third eye

17th century representation of the 'third eye' connection to the 'higher worlds' by alchemist Robert Fludd.

The third eye (also known as the inner eye) is a mystical and esoteric concept referring in part to the ajna (brow) chakra in certain Eastern and Western spiritual traditions. It is also spoken of as the gate that leads within to inner realms and spaces of higher consciousness. In New Age spirituality, the third eye may alternately symbolize a state of enlightenment or the evocation of mental images having deeply-personal spiritual or psychological significance. The third eye is often associated with visions, clairvoyance (which includes the ability to observe chakras and auras),^[1] precognition, and out-of-body experiences, and people who have allegedly developed the capacity to utilize their third eyes are sometimes known as seers.

Symbolism

In Hinduism and Buddhism

Cambodian Shiva head with third eye

Indian politician M. G. Ramachandran with his wife, Janaki, who wears a third eye, or tilak.

In Hinduism and Buddhism, the third eye is a symbol of enlightenment (see moksha and nirvana). In the Indian tradition, it is referred to as the gyananakashu, the eye of knowledge, which is the seat of the 'teacher inside' or antar-guru. The third eye is the ajna chakra (sixth chakra) also known as brow chakra or brow centre. This is commonly denoted in Indian and East Asian iconography with a dot, eye or mark on the forehead of deities or enlightened beings, such as Shiva, the Buddha, or any number of yogis, sages and bodhisattvas. This symbol is called the "Third Eye" or "Eye of Wisdom", or, in Buddhism, the urna. In Hinduism, it is believed that the opening of Shiva's third eye causes the eventual destruction of the physical universe.

Many Hindus wear a tilak between the eyebrows to represent the third eye.

In the Upanishads, a human being is likened to a city with ten gates. Nine gates (eyes, nostrils, ears, mouth, urethra, anus) lead outside to the sensory world. The third eye is the tenth gate and leads to inner realms housing myriad spaces of consciousness.

Chakra	Color	Primary Functions	Associated Element	Location	Open or Balance	Foods	Symbol
Third eye ājñā, आज्ञा	indigo	Direct perception, intuition, imagination, visualization, concentration, Self-mastery , Extra Sensory Perception	time / light	Between the eyebrows. (Pineal gland)	Meditation, guided visualization.	Dark bluish colored fruits, Liquids, Spices

In the Western Wisdom Teachings

According to Max Heindel's Rosicrucian writings, called Western Wisdom Teachings, the third eye is localized in the pituitary body and the pineal gland. It was said that in the far past, when man was in touch with the inner worlds, these organs were his means of ingress thereto, and they will again serve that purpose at a later stage. According to this view, they were connected with the involuntary or sympathetic nervous system and to regain contact with the inner worlds (to reawaken the pituitary body and the pineal gland) it is necessary to establish the connection of the pineal gland and the pituitary body with the cerebrospinal nervous system. It was said that when that is accomplished, man will again possess the faculty of perception in the higher worlds (i.e. clairvoyance), but on a grander scale than it was in the distant past, because it will be in connection with the voluntary nervous system and therefore under the control of his will.

In the Bible

According to the gnostic teachings of Samael Aun Weor, the third eye is referenced symbolically and functionally several times in the Book of Revelation,^[which?] which as a whole is seen as a work describing Kundalini and its progression upwards through three and a half turns and seven chakras. This interpretation equates the third eye with the sixth of the seven churches of Asia detailed therein, the Church of Philadelphia.^[2]

Elsewhere

The third eye is used in many meditation schools and arts, such as in yoga, qigong, many Chinese martial arts, Zen^{[dubious – discuss]}, and in Japanese martial arts such as Karate^{[dubious – discuss]} and Aikido.

In terms of Kabbalah, the Ajna chakra is attributed to the sphere of Chokmah,^[3] or Wisdom, although others regard the third eye as corresponding to the non-emanated sephirah of da'ath (knowledge).

Technique

In Taoism and many traditional Chinese religious sects such as "chan", "third eye training" involves focusing attention on the point between the eyebrows with the eyes closed in various qigong postures. The goal of this training is to allow students to have the ability in tuning into right vibration of the universe and gain solid foundation into more advanced meditation levels.

In theory, the third eye, also called the mind's eye, is situated right between the two eyes, and expands up to the middle of the forehead when opened. It is one of the main energy centres of the body located at the sixth chakra (the third eye is in fact a part of the main meridian, the line separating left and right hemispheres of the body). In Taoist alchemy the third eye is correlated with the upper dantian. ^[4]

The pineal gland

Some writers and researchers, including H. P. Blavatsky^[5] and Rick Strassman, have suggested that the third eye is in fact the partially dormant pineal gland, which resides between the two hemispheres of the brain. The pineal gland is said^[who?] to secrete dimethyltryptamine (DMT) ^{[6][improper synthesis?]} which induces dreams, near-death experiences, meditation, or hallucinations. Various types of lower vertebrates, such as reptiles and amphibians, can actually sense light via a third parietal eye—a structure associated with the pineal gland—which serves to regulate their circadian rhythms, and for navigation, as it can sense the polarization of light.

Literal vision

It was claimed by C.W. Leadbeater that, by extending an "etheric tube" from the third eye, it is possible for one to develop microscopic vision and telescopic vision.^[1] It has been asserted by Stephen Phillips that the third eye's microscopic vision is capable of observing objects as small as quarks. ^[7]

In fiction

Three Eyed characters commonly appear in fictions and folklores of Asian cultures. Some of these characters, belong to the so-called "Three Eyed Race", and possess supernatural powers.

• Erlang Shen (二郎神) - Chinese God with a third true-seeing eye in the middle of his forehead that exists in folklores who also appears in Chinese fictions, Journey to the West and Fengshen Yanyi.
• Hiei (飛影) - three-eyed demon from the graphic novel Yu Yu Hakusho.
• Hosuke Sharaku (写楽保介) - three-eyed boy from the graphic novel The Three-Eyed One.
• Pai Ayanokoji (綾小路 パイ) - three-eyed girl from the graphic novel 3×3 Eyes.
• Tenshinhan (天津飯) - three-eyed man from the graphic novel Dragon Ball.

H.P. Lovecraft's short story From Beyond (later made into a film of the same name) featured a character who used technology to trigger "dormant organs", including the pineal gland. This activation of the gland gave its owner a form of "augmented sight", allowing them to perceive ultra-violet light, and to see previously invisible creatures.

In the The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher, wizards such as Harry Dresden are able to open their third eye to perceive objects and people as they truly are.

In Avatar: The Last Airbender, Aang and the gang are chased by a man, hired by Prince Zuko, that uses his third eye to shoot beams of energy.

See also

• Aura
• Chakra
• Kundalini
• Mental body
• New Thought
• Syncretism
• The Voice of the Silence

Notes

References

• Sagan, Samuel MD (2007). Awakening the Third Eye (3rd ed). [ISBN 0-9586700-5-6]
• Hale, Teresa (1999). The Book of Chakra Healing. [ISBN 0-8069-2097-1]
• Radha, Siviananda (2004). Kundalini Yoga for the West. New York: Shambhala [ISBN 1-932018-04-2]
• Sharp, Dr. Michael (2005). Dossier of the Ascension: A Practical Guide to Chakra Activation and Kundalini Awakening. [ISBN 0-9735379-3-0]