| A
classic yogic exercise in concentration is tratak, or steady
gazing. It can be done with a candle flame, an OM symbol,
a picture of one's favorite deity, or any other suitable object
or symbol. Sit in front of it.Concentrate on it with open
eyes until tears come.
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Then close the eyes and visualize the object.
Repeat and gradually increase the period of time for the
gazing and visualization.
It should be possible to visualize the object of concentration
very clearly, even in its absence. With practice comes the
ability to conjure up the mental picture at a moment's notice.
Tratak and visualization steady the wandering mind and help
greathy in concentration. |
Practice
the exercise for only one minute on the first day, gradually
increasing the length of time each week. An excellent preliminary
concentration exercise, tratak should be practiced for six
months. It is necessary to be regular and systematic about
it. If there is a break in practice, the time should be made
up. Tratak is effective in preventing or eliminating many
ailments of the eye.
Tratak utilizes the sense of sight. Sense,
object and mind are captured in the gross concrete world and
then internalized to the subtle plane. But unlike the visualization
exercise, concentration on the anahata, internal, sounds begins
and ends on the subtle plane. |
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Sit in a comfortable
cross-legged posture. Close the eyes; close the ears with
the thumbs, earplugs or cotton. Try to hear the inner mystic
sounds. It may be possible to hear various kinds of sounds,
such as flute, violin, kettledrum, thunder, conch, bells and
the humming of bees. If several sounds are heard simultaneously,
hold the mind to the loudest one. Concentrate only on the
sound in the right ear. This practice develops one-pointedness
of the mind, which is achieved by focussing on sound vibrations.
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