About the Agya Chakra

In the Agya Chakra the development of our wisdom and humanity is completed and we reach the bridge to Divine Consciousness. It is located at the upper end of the spinal column, at the point of transition from the spine to the brain. Its radiation is, however, primarily perceptible in the centre of the forehead between the eyebrows. Therefore, it is also known as the “Eyebrow Centre” or “Third Eye”. Another expression for the Agya Chakra is “Guru Chakra – the Seat of the Master”.

Who can give us orders? Whose instructions should we follow? Only an initiate can show us the correct path, for only that one has the knowledge gained through personal experience and mastery that can then be imparted to others.

In connection with this it is important to understand what an initiate, a Master (a Guru), is. Guru Tattva is the Divine Principle of the evolution of consciousness. Therefore, the Guru represents the universal, divine principle that leads us from darkness to light – which means from ignorance to knowledge, from death to immortality.

All holy incarnations have been “Gurus”. Jesus was the Master of his disciples, Krishna was the Master of Arjuna, and he himself had a Guru, Rishi Sandīpa. When disciple and Master unite, when the “Guru Principle” has been awakened in the consciousness of the disciple and the disciple begins to guide himself, the disciple then becomes his own master.

The Guru Principle is recognisable within a person as clarity, wisdom (Gyana) and the ability to discriminate between truth and untruth, reality and unreality (Viveka).

We do not need to seek truth; it is always in front of us. But in order to recognise it a person needs an open, pure consciousness and clear thoughts. While our mind remains cloudy, like a dirty mirror, we see everything hazily and unclearly. It is only in a purified mind and mature consciousness that Gyana – wisdom and spiritual knowledge – can be broadened.

Until we are capable of anchoring our consciousness in the Agya Chakra our mind oscillates constantly between the human Chakras – the Mūladhara, Svadhishthana, Manipūra, Anahata and Vishuddhi. While we are still lacking in discrimination we should listen to the advice of the Master in order to avoid mistakes. Everyone has experienced how painful it can be when we ignore the advice of an experienced person. But the more our consciousness evolves towards the Agya Chakra, the freer and more independent we become in choosing correctly and making the right decisions.

Srī Mahaprabhujī teaches us:

“Be yourself, live happily and wisely, without dependence.
Awaken your abilities and use them.
Recognise your inner wealth.
You possess everything. The entire Universe is yourself.”

Normally our decisions are determined by selfish motives with the aim of gaining the greatest possible advantage for ourselves, and anyone we regard as belonging to us. Viveka (discrimination) is the moral authority in the Agya Chakra that weighs up and reviews our intentions in line with ethical and spiritual standards. Viveka filters and controls all our feelings and thoughts with a sense of responsibility and wisdom. Without this counterbalance we remain caught in the changing currents of our emotions, whose waves can one time carry us to the shore of happiness and another time to the shore of sorrow.

Until the Agya Chakra is awakened, we are often incapable of understanding ourself. We are unable to control the qualities and emotions that rise from the lower centres, or find an explanation for the stirrings of emotions, thoughts and dreams that suddenly surface in our mind. Why do we often feel uncertain and intimidated? Because we have no control over our inner functions and wrongly identify with the constantly changing emotions and thoughts.

In reality we are neither body nor psyche; the body, mind, thoughts and feelings, etc., do in fact belong to us, but we are something else, which is expressed very vividly by Srī Shankaracharya, the Master of Vedanta philosophy , in the following Bhajan:

The Agya Chakra is also described as the “Third Eye”. This is a symbol of wisdom and an attribute of Lord Shiva. When Shiva opens his Third Eye in the centre of his forehead, everything that his gaze falls upon is burnt . Everything bad is destroyed and the clouds of ignorance are dispersed, helping the light of wisdom and clarity to break through. The laser beam of knowledge sent out by the third eye cuts through the karmic chains and liberates us from everything that holds us fast and impedes our spiritual development. In this way all the Chakras are finally purified by the wisdom of the Agya Chakra.

When we enter a dark room for the first time we grope around on the wall with our hand to find the light switch. But when we already know where the switch is it is no longer necessary to search. One flick, the light goes on and we see everything clearly. And in the same way, as soon as the eye of wisdom in the Agya Chakra opens , we recognise the essence of truth.

