The Third Eye

Third Eye: The Sixth Chakra

Location: Between the eyebrows

Color: Indigo

Purpose: Intuition, Guidance, Perception, Connection to the Higher Planes, Spiritual Knowledge, Siddhis

Sound: OM
Pronounced as: UUM

Also Known as: Ajna Chakra, Aagya Chakra, Lotus Chakra, Shiv Netra

Tattva: Differentiating Faculty

It has 64 rays relating to the region of mind, ether (Aakasha, akasa). The six senses gets activated including the mind and penetrate all the corners of the world like rays. It gets activated by Dhyana (Meditation).

Symbolized by: The sacred 2 Petal Lotus.
The 2 petalled lotus is symbolic of the 2 brains (Left and the right brain) working in harmony, in the 2 worlds (manifest and the unmanifest). It also symbolizes the union of the IDA and Pingala Nadis and the Pituitary and Pineal Glands.
These 2 petals are shown as White.

Deity at this chakra: Siva, Shambhu


Third Eye is the Psychic center. It is the bridge between you and the Spiritual world. It is the center which helps in the manifestation of Siddhis when activated and used correctly.

Once you reach this center, you are liberated from the vasanas or the worldly things like, food, sex, power, success etc. It is the point of no return as the Union of God and Goddess (Shakti and Shiva) is reached. Once this state is reached one becomes neutral to all the emotions. They won't feel sad or happy, depressed or uplifted... They will be in the middle state. The state of complete bliss.

One's fear of death is removed as they know the ever-present existence of themselves which is not separate from anyone else. One has the choice of leaving the body at will. One become free to choose his/her own destiny. They can choose to help people by staying in the body or to be anonymous and reach full liberation themselves.

One becomes open to all the knowledge in the universe. One can feel the enhancement of communication, intuitive perception and awareness. One become the Master of Self as the opening of Third Eye is the level of Self Mastery.

Contact me for more information on the above. I also conduct classes on Chakra Balancing, Shiva-Shakti Yoga, Reiki, Karuna Reiki and Meditations.

Visit Ivedas.com for more information


Exercise:
Breathe in the White Light.
Breath out the White light.

Keeping your prana/ chi/ qi flowing easily

We all are made of energy. We intake energy and give energy. It is the energy (Prana) in our body that keeps us healthy and alive. Imagine, what will happen if the flow of Energy/chi stops.
We will die.

Yes, the moment this qi/chi/ prana stops flowing in our body we die.

So can you imagine what happens when this flow is interrupted by something? Yes, the flow is interrupted for sometime and then resumes?

Yes, you are thinking right. It stops the energy to reach vital organs. The cells do not regenerate and our body starts feeling uneasy. The dis-ease creeps in.

Ok, how? Our argument is that we keep on taking this Prana regularly, then how does it stop for a while?
Let's do a simple test.

• Take your right hands index finger.
• Keep in under the nose.
• Notice your breath

How is it? Shallow? Can barely FEEL it on the finger???
Lets do one more thing.

• Notice your breath.
• Where is it going? How deep it is?
• How fast or slow it is?

Hmm, what did you notice?
Breathing barely?
Breathing Shallow?
Barely reaching the end of the nose or the tongue or throat?

Yes, there you go. Did you get it?

So this is where the prana/chi/qi or energy stops flowing momentarily.
Let's do one more exercise.

• Just make a list of what you all eat. Yes all that you eat for lunch, dinner, breakfast, snack...

What's the list like?
Bagels, pizza, canned food, frozen food, cheeses, coke, pepsi, juices, meat, food cooked and kept for days....
Hmm, Don't worry, everyone's list is the same...Almost similar...

Why did I ask you to consider this? The reason is simple. To help in increasing your awareness. Awareness about food habits. And what does food habits have to do with Prana? How are they related?
Well, we will go on to it.

Now check one more thing.

• Look around you. Your home, your room, your office, kitchen, fridge.
  
• Take a quick look.
• Make a list of unorganised things in your surroundings.
• Make a list of unwanted things around you.
• See if your surroundings are clean.
• Check if your surroundings are cluttered.
  

