A Yogic secret tool with many health benefits
Tratak is a Sanskrit word meaning ‘to see or gaze’. It is one of the practices of meditation performed gazing at a certain object with open or closed eyes. Tratak is performed by two ways. Tratak with open eyes where a Yogi gaze an object placed nearby or gaze distant object like moon, star and Tratak with closed eyes where a Yogi closes eyes and gaze internally like bringing attention and focus on any internal organ. When you bring your attention on any organ like heart, it starts healing itself.
Procedure:
- Sit in meditation pose in front of a candle. Maintain a distance of about 6 feet or little more. Place the candle in such a way that the wick of the candle must be at the same height as your chest. The flame should be still and not moving. Close your eyes.
- Open the eyes and look at the flame without blinking. The flame has three zones of color. At the base of the wick is a reddish color, in the middle it is bright white and at the tip it is slightly smoky. Concentrate on brightest part of the flame. Start looking at the flame for 10 seconds and then gradually increase the time, never blink eyes while gazing.
- Close the eyes again. If the image of the flame appears within, gently concentrate on that image without creating any tension. Try not to pursue or hold onto the image, otherwise it will fade and disappear.
- One may also practice Trataka while looking at any nearby object and focusing on the same. Trataka can be practiced by gazing distance objects like moon and stars. Always keep in mind to increase gazing time gradually with practice and under the guidance of Guru. In ancient times, people used to gaze Sun for hours.
- Internal Trataka: Gazing internal objects with closed eyes.
Procedure: Sit with your eyes close. Pray to Guru. Start gazing inside with your focus and attention. It is said that when you bring your attention on any organ, it start healing. If you bring your attention on a painful area, you will start feeling better.
Sit with your eyes closed. Bring your attention in between your eye brows also known as third eye. Feel the presence of light in that area, gaze deeply at this light and go deeper inside. Observe the color of light and keep gazing.
Benefits of Internal Trataka
- Cures eyes problems, improves and strengthens the eye.
- Improves vision, concentration and memory.
- Cures sleep-related disorders such as a headache, insomnia, nightmares etc.
- By fixing the gaze the restless mind comes to a halt