Trataka is the practice of staring at a certain point or object without blinking. While it is one of the six purifying exercises, it is mostly used to improve focus and mental clarity and concentration. It is extremely beneficial to Hatha Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, and Raja Yoga teachers.
There is no other tool for mind control that is reliable. Since such essential activities are defined under Hatha Yogic sections, some students who claim to practice Jnana Yoga overlook them. This exercise was being performed by Sri Ramana Maharshi, a well-known Tiruvannamalai Jnani.
If you had gone to his Ashram for his Darshan, you should have seen it plainly. He used to stare at the walls while sitting on his sofa in his bed. He sat in an easy chair on the veranda and stared steadily at the distant hills or the stars. He was able to maintain a balanced state of mind as a result of this. None was able to divert his attention. He was still quiet and collected. And though his Bhaktas were chatting and singing by his side, he was not disturbed in the least.
EXERCISES
(1) Stand in front of an image of Lord Krishna, Rama, Narayana, or Devi. Keep your gaze fixed on it without blinking. Look at the head, then the body, and finally the legs. Repetition of the same procedure is required. When your mind has calmed down, focus solely on one place. Hold the breath before tears start to fall. Then shut your eyes and see the scene in your mind.
(2) Look at a black dot on a white wall or draw a black line on a sheet of white paper and tape it to the wall.
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(3) On a piece of paper, draw the word Om (!) and position it in front of your seat. Lie down on an open terrace and look at a brilliant star or the full moon for Trataka. After a while, you'll see various colored lights. For a while, you'll only see a single color inside, and all of the surrounding stars will vanish. When you look at the sky, all you see is a white moon on a dark backdrop. You will sometimes see a massive mass of light all around you. When your gaze becomes more focused, you may see two or three moons of the same size, or you may not see any moon at all, despite your eyes being wide open.
(5) Choose a random spot in the clear sky in the morning or evening and stare at it for a long time. You'll find new sources of inspiration.
(6) Look in the mirror and focus on the pupil.
(7) Some people perform Trataka between their brows or at the tip of their nose.
Some people do Trataka at the tip of their nose sometimes when driving.
(8) Advanced students may perform Trataka at the Chakras inside the Chakras (Padmas). The significant Trataka centers are Muladhara, Anahata, Ajna, and Sahasrara.
9) Place a ghee lamp in front of you and stare at the flames. Darshan is provided through the flames by certain astral beings.
(10) Trataka on the sun is practiced by a small number of Yogins. It necessitates the presence of an accomplished man. They begin by gazing at the rising sun and, with practice, can do Trataka on the sun even in the middle of the day. This practice gives them certain unique Siddhis (psychic abilities). This Sadhana is not suitable for everybody. The first nine activities are suitable for anyone and are completely healthy. Sungazing, the last one, can only be attempted with the assistance of an experienced man.
WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS
Sit in your favorite Asana (posture), Siddhasana or Padmasana, while practicing in your meditation area. You should do so in a standing or sitting position at all moments. Trataka can be achieved profitably while walking. Do not look here and there as you walk down the streets.
Look at the tip of your nose or your fingers. When talking to others, many people should not look them in the eyes. They chat when focusing their gaze on a certain location. This Sadhana does not necessitate any specific Asana.
Trataka is what you see when you look at an image. Saguna Dhyana is when you shut your eyes and mentally visualize an image (meditation with form). When you equate God's virtues with the object of Trataka, such as omnipresence, omnipotence, omniscience, goodness, immortality, and so on, the name and shape of the Trataka object vanishes, and you join Nirguna Dhyana (abstract meditation).
To begin, do Trataka for two minutes. Then gradually extend the time. Do not be irritable. It is necessary to practice steadily and gradually. Even if you stare at a spot for three hours straight, if your mind wanders, it's useless. The subconscious must be alert as well. Only then would you be able to progress in this practice and gain more psychic abilities.
Those who, after many efforts, cannot maintain a steady gaze for a second should not be concerned. They will shut their eyes and concentrate on an abstract spot between their brows.
Many with very poor eye capillaries can practice Trataka after shutting their eyes on some imagined location inside or outside. Do not overwork your eyes by practicing too much. When you're sleepy, shut your eyes and concentrate on the Trataka object. Do not rock your body while doing Trataka.
Trataka helps to improve vision. Many people who had eye problems found Trataka to be extremely beneficial. Going beyond one's own strength and looking at the sun without assistance can be beneficial.
You must have your guide with you while looking at the light. To stop some serious problems and to cool the machine, the Guru will administer some oil to rub on your head.
When you practice sun-gazing at night, you should add honey to your skin.
During the drill, the same object of gaze will appear as something else. You'll have a lot of other dreams. Various people have had various encounters. When people tell you of their stories, you can not trust them. Trataka alone can not provide you with any of the Siddhis. Once you've gained hold over your mind and it's been stable, you'll need to exploit it using prescribed techniques in order to gain forces. As a result, the abilities gained from this experience can vary from person to person. It is contingent on additional mental conditioning in a specific manner.
Young aspirants posing as major Yogins disregard those rituals and wonder if they are doing Moksha. Certainly, the practice is not Moksha in and of itself. For the achievement of Moksha, various practices are used. One approach may be used to achieve the target, while another may use a different method.
Have this in mind at all times. Otherwise, you'll be ignoring all of your options. If you ignore the Sadhana, you will be misled and lose sight of your target.
Diseases of the eyes may be cured by doing Trataka. The condition of one's eyes changes. Many people have given up their glasses as a result of this procedure. Willpower is cultivated. Vikshepa is annihilated. It helps to keep the mind in check. Clairvoyance, thought-reading, psychic healing, and other Siddhis can all be learned quickly.
Again, Bhakti Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Karma Yoga, and other types of yoga are not incompatible with Cocaine or Soda Bicarbonate. They are not at odds with one another. This practice should not be overlooked only because it falls in the Hatha Yoga category. Even if you pretend to be a Jnana Yoga or Bhakti Yoga practitioner, you can engage in this exercise. It's a highly useful and potent cure for a wandering mind. It unquestionably trains the mind for perfect Dhyana and Samadhi. This is unquestionably a way to an end. Step by step, ascension of the Yogic ladder or stair-case is required.
This beneficial exercise has helped a number of people. Why don't you, my friend, make a real effort to practice this right now? I've sent you a variety of Trataka exercises. Choose the approach that best serves your needs and reap the divine rewards. Do this for a month on a daily basis and report back to me on your encounters, rewards, and any problems you encounter.
You may also want to read more about Pranayama and Holistic Healing here.