What did you find out? Is it clear? Is it cluttered? Do you need to clean? Are you storing junk? Does your surrounding looks like storage?
Hmm, think, think think. There is more to what and how prana is getting effected.



Breath:

Breath is the vehicle of our life. Our life depends on how many and how deep breaths we take.
Breath nourishes our body, all organs in our body and mind. It is said in Indian Spiritual Texts that our years of life are decided by the number of breaths we take. Breathing properly or improperly decides how one's health will be.

So look inside.

Take a moment and notice the rhythm and pattern of your breath. How is it?Food:
Energy/prana and food they are in harmony. The food that we eat is also the source of energy, the prana. So what did you think, where do we get most of our energy from? It's the food that we eat. The food is full of prana. How much prana does one food has depends on how fresh it is. Yes, the fresher the food, higher the prana. So if we eat fresh food everyday, then we will be more energetic.


to help keep prana and chi in good order you should regularly do pranayama or practice deep breathing techniques for at least 20 minutes to 1 hour every day.
Meditate for at least 20 mins.
Eat light breakfast and Saatvik food. Saatvik food is the fresh, healthy vegetarian food. It excludes eggs and fish too.
Keep your thoughts clear. Keep your space clear. that mean keeping your house, room and office in order. Dispose things that are not needed.
Walk in the park at least 3 times a day.
Laugh whenever possible.

Vajra-asana, Diamond Posture

Posture: Vajra-asana, The Thunderbolt or Diamond Pose
Translation: The Sanskrit word vajra means thunderbolt or diamond.
Pronunciation: vuh-jrah-sa-na

Make the thighs tight like adamant and place the legs by the two sides of the anus. This is called the Vajra-asana. It give psychic powers to the Yogi." Gheranda-samhita II.12

1. The Thunderbolt or Diamond Pose (Vajra-asana) Instruction:The vajra-asana is a seated posture. Begin by sitting back on your heels and placing your knees, legs and feet together.
2. Keeping the back straight place the palms of your hands down on top of your thighs.
3. Breath gently through your nostrils and sit in this position for at least 3 minutes.

This asansa/ posture is the only posture which can be done any time of the day. This posture helps in digestion. So your digestion improves if you site in vajrasana immediately after having food.

It is this very posture in which Japanese sit most of the times. It is also a good posture for meditation and pranayama. Many Japanese Reiki Techniques require you to site in this posture for enhanced effects.

It is advised to sit in this posture because, your spine is erect when you sit in this position, which otherwise is not the case. And it is required to have erect spine during meditation for the maximum benefits.

If you see children, they naturally sit in this pose.

Today's Thought for the Day

I AM surrounded by love.
All is well.
I NOW deserve love, romance and joy - and all the good that Life has to offer me.

Reiki and Kundalini: The same path with dfferent names?

...

Reiki is the art of healing oneself on many levels. It is a slow and effective therapy. Kundalini is the science of raising one’s consciousness to higher levels, experiencing the unification with God/ Almighty, following the set of rituals.

Reiki has been known barely for 150 years and Kundalini is the ancient practice of India. Both have originated from different cultures and in different times. These practices are mystical in nature, pointing to one source.

If a beginner looks at Reiki and Kundalini as two different therapies then they will be right in their own sense. But a realized person point of view and conclusion about these two practices will be entirely different. It will vary from one person to the other. For me, I honor both and see them as two streams of one ‘Ganges’. The similarity and the essence are striking in both spiritual traditions.
The only difference is that Reiki focuses on healing and Kundalini is Holy Union, Oneness.

Let us look at it from the point of view of Reiki. Reiki starts with the five principles of ‘Living in Today’. These principles are the basis of ‘surrender’ and ‘insight’. This is the classic approach to help the student realize that surrender is the basis of everyday life in action leading to enlightenment. Kundalini practitioners are also taught such principles in form of ancient teachings, hymns and poetry of great saints. They are tested. One of the surrender of their ego is to bowing in front of the master. They are also taught principles and techniques to let go of the anger, acceptance, realize compassion and be the same, thankfulness and live in now.

Reiki’s healing secret is to be the empty vessel through which the energy must flow. The core teaching of ‘Kundalini’ is the secret to become the hollow bamboo/ flute and let the God/Lord play his music through you.

