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"The one that focuses intensely and deeply meditates on this chakra gradually destroys all the negative effects of his previous actions, from the present lifetime and the previous ones. The adept becomes a great yogi and a jivanmukta, a liberated person while still alive. He obtains the eight great paranormal powers and the thirty-two minor ones." - Swami Shivananda
Localization: the sixth center of force called Ajna Chakra is located in the physical body in the area between eyebrows and it is surnamed "the third eye" or "the Eye of Shiva".
It represents: superior mental consciousness allowing the direct perception of the invisible worlds and also the direct perception of the subtle aspects of the manifested universe
On a physical level: it coordinates the activity of pituitary gland (hypophysis) and cerebellum. Hypophysis has a vital role because, together with the hypothalamus, composes the system of command of all the other endocrine glands.
On a psychic level: it governs superior intuition, clear-vision, and the capacity to foretell some events, the instantaneous perception of the qualities of a human being and the extra-sensorial perception.
Specific reaction in case of an energetic perturbation: the harmonious activation of Ajna Chakra grants mental insight, telepathic capacities, self-control, mental understanding through intellectual identification and creative intelligence.
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Psychological Aspects of Ajna Chakra
- By Ionela Voicu
"The one that focuses intensely and deeply meditates on this chakra gradually destroys all the negative effects of his previous actions, from the present lifetime and the previous ones.
The adept becomes a great yogi and a jivanmukta, a liberated person while still alive. He obtains the eight great paranormal powers and the thirty-two minor ones." - Swami Shivananda
The mental center of command, the center of genial and spiritually intuitive knowledge - Ajna Chakra belongs to the superior triad of the subtle and energetic centers of force. |
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As we said in the previous article, Anahata Chakra - the fourth energetic center corresponding to the empathic affective experiences of universal love and compassion, marks the crossing point between the energies specific for the first three centers of force (in connection with survival, belonging to a group, communication and relationships, sexuality and volition processes) and the energies specific for the last three centers of force (in connection with intuition, knowledge, discernment, perfection and engodiment). Vishuddha chakra corresponds, both from a physiological and a psychological point of view, to the complex process of feeding, the stage of gaining superior receptivity and opening of the soul towards divine inspirations. On this level takes place an inner ennobling by accessing the superior worlds of the universe.
The next stage leads the human being to the most refined and elevated inner perceptions through the awakening, amplification and control of the mental energies. Ajna chakra represents for us a "third eye" oriented towards our enigmatic inner universe as well as towards the subtle and mental aspects of the world, direct perception of the parallel universes; in the yogi tradition it is considered to be the center of spiritual perception.
On this level the gradual awakening and opening of the sublime inner vision actually means the access of the being to certain superior levels of consciousness, which all of us have in a latent or potential state and yet presently due to our ignorance we cannot even imagine. The systematic access to these ultimate levels of the consciousness means to extricate ourselves from the limits of our ephemeral and painful reality of the daily life.
Plus this means to disinvolve from the limited concepts of the consciousness focused predominantly on the material aspects and to enter into those ecstatic experiences when we feel one with the infinite. All these also mean to surpass the limitations of time, space and appearingly inexorable causality.
In the traditional yogi view, the role of Ajna chakra in its quality of inner spiritual eye predominantly manifests into the harmonious integration of the being in the universe. Ajna chakra is a focus of emission-reception of the thought-energies, ideas and mental structuring through which we can conceive and understand in a coherent manner the mental subtle universe exterior to our being and its specific energies, thus being helped to govern "our inner universe". |
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Just as the physical eyes help us to establish certain rapports with the outer things and phenomena, in an analogical way Ajna chakra facilitates and ordinates our rapports with the things, entities and specific phenomena from the subtle spheres of the astral and mental universe.
The person who knows how to focus in the space between the eyebrows, in the middle of the forehead, at the level of Ajna chakra gains a new perspective over the principles and concepts concerning time, space and causality. The inner focus of consciousness predominantly on the level of Ajna chakra leads the human being towards an extraordinary evolutionary stage in which the appearingly dispersed multiplicity of phenomena and events can be simultaneously perceived in an inter-correlated, harmonious and perfectly integrated vision. The ideal superior state characterizing this center of force is an awakening of consciousness to a level of deep intuition and integrative understanding.
The real description of "the third eye" means the balanced joining of analysis and discernment - that characterizes the right cerebral hemisphere, with the opening and direct access to the intuitive world - which is specific for the left cerebral hemisphere. This means to end both the sterile dry intellectualization and the superstitions or fantasy-like misgivings; the harmonious unification of these two modalities of knowledge in a unitary whole.
On the path of spiritual evolution the one vying supreme completeness gradually crosses the different mental levels called by the great yogis: ordinary mind, superior mind, enlightened mind, intuitive mind and supra-mental. These different levels correspond to some more and more profound awakenings of consciousness and to access more and more elevated realms.
From a fragmented vision upon reality, one gradually reaches a sublime, unifying and re-integrating overview. On this superior level predominantly exists a catching state of enthusiasm and happiness, a sudden awakening to a new reality in which everything links to a great vibration of joy.