Only wisdom and clarity of consciousness liberate us from attachment and sorrow. It is as if a curtain has suddenly been lifted away from our mind and all answers are clearly and plainly visible in front of us. This is the real awakening of the Kundalinī. It reveals itself in the growing ability to master the problems and weaknesses from which we suffer, not through some physical occurrence. To be centred in the Agya Chakra means to be completely clear and conscious at any time and to act appropriately with Viveka in all situations.

The gifts of clairvoyance, intuition and telepathy lie in the Agya Chakra. When we strengthen the power of concentration and learn to perceive all the energy assembled in the Agya Chakra, our mind can receive or transmit knowledge through time and space. The function of the Agya Chakra is comparable to a searchlight, which can, through the concentration of light, make things visible at a distance. Those whose Agya Chakra is opened are at home in all three worlds – past, present and future.

An important symbol in the picture of the Agya Chakra is the SHIVA LINGAM – this is a symbol of creative consciousness. We also encountered this astral symbol in the picture of the Mūladhara Chakra, indicating the close relationship between the Mūladhara and Agya Chakras. These centres represent the beginning and end of personal karma. In the Mūladhara Chakra the consciousness is at the level of unconsciousness, and on the path of development through the Chakras it is purified step-by-step until it reaches the Sahasrara Chakra completely pure. We experience the journey as a process of development from ignorance and uncertainty to understanding and wisdom.

In the Mūladhara Chakra the Shiva Lingam is black, but in the Agya Chakra it has a milky-white or smoky colour. This indicates that the consciousness has to a great degree been purified, but is still not completely pure. It is still pulled in two directions. If the consciousness is led by the intellect it goes towards the lower Chakras and the ego; whereas when guided by Bhakti and Viveka it goes towards the upper Chakras, the Atma. If the consciousness turns towards the world it becomes cloudy and dark, but if directed towards the Atma it is enlightened and illuminated.

This does not mean that we should withdraw completely from external life. Quite the opposite …. continue to lead your “normal” life; work, eat, sleep, live with your partner, live with your family and enjoy the beauty of life, just like everybody else. Yet, simultaneously remain conscious of your true nature and your divine origin. Perform your spiritual practices daily, and enjoy your existence with a pure mind and clear consciousness.

To resolve a problem once and for all is certainly not easy. Day by day we create new karmic complications. New waves (Vrittis) that rise in the consciousness as emotions and thoughts develop in our mind continuously, and finally deepen into impressions, opinions, desires, habits, behaviour, etc. The source of the Vrittis lies in the Mūladhara Chakra. In meditation we are able to track down their causes and effects. As we know, the element of the Mūladhara Chakra is the earth. The roots of vegetation lie within and spread through the earth. As soon as we raise the roots to the surface and into the light they die, together with any growth coming from them. This is why the aim is to raise the roots of our problems into the light of consciousness in order to finally remove them.

Any problem, whether physical or psychic, material or spiritual, can be resolved through wisdom. Thus it is important not to suppress or reject problems, but rather to accept and deal with them. Only in this way can they be resolved. To accept means to completely accept oneself and others, and to treat oneself and others with love, understanding and forgiveness. Understanding others presupposes understanding oneself. To give freedom to others means to have freedom oneself. To make others happy means to make oneself happy, and to forgive others infers forgiving oneself. Just as the final outcome of our actions always comes back to us alone, so it is with our attitude. And just as the cause is found only within ourself, so too is the solution to our problems.

Sometimes we believe that life is no longer bearable and that we are on the brink of collapse because of the immense pressure of our internal and external problems. But it is a mistake to believe that we must manage all alone. In reality our existence is not borne by us, but by someone else. There is a very good story that epitomises this:

A peasant family had to leave their farm. They packed their belongings onto a cart and set out on their journey. The family sat up on the wagon and the little farm dog ran beneath the cart in the shade. Soon the little dog came to believe that it was he alone who was hauling the whole cart on his back. He ran and ran and soon felt totally exhausted and at the end of his strength. Then he thought to himself: “This is truly an unreasonable expectation that I, the smallest and weakest, should not only have to run the whole way but must also carry a fully laden cart. I simply can’t continue. I give up!”