Reiki further moves on to the attunement of the student who needs to learn it. Attunement is the process of lifting up the energies of one person. It clears and filters the elements not needed in the body. One is needed to meditate, relax and let go of the ego before the attunement. Attunement is the process that can be done only by a teacher who is authorized to do so.
It is same as the ‘Shaktipat’ in Kundalini tradition. The only difference was that the person had to clear his energies and be completely egoless, through the years of practice and strict regime, which he/she must follow under the teacher’s guidance. Once the teacher thinks he/she is ready for receiving the energy then only the ceremony takes place. Even in Reiki, there are teacher who refuse to give attunements to students whom they think are not ready for it. ‘Shaktipat’ elevates the person’s ‘Karmas’. Karmas are the energies of the past blocking the overall progress of any person.

One needs to heal, keeping the hands on the specific parts of the body. This aligns and clears the energies in those parts of the body. Most of the specified hand positions fall on the ‘Chakras’, a major part of study in Kundalini practice. ‘Chakras’ literally means wheel. These wheels are vortexes of energies in the body. These vortexes are formed where the maximum numbers of nerves meet.

So when one heals the Chakras starting from Root Chakra to the Crown Chakra, they are guiding the energy to move upwards. This is precisely the method of Kundalini to rise ‘The serpent energy’ starting from the base or ‘Mooladhara’ to the ‘Sahasrara’.

Even the very basic technique of breathing and calming is the act of balancing the ‘Ida’ and ‘Pingala’ nadis, which helps in raising ‘Sushumna’, the path on which the serpent energy moves. The only difference is the ‘Breathing practices’. While in Reiki they breathe through navel, in Kundalini practice it is the ‘Alternate breathing’ or the ‘Nadi Shodhan’.

One of the added benefits of Reiki healing is opening of the ‘Third Eye’ or the ‘Spiritual Center’. This helps in connecting to the Spirit World and guidance from beyond. It also opens up the vast ocean of untapped knowledge. This is easily achieved by Reiki but not understood as clearly. It is a ‘Power’ or a ‘Siddhi’, which is achieved by the practice of continuous ‘Saadhna’. Oncethe Spiritual Eye is activated, the practitioner also achieves the power to see and read auras, past, present and future of everybody around him/her. Though he/she has to practice continually, if possible under the guidance of a teacher. However, it maybe noted that the Reiki practitioners find this awakening of Third Eye as amazing and amusing in the beginning because of the ignorance about such a power. Eventually they will get accustomed to it and use it for the benefits of themselves and other people.

Last but the least the goal of raising Kundalini is to achieve ‘Enlightenment’. Reiki was brought in the world by Mikao Usui after he got Enlightened. So there must be some deeper roots to the Secret Power of this Healing Energy called Reiki. And the secret is revealed by the Reiki symbols.

Whether the path is same or different or the practices have their differences or similarities, the ultimate goal is to be in the ‘Spiritual Consciousness’, know that ‘Oneness’ and be that ‘Happiness’.

There is more to it. I will reveal more secrets on Reiki and ancient practice of Kundalini and Enlightenment. Keep watching for more. Do send if you have any questions regarding Reiki and Kundalini on mansy_b@yahoo.com.

This article was written by Manisha Bansal (Ma Amrita), founder Ivedas. She is an ICRT(Reiki.org) certified Reiki, Karuna Reiki, Yoga and Meditation teacher. She teaches all levels of Reiki & Karuna Reiki including Mastership, Money Mantra (Attract riches, be rich), Meditation, Laya Yoga (Schynchronisity), Laughter Yoga and Chakras on one to one and group basis by appointment. She also conducts Healing sessions and Treatments for those in need. She conducts classes in India and USA. Read more about her on http://kriyacorporation.com/manisha_bansal.htm.

Read more about Reiki and Meditation on http://aananda.blogspot.com/, http://www.whatismeditation.com/. If you want to learn Reiki, see the course description at http://www.ivedas.com/.

Copyright: The article cannot be published, republished and/or quoted in any other print, electronic media without taking the necessary permissions from Manisha Bansal in writing. Doing so will be considered as a legal offence, subject to the court of law.

