India, so we get up the same time as weekdays, 6 am. Do the same asanas according to the past 5 days, and then the program changes. We have schedules for 

some excercises, but we find out in the last moment what it is actually going to be. These can be chanting new mantras, or Ohm for 20 minutes altogether, watching movie, documentaries, or even higher level meditations. This time we had the opportunity to take part in a Hatha yoga meditation called: trāṭaka. Trāṭaka is a meditation practice and also good for the eyes.

Theory: As the restless eye eagers to scan as much as it can, the mind also tries to process unlimited amount of thoughts. Focusing on one fixed point (in our case, the light of a candle) helps focusing the mind. Here comes the ājňā chackra, located between our 2 eyebrowls, but as it doesn't make any sense to me (yet) it is better if I just stop bullshiting about it. :-)

As a first step we focus on a fixed point (like a light of a candle), our eyes stay in the same relaxing position, and when it starts watering, you can blink. This excercise is to empty our mind, enjoy the luxorious moment of thinking of nothing.

As the second step we close our eyes, try to memorise the shape of the light. Beginners may see the real copy of the light, but advanced can recall from their memory so it lasts longer.

The actual practice is explained in the next post.