Exhausted he came to a standstill – and, to his absolute amazement, the cart continued on its way without him. It was only then that the little dog clearly understood that it was not him that kept the cart moving – it was the horse.

On occasions we also moan about the heavy burden of our cares, even though the Divine Power helps us at all times, and would take them from us completely if we were able to place them in God’s hands. But the problem is that generally we do not really want to let go of our troubles and are not prepared to completely entrust ourself to God.

I am reminded of a poster put out by Amnesty International, in which a room with a wide-open window can be seen. Sitting on the windowsill is a dove ready to fly away – but it has a chain with an iron ball attached to its foot. This is a heartrending symbol for limitation and imprisonment. The chain and the iron ball symbolise our attachment. This is the burden that oppresses us! When we release the chains of attachment we simultaneously rid ourselves of our inner burdens and can “fly away into the sky”.

But we should be careful not to misunderstand this. To free ourselves from attachments does not mean to walk away from our family or neglect our duties. It is much more about the inner removal of the fear of separation, jealousy and the desire for possessions and power. To free ourself from these ties is allied with mental discipline and work. It is hard for us to motivate ourselves, to do without something, to give up something or to forgive someone. Remove the chains of attachment! Only our ignorance keeps us trapped in dependency, sorrow and pain. It causes all the problems. Give love without attachment, because real love gives freedom!

The Lotus in the Agya Chakra has two petals only. They stand for GU (darkness/ignorance) and RU (light/knowledge), the two syllables from which the word GURU (master) is formed. They also bear the Mantras HAM and KSHAM which represent the sun and the moon, the “masculine” and “feminine” principles, Shiva and Shakti, Purusha (consciousness) and Prakriti (nature).

These principles and primal powers influence both our body and mind. When out of balance they cause psychic or physical disturbances or illness. Until the principles of Shiva and Shakti are united we live in a world of duality from which our desires, wishes and striving after happiness originate. When Shiva and Shakti become one we become whole, the feeling of separation and the emotions connected with this, eg a sense of being unfulfilled and incomplete, vanish. The union leads to balance, liberation, desirelessness and contentment.

In our world duality prevails. Every state, every expression exists as an opposite: Masculine-feminine, positive-negative, hot-cold, good-bad, big-little, long-short, light-dark, wet-dry, clever-stupid, industrious-lazy, the list can go on ad infinitum. We have learnt to think and judge according to these categories. But in reality the apparent opposites are merely manifestations of the same principle – simply extremes of the same thing. One is a lack of the other, therefore, lightness is a lack of darkness and vice versa. Both are expressions of the ruling intensity of light, therefore reflecting the same principle. This simple example may be clear, but in the complexity of life we are often unable to recognise the unity behind the duality. Through the Agya Chakra, however, we are able to look behind the scenes and realise that everything existing is a manifestation of God.

The Mantra syllables HAM and KSHAM also stand for Ida and Pingala, the two main Nadīs, that are allied to the moon and sun principles in the body. The third, and central, Nadī, Sushumna, represents the Divine Consciousness.

Every twelve years the biggest and most exalted spiritual festival in the world is celebrated at the place where the three holy rivers, Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswatī, meet – the Maha Kumbha Mela of Prayagraj . Ganga and Yamuna, which symbolise Ida and Pingala, flow above the ground whereas Sarasvatī, the symbol of wisdom and pure, divine consciousness (Sushumna) flows beneath the earth. During a specific planetary constellation that only occurs every twelve years, the Sarasvatī rises to the surface and unites with the other two rivers. At the time of the Kumbha Mela one can actually discern a stronger current and an increased flow of water at this place. Millions of people go there and immerse themselves in the water in order to free themselves of their Karmas.

For a Yogi the true Kumbha Mela occurs in the Agya Chakra. Ganga, Yamuna and Sarasvatī correspond to the main Nadīs, Ida, Pingala and Sushumna. The Agya Chakra, where these three strong energy currents meet in the human body, is also known as TRIKŪTĪ TATA . Other terms for the Agya Chakra are TRIVENĪ TATA and BHRŪKUTĪ TATA (Eyebrow Centre).

In many older illustrations of the Chakras one can see a twisted white cord made from three threads in the Agya Chakra. This also symbolises the three Nadīs. In India the Brahmins wear such a cord across their chest as a sign of purity of consciousness.

When Yogis purify these three Nadīs through concentration, meditation and Pranayama they are able to keep their consciousness in the Agya Chakra. With the merging of these three currents of energy in the Sahasrara Chakra they attain the state of Samadhi, the highest level of consciousness. Just as the Kumbha Mela only takes place every twelve years, it is also only very seldom that all three Nadīs are active simultaneously. The body and energy channels are purified by regular practice of Pranayama and Hatha Yoga so that ultimately all three Nadīs can be aroused at once with the assistance of concentration and meditation. With this a radiant light appears in the Trikūtī and the Yogis immerse themselves in this light just as the faithful immerse themselves in the holy rivers at the Kumbha Mela. All karmas are dissolved in this light of Divine Love and wisdom.

The following can perhaps help us to visualise this? Complete darkness ruled for millions of years in a mountain cave. One day a cave explorer found his way into the cave with a bright torchlight. What happened? Can darkness exist and remain of its own right in a place where it had prevailed for so long? No! As soon as light appears darkness gives way. And what is the essence of bad Karma? It is a violation of Divine Law that was a result of mistaken knowledge, therefore, basically, “darkness” in our consciousness.

In a Peace Mantra it is said:

ASATO MA SAT GAMAYA – Lead us from unreality to reality TAMASO MA JYOTIR GAMAYA – Lead us from darkness to light

All darkness disappears from our being the moment the light of knowledge and truth is ignited.

What is light? Light is Atma Gyana and Atma Jyoti , the light of the Self. The Divine Flame burns constantly in our heart. When it rises and its beam penetrates the Agya Chakra any duality is dissolved – Shiva and Shakti, Purusha and Prakriti, are again united.

The flame of the Self is nourished by the oil of love and devotion. Its wick is formed by concentration, meditation and Guru Mantra. When it rises from the heart to the Agya Chakra it awakens Bhakti within us. The purer the oil of our love is, the purer and stronger the flame burns. In the Agya Chakra we dive into the ocean of Bhakti and attain immortality of the Atma.

The Agya Chakra is comparable to empty space – free of form, colour and qualities. It is a space of purity and unity, the site of Ananda, bliss. Here the wings of the soul unfold. Free from the net of Maya that held it captive, it climbs and dissolves in the light of the “Thousand-petalled Lotus” (Sahasrara Chakra) that shines as brightly as millions of suns.

There are three aspects associated with the Agya Chakra – emptiness (SHŪNYATA), consciousness (CHIT) and bliss (ANANDA).

• SHŪNYATA (emptiness) means the absence of a “second” – there exists only unity. While duality exists there is doubt, discord and quarrelling. In German each of these words is based on the word ZWEI, which means two – Zweifel (doubt), Zwietracht (discord) and Entzweiung (quarrelling). Whereas in German the words for unity (Einheit) harmony (Einklang), understanding (Einsicht), concord (Eintracht) and agreement (Einigkeit) all contain the word EIN, meaning one. The latter qualities are the basis for harmony, wisdom, happiness and peace. “Emptiness” is not absence, deficiency or lack of fulfilment, it is the opposite – absolute existence and absolute fulfilment. The “sound of silence” vibrates within us, filled with the vibration of eternal happiness.
• CHIT (consciousness) means total clarity and certainty; we recognise and understand the truth. With this we achieve the purpose and fulfilment of our existence – thereafter living means “conscious existence” (CHAITANYA), as opposed to unconscious matter (JADA).
• ANANDA (bliss) is the expression of eternal, perfect joy that is based on the unity of the Atma and transcends the opposites of pleasure and pain. In one Kirtan we sing

When we try to fulfil our longing for happiness in the world, we are in reality trying to catch a glimpse of the reflection of Ananda that radiates from our own inner being. Worldly happiness shimmers seductively – and bursts like a soap bubble when we try to catch it. The joy of the Atma is, however, “empty”, which means that it is without properties - absolute, incomparable, infinite, unchanging and steadfast.

The Mantra of the Agya Chakra is OM, the original sound of creation. This Mantra is the sound of both the Agya Chakra and the Sahasrara Chakra. OM is the sound of the Divine that we hear when the Atma expands into infinity and unites with the Supreme. God, the Supreme Self, cannot be comprehended by the intellect or described with words, but can be experienced as vibration – light, sound or energy. God exists as vibration in every atom. The vibration of the Supreme is A-U-M, or OM. This represents the beginning, middle and end; therefore, the whole of creation. When in meditation we become absorbed in this Bīja Mantra we are able to hear the omnipresent, divine vibration of creation.

In meditation concentrate on the Agya Chakra with the Mantra OM or your Guru Mantra and visualise a divine image or symbol there. Through Bhakti and Gyana, devotion and wisdom can be experienced. This experience is known as Paravidya, “complete” knowledge, because it is unchanging, unlimited and eternal. Through the intellect we merely gain Aparavidya, “incomplete” knowledge, which is changeable, limited and bound by time.

The awakening of the Agya Chakra is an essential and fundamental step in our development. The abilities that lie in this Chakra help us to cope with all problems and are of great assistance for those people suffering from psychic problems such as depression, Schizophrenia or changeable emotions. Emotions, in themselves, are unbiased. They are a form of energy that can serve us positively or negatively, just as fire can be useful but also destructive. With the assistance of the Agya Chakra we can learn to control and guide this inherent energy positively.

VAIRAGYA (renunciation) is a prerequisite for the attainment of true knowledge. To attain the eternal we must let go of the transitory. Vairagya is an inner occurrence – the extinction of our wishes and desires. These always produce new karma, and when they “dry up” the river of karma runs dry by itself. Vairagya is best developed through concentration on the Agya Chakra. But at the same time we should be careful of the harmony and balance between “heart and intellect”, and never ignore either. Never forget – the goal is to harmonise and unite both aspects of our being, not to suppress one of them.

In the Agya Chakra we dive into the ocean of knowledge and the ocean of bliss (Ananda) in which fear and sorrow vanish without trace. But we are still not at the goal. We are still not fully united with the Self. At any time Maya can again seize possession of us and pull our consciousness down into lower levels. We can protect ourselves from this when we read holy books, seek out spiritual company, cultivate good thoughts, never cause anyone pain and always behave with love and understanding. When your actions are filtered and purified by the Agya Chakra they are exemplary, pure and positive and support your spiritual development.

Many who start with Yoga are initially full of enthusiasm and practise very diligently, but after a while they give up. Why is this so? Because their resolve was not firm enough.

Mahaprabhujī said in his Golden Teachings:

“Make your decision with firm determination and then success is certain.”

Our goals in life should be as strong and firm as a tree – deeply rooted and able to withstand all storms. This is a precondition for our success in life. Nothing can succeed without firm resolution from the start. Cause and effect, as well as beginning and end, are inseparably linked to one another; but because of our dualistic perceptions we generally do not realise this.

Everyone is responsible for their own life. Consider the purpose of your existence and what you would like to achieve in life. Make your decisions with Viveka (discrimination), live consciously with love, understanding and devotion, and it is certain that you will reach your goal, God-Realisation.

Qualities and Symbols

Exercises for the Agya Chakra

Breathing Practice for the Clarification and Resolution of Problems

In order to be able to resolve a problem, no matter what type, there is one thing of primary importance – RELAX. To relax means to expand, to unite. Those who are unable to relax are also unable to meditate. Therefore relaxation is a prerequisite for approaching a problem that we would like to resolve with a clear head, intuition and the wisdom of the heart.

A simple and quick way to relax is through concentration on the breath. For this, bring your attention to the process of breathing and the spreading of the breath outside the body. Inhale clarity and pure light into the whole body, and relax the body with a long, complete exhalation. Then hold the breath for a short while – for as long as is comfortable – until the impulse to inhale occurs spontaneously. Release yourself from all negative thoughts and problems, and expand your consciousness into infinity.

• With the inhalation imagine: “I inhale the entire Cosmos – everything exists within me”
• With the exhalation think: “ I exhale the Cosmos – the entire creation comes from me”
• With the retention of the breath: “I am everywhere. Everything exists within me, and I am also everything that exists outside of me. I am one with everything”

Trataka

Trataka - Concentration on a Point or on the Flame of a Candle
Place a