Let your body be

Hello Friends

We all identify ourselves with our bodies. Our bodies are magnificent tool of expression, creativity and rejuvenation. We are all aware the importance body language in art of communication. Whether, this communication is with ourselves or with someone else, body express it beautifully. But, oh my, my! Why this but always comes in between....Hahaha!
Yes but, we have learned the language of but. We have learned how not to let our body express itself. For eg:

Husband and wife fight. Husband is trying to make up to the wife. he tries to crack joke. Wife's body want to respond...BUT...she says"If I respond or laugh to it he will take me for granted always."

Teacher and student are arguing about a concept. Student is right. The teacher wants to accept. Body is responding to the fact of student...BUT... Teacher says," If I say he is right and smile, he will always try to make me feel like an illiterate."

Child and parent are having a discussion. Parent is trying to make the child understand about how certain habits may effect them. The child starts to agree... BUT... He says,"If I agree to what my parent is saying, he/she will always do this.I will do exactly opposite of what he says."

One person is in a meeting/ class. He/she needs to use the restroom. BUT... The meeting is important. How can one leave something important in the middle?

Above four cases are the classical example of how our body's capabilities to express itself are put to halt. How tactfully, one makes the body rigid and make it do things against it's essential nature. Thus, uneasiness creeps in making us feel at dis-ease. That's the first sign of the strenghtening of EGO. First sign of manifestation of dis-ease, incompleteness.

If that is about how we train ourselves for the above, there must be some way out of it also. How can we untrain our mind and body to allow the natural flow of energy? Lao-tse one of the well know Saints have suggested a beautiful method for the above.

Allow you body to stand in a comfortably. Let the body be loose. Don't control the movement of your body.

Take one step.
Wait. Be Still.

Take another Step.
Wait. Be Still.

Take such few small small steps. Wait after taking each step. Say take 10 or 12 steps.

When you take a step watch the muscles moving in your body. When you stop in still position, watch all the muscles reacting in your body.

Feel the sensation in and outside the body.

Now allow your body to take control.

Allow your body to do what is wants to do.

Let the hand, head, legs, stomach move how they want to move.

Don't control your body at all.

Allow all movement to happen as it is happening.

Just be a spectator of your own body.

Slow movements are happening.

Body is getting rejuvenated.

Body is becoming flexible, expressive.

Body is coming at ease.

Ego is dissolving.

Mind is at rest.

Laugh if you want to.

Cry if you want to.

Just let it be.

Do it for atleast 5 mins in the beginning. You can go up to 15 mins a day.

Thereafter, lie down and relax. Allow your body to relax.

Beginning from your feet, moving to legs. Allow your groin to relax. Allow your hips, stomach, chest, back, neck, shoulders, hands, face, head to relax.

Feel the stillness.

Feel the calm and peace.

Feel the joy.

Go deep into your Akshic space.

Enjoy it.

Take 5 deep breath.

Slowly open your eyes.

Recipient

You are me
But me not you
the love radiates you
me unworthy, still recieves.

Make a Difference

Know me, Know you
love me, love you
Forgive me, forgive you
Make a difference
know the hinderance
melt in oneness.

Change

This is the change
life nearing death
death celebrating life
interwined, playing harmony.

Snow Fall

As the snow falls lightly
magic is recreated
The White Kingdom
descends once again.

Prosperity Mantra for the week.

I am abundance that this Earth and Universe represents.

Centered in the awareness of God, the universe gives abundantly, I receive gratefully, and I give again generously.

sankalpa dhaarna

Have you ever wondered how so many goals, which we must achieve, are nothing but a defeated exercise? So many resolutions, so many affirmations seem to make a difference but with an impact that doesn't last forever.

I will to lose 12 pounds. The inner voice says 'I AM FAT. '

I have to get up early. The inner voice says, 'I am a Lazy Bum.'

I should forgive people. Message to self, 'I am mean and bad.'

Why not celebrate the life by resolving to 'Sankalpa' instead of resolutions or affirmations?