In general the access to this state of superior consciousness is accompanied by a spontaneous blossoming of creative abilities. In this respect it is a known fact that an awakening and harmonization of the subtle center of force Ajna chakra leads to the gaining of control over the sexual energies (creative sexual potential) corresponding to the second level, Swadhistana chakra. |
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The vision which corresponds to the sixth center of force is global, unique and divine; the human being preponderantly focused on this level looks at things, phenomena and beings not just on their surface but at the same time includes their essence by looking straight into their core.
Key-words
Genius- a gift or trait inherited from a previous life, an exceptional mental capacity of creation into a field of activity producing values. In Middle Ages the genius was referred to, as Socrates confesses before the Athenian court, the inner divine voice guiding the existential trajectory of the special people. Later the genius was understood as the unique vocation for accomplishing certain masterpieces of art, works that are under the sign of perfection, competing with the perfection of nature itself. The works of Mr. Kant include the term genius in this sense of the word. It usually designates the highest degree of natural endowment, with cleverness, fantasy, intelligence, capacity of understanding the deep sense of the world, self-giving, sensitivity and intuition in order to realize extraordinary valuable works of art.
Intelligence- term characterizing the power of mental insight and the specific function of mind rapidly establishing connections and making creative links meant to reveal the truth. This is also what the etymology of the word "intelligence" suggests: "inter-legere", uniting two senses, that of discriminating and that of connecting. In the yoga system intelligence is both a real fact and a potential one; a process as well as an aptitude or capacity, a form and an attribute of mental and behavioral capacity.
Self-control- the mechanism and the mental capacity of following one`s own behavior, especially of one`s impulsive reactions, and to ponder, change or stop these reactions, and to come back to normal. Self-control is a fundamental aspect of yoga.
Self-observation- is a superior trait of the consciousness through which the human being follows more or less systematic the development of one`s own personality. It needs to be directed upon both spiritual ideas and experiences, as well as upon the complex effects deriving from them. Objectivity, self-criticism and increased exigency are necessary conditions to turn the self-observation into an effective means of self-education in the yogic practice. |
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Introspection- view or perception oriented towards the interior, towards one`s own states and inner experiences. Above all, this term designates a real, genuine phenomenon or dimension of the psychic. In the perception of the object is also included the self-perception of the observer. In the knowledge of the world is also implied the knowledge of one`s self. The self-awareness and the awareness of the world are inseparable. The inner experiences reunite the inner part of one`s being with the outer part. Introspection is an important method in yoga, because with it one becomes aware of, and can examine and describe one`s own mental and spiritual inner experiences, the soul states from one`s life making possible self-analysis. Through superior introspection, the human being can reach easier the revelation of the Immortal Self Atman.
Discernment (viveka)- this term refers to the recognition or distinction between that which is real and that which is unreal, between truth and untruth; this word particularly refers to the difference between the individual Supreme Self (Atman) - immortal spiritual essence of the human being and the "non-Self" (Anatman) - the limited and ephemeral ego. According to the great sage Shankaracharya, discernment is one of the indispensable conditions ought to be fulfilled by the sincere person vying to reach spiritual knowledge. The term "viveka-khyati" means "the clear vision of discernment" or "the wisdom springing from the process of a correct discrimination." In Yoga Sutra of Patanjali, discernment is mentioned to be the direct modality granting spiritual liberation because discernment doesn`t mean just intellectual understanding but rather the communion with high spiritual states when we experience divine ecstasy.
Siddhi- physical, mental and spiritual power which is totally extraordinary or paranormal and that shows up to crown the spiritual evolution of a perseverant yogi that gradually awakens from a potential state and amplifies, in his inner being, certain ineffable resonances with cosmic, subtle, secret forces which actually perform the analogical, subtle and deep connections between man and universe. In general, a spiritual guide often warns the aspirant against the selfish pursuit of any siddhis because they never lead a vane and narrow-minded person to the realization of the ultimate truth since they still belong to the phenomenal world. The attachment to such yogi powers or the vanity which can be amplified by the siddhis constitutes a strong obstacle on the path of spiritual completion and liberation. On the other hand, these siddhis show up spontaneously as a result of some spiritual practices yet without being pursued at all by the aspirant.
Jivanmukta- "great and spiritually liberated sage alive", an extremely spiritually evolved being that although he reached the peak of one`s completion continues to live in the physical body, rejoicing totally detached the transfigured and essential pleasures and joys from this and the other subtle worlds although he always maintains his consciousness identified with his Eternal Self (Atman); thus he keeps himself in the state of complete liberation from the chains of ignorance.
"Each time I try to describe the spiritual states and visions I experience when I pass this place (Vishuddha chakra), as soon as I think about these visions, my mind seems to evaporate into the infinite and makes any description of this level impossible.
However, in the case in which a certain person reaches the level of consciousness of Ajna Chakra, focusing there, then this person has the direct knowledge of the Supreme Self Atman.
For this person, there is only a transparent veil, like silk. The Supreme Self is then so close that one might think united with It. Nonetheless, the total union with God has not appeared yet, and it will follow."
- Ramakrishna |
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Article translated from www.yogaesoteric.net
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