Solar Plexus (Navel) Chakra and its Function
Solar Plexus (or navel) chakra is located just below the navel height and along the spine. The chakra represents the fire element and controls the function of digestive system in the body. Adequate flow at this chakra helps in bodily strength, glow, good metabolism and vitality in the body. This all can be achieved by regular mediation or healing of this Chakra.
As soon as Mohan felt at ease about his responsibilities in life, he had stared being tormented by these demons well-known to him by now. While conducting business at his workplace and during lunch or in any other setting, Mohan again noticed himself looking out for people of opposite sex and staring them. This time the situation was even worse than before in the sense that his target set had swelled in terms of age, marital status etc. He was not so much distinguishing between unmarried girls, married ladies, women with children; as long as the lady looked attractive, he found himself staring at her. No matter how he wanted to control his urge to visually chase the ladies, his ability to control his gaze was dwindling with time as it had become almost compulsive for him to stare. He was not at all happy with what kind of a person he was turning out to be. Consciously, he was aware that he must not indulge in such visual retreat with live people, but as soon as the opportunity presented itself, he just had to give in to his desire. What perturbed him even more that this all was happening to him despite of the fact that he was making steady progress in his meditation practices.
Tratak is a highly effective meditation practice for regaining eyesight. It has been observed that a regular practice of Tratak can help the practitioner to get rid of eyeglasses in three to twelve months, depending on the power of the glasses.
How to Practice
The term ‘Tratak’ means gazing. Tratak practice, in simple terms, means gaing at a fixed point for long duration without blinking the eyes. The object of gazing can be candle light, rising Sun, evening moon, or any other point where a person can fix his gaze comfortably. Ideally, the object of gazing should be at the height of eye level for the practitioner. For the same reason, Tratak is practiced either at the rising Sun or evening moon as at both these times the practitioner can gaze at it without having to look upwards. Moreover, gazing for long at the Sun after sunrise would not be comfortable for the practitioner.
Tratak practice should be done by sitting cross-legged at the floor on a mat. Sitting cross-legged or in any other yoga posture allows energy flow through the body of the practitioner. Once seated, the practitioner should keep his spine straight and head over his/ her shoulders and follow the below steps:
Practice daily and gradually try to increase the duration of your practice over the weeks.
Finer details of Tratak practice
In the beginning you may not be able to avoid blinking your eyes. Don’t worry, keep trying again and again while continuously keeping your body still and mind still. After a certain amount of practice, you will naturally start to see the duration between blinks increasing. Persistence is the key here.
In case you are unable to avoid blinking your eyes frequently, that can be caused by the wrong posture. Try to adjust your posture and you may find yourself successful in avoiding blinking.
In case you unintentionally continued to hold any of your body muscle tight, it can also cause you to blink frequently. Release the tension in that body part and you may feel better in control of your blinking.
Best Practices
It is advisable to keep the candle flame at eye level height, else the practitioner may experience neck pain. The candle should be at a distance of 2.5 to 3 feet from your eyes.
After practicing Tratak, the practitioner should wash his/ her eyes with fresh water.
Benefits
After practicing for 2-3 months regularly, the person may start feeling some kind of uneasiness in the eyes in using the current eyeglasses. Invariably, you would start feeling better if you remove your eyeglasses. At this time, one should get his eyesight tested. It is quite likely that the power of your eyeglasses might have reduced.
Get the glasses changed and continue with your daily practice, till you start feeling that pain again.
Crown Chakra and its Function
Crown Chakra is located at the top of the head. Adequate energy flow at this Chakra strengthens the person’s connection to the spiritual realm. The person develops psychic abilities and gains several higher experiences. Please note that the meditation on Crown Chakra should only be done after the person has practiced meditation on lower chakras for significant time period.
The chakra is signified by the violet lotus with thousand petals at the top of the head. The chant for meditating on this Chakra is “Ang” (“an” while inhaling and “g” while exhaling). The mudra (finger posture) for meditating on the Crown Chakra is as shown below.
Meditation on the Crown Chakra
Meditation at this Chakra is done after meditation at the Root Chakra, Sacral Chakra, Solar Plexus Chakra, Heart Chakra, Throat Chakra and Crown Chakra (in that order).
To meditate on the Crown Chakra, first the person needs to be seated on a mat on the floor, cross-legged (or on a chair normally), spine straight, head over shoulders. Be relaxed, gently close eyes, bring your focus on your breath and try to let go tension in the muscles of various body parts.
Once you feel that you are in a relaxed state and have settled your focus on your breath, witness your breath rate gradually slowing down – don’t force it, just let it happen. In this state, now gradually shift your attention to the Crown Chakra. Visualize the violet colored thousand-petal lotus and mentally chant “An” while inhaling, and chant “g” while exhaling. With each inhalation, visualize the lotus booming and with each exhalation, visualize it shrinking a bit.
If you are shifting your meditation from the Third Eye Chakra to the Crown Chakra, just gently shift the position of your mudra from the earlier one to the mudra for this Chakra and shift the mental chant from aum to ang.
Subtle Changes you can experience as a result of this meditation
After few months of regular practice, you will start feeling some tingling sensation at the Crown Chakra (top of your head). This nagging sensation may at times make you pleasantly uncomfortable. You might experience your increasing ability to see oneness in various things around the world. These all are indications that your practice is going in the right direction.
Third Eye Chakra and its Function
Third Eye Chakra is located at center of the eyebrows. Adequate energy flow at this Chakra enables the person to be intuitive. The person becomes capable of utilizing abilities of clairvoyance and clairaudience in day to day life. The person also becomes calm and composed as he is able to see the higher purpose behind the events/ things. This can be achieved by regular mediation or healing of this Chakra.
The chakra is signified by the indigo lotus with two petals at the center of the eyebrows. The chant for meditating on this Chakra is “aum” (“au” while inhaling and “m” while exhaling). The mudra (finger posture) for meditating on the Third Eye Chakra is as shown below.
Meditation on the Third Eye Chakra
Meditation at this Chakra is done after meditation at the Root Chakra, Sacral Chakra, Solar Plexus Chakra, Heart Chakra and Throat Chakra (in that order).
To meditate on the Third Eye Chakra, first the person needs to be seated on a mat on the floor, cross-legged (or on a chair normally), spine straight, head over shoulders. Be relaxed, gently close eyes, bring your focus on your breath and try to let go tension in the muscles of various body parts.
Once you feel that you are in a relaxed state and have settled your focus on your breath, witness your breath rate gradually slowing down – don’t force it, just let it happen. In this state, now gradually shift your attention to the Third Eye Chakra. Visualize the indigo colored two-petal lotus and mentally chant “au” while inhaling, and chant “m” while exhaling. With each inhalation, visualize the lotus booming and with each exhalation, visualize it shrinking a bit.
If you are shifting your meditation from the Throat Chakra to the Third Eye Chakra, just gently shift the position of your mudra from the earlier one to the mudra for this Chakra and shift the mental chant from ham to aum.
Subtle Changes you can experience as a result of this meditation
After few months of regular practice, you will start feeling building up energy flow and a tingling sensation at the Third Eye Chakra. You would also experience subtle experiences of your intuitions being proved right. You might experience your growing tendency of being disinterested in lot of activities of the world. These all are indications that your practice is going in the right direction. Keep practicing every day!