The meaning of Sankalpa or Samkalpa (Sanskrit) [from sam-klrip to be brought into existence, wish, produce] A conception or idea formed in the mind or heart; thought, ideation, desire. The Vedas say that the whole universe is evolved through sankalpa -- the ceaselessly acting impulsions of karma driven by cosmic kama -- and hence it is only through sankalpa that the universe retains its karmic structure, appearances, and continuance.

In simple words sankalpa is thought, intention, or will directed toward a specific outcome.

So give your resolutions and affirmations a yogic twist. While the affirmation or resolutions revolve around the dark side of us, or the perceived negative element, Sankalpa is the acceptance of dark/ shadow self, the negative element.

When you say, "I need to lose weight or I am slimmer by 10 pounds", sankalpa explores the core feeling behind the negative self talk of being fat. So when you take sankalpa you set your intention, "I need to slim by 10 pounds. I accept that I crave for sweets, fried and unhealthy food. I accept that I feel worthless and defeated. I accept that I may not be able to slim at all. I accept that my Thyroid is slowing me down... Yet I set my intention to explore the feelings behind it. I agree to listen to my inner voice and guidance without judgements. I will allow all these feelings to arise and pass. I will be a spectator for these feelings."

Thus, you give yourselves more room for exploration and tolerance/acceptance for your own patterns, negative self talk and criticism. There will be times when you will feel blocks and balances. That time wait and watch your feelings. Watch what arises due to those blocks. Create space for your growth. When you come in contact with such feelings just accept them like a friend. Slowly, the blocks will melt and you will feel lighter, wiser and happier.

To develop the Sankalpa Power, take one small sankalpa each day. This will create balance in your life and strengthen your will power.

More Later.

Till then enjoy and take one sankalpa for the coming New Year.

Death and Dying

Fear of death is the greatest fear of the humankind. In pursuit of defeating death man had performed many Yagnas, rites, rituals and sacrifices. Yet, it was of no avail. The essence of "Foreverness" could not be achieved. Just because that is the Law of Nature. The one who is born has to die.

We have become so fearful of death that we see death as terror. There are so many movies on the terror of death. So many movies showing how people can escape death and achieve "The Amar Tatva" or the "Forever Life Element". But they all make human even more fearful of death.

The more fear he or she has of death, more and more he or she moves away from life. Fear of death leads to fear of life.

But death is a beautiful process if one can experience it with full consciousness. Experiencing the "Amrit Tatva" of oneself can be uplifting and you can reach enlightenment.

Death is not an end.

Death is the begining of new life.

Life is death. We are dying every moment.

There have been a custom of celebrating birthdays of people. Some people think that the are grown up so they celebrate it. Others think they are celebrating glorious years of life. But the truth is we all are celebrating the glory of reaching one more year closer to the truth. The truth of life. The onmipresence of change. The death. We celebrate the death of old years gone by, the old memories, pains and hurts, achievements and disppointments, time of love and hate, and all the things that have died. That we have left behind. We celebrate the death of diseased body, old patterns, and death of age we left behind. So we are celebrating death as the process of newness every time. Our body also celebrates the death of old, worn out cells by rejuvinating them with new refreshed, healthy cells. It celebrates with the glow on cheeks, shine in eyes, healthy magnetic individuality etc.

So let us all fill with the gratitude towards the process of dying. Let us know that death is not the destination. Death is the process of rejuvination...

Hey, but don't commit suicide by reading words above. Because it is not a celebration rather is a mourning. So celebrate life. Fill with love towards the feeling of death. You will see that your consciousness has risen and you are alive with life than ever before.

A new poem

The Cry Within

Yeh duniya agar saath ho bhi le tau kya hai
mein kudh ke agar saath ho loon tau kuch baat hai

Teri dillagi mein, hud se bhi guzar jaaon tau kya hai
Yeh hud hi mit jaaye tau kuch baat hai

Meri ibadat kubool bhi ho jaaye tau kya hai
jo mein kudh hi ibadat ban jaaon tau kuch baat hai

khawaab aisho-aaraam ki duniya ke,
mukammal ho bhi jaaye tau kya hai
yeh antas ki awaaz, yesh pyaas
pata chal bujh jaaye tau kuch baat hai.

Life is a Laughter

..
Where has laughter gone from our lives?

Day to day, moment to moment we do multiple tasks at the same time without awareness of them. We hope, pray, feel, hold grudges, hate, cry, greive, repent, feel guilty, feel sad, lustful, desire, plead ...The neverending list of muti-tasking goes on and on.

We hardly notice it.

We lament about how we are not achieving what we want the most in life. We never ponder on what we actually need in life. That's another topic but out lamenting makes people mock at us.
Those who mock, pass satrairical remarks are themselves drowned in the deeps of mercy, guilt and same lamenting. They try to laugh but it's fake.

We try to laugh, give away our anger but we fail. We try to laugh at jokes but can't help making a remark about it. Something has curbed it.

We can do everything possible on the list to make us depressed and sad. Even if there is nothing, we can make ourselves cry...
Why?

Why not make ourselves laugh for no reason at all for Now??

So let us laugh. Let us laugh at all the foolishness. All the stupid things we do everyday.

Let us imagine ourselves wearing a makeup of a clown or some cartoon character. Let us laugh at ourselves. Our hypocricy, our becharapan, our sense and sesibilities, our prejudices and all that years of greif ...

Let us laugh for 5 mins even if we don't have any reson to laugh at all.

You will notice the things lighten up and you carry your day with smile.

exercise to achieve Saakshi

Osho, the great spiritual master has suggested this beautiful and simple meditation exercise to achieve Saakshi Bhaav.

Whenver you are walking, talking, moving, dancing jogging, whirling, stop immediately for a movement.

You movement stops.

But something still moves.

Watch the movement.

Watch the non movement.

Watch your body.

Watch that you which is watching the body.

Be aware af the presence of body.

Be aware of the presence of you, which is not body.

Watch your body as if you are watching someone else.

Continue your work.

Try doing this whenever possible.

Done atleast thrice in a day will benefit you by bringing more energy to your center. Many other advantages, though they vary from person to person.

Saakshi: Witnessing

Buddha has discussed about Saakshi Bhaav, the Witnessing Attitude. It is of prime importance in a spiritual person's life. This is a step of great determination. This is a door to awaken many dormant possibilities. Saakshi is the dual arrowed consciousness.

Being available to this witnessing, dual arrowed consciousness lead to the knowing of existing and existant. This tell you that there is more to achieve. It constantly reminds you of a greater witnessing where witnesse and witness both disappear. All that remains is "Amness".

This further lead to Tathata. The final destination in a seeker life.

The blooming of Tathata is the blooming of lotus. The journey ends where it began. But it continues. The end becomes life. Tathata is "Isness". Tathata is "Total Acceptence". This acceptance is total because you accept gracefully and graciously whatever happens in the life. You become he event itself. You leave the laws of Karma behind. That is what Shree Bhagwat Geeta also says. When you become the "Karma" itself, you stop accumulating the Karmas and all that was there is balanced.

To achieve the state of "Total acceptance" on has to go through "Total awareness". That is the path.

Challenge

Take one thing today and complete it.

Make a wishlist of all the things that you want to do in Future or wanted to do in Past.

Rearrange that List according to priority.

It is important that you write it down, as it has more impact. Nevertheless, if you are feeling to lazy to write, type it.

Take the thing at the top of your priority and do saome task to complete it today. Act today on it.

It's a challenge. You have been delaying it for a lot of time. Now is the time to act.

Act now!

Do gimme a feedback.

Reiki Teachings

I am holding Reiki Level 1 & Level 2 Classes on appointment basis. Please connedt to me if you want to learn the compassionate art of healing with hands.

Your Story is Old

We all have stories to tell. Stories about our own lives. We all think how great, miserable, beautiful, ugly, unlucky, fortunate we have been in our lives.

There are people out there who share the same stories as yours. Stories of love, deception, faliures, success, fear etc. You need to remember that you are not the only one with these stories. There are millions of people out to reach you. Whenever you hear their story, you share a part of that universal togetherness. Whenever you share the stories, you feel oneness. On the personal front, you feel bored and elevate to a level of higher understanding. You know that your story is old. Everyones story is old. The only newness that can be there is few words said here and there.

Find yourself a new story. Something that only few may have to share. Be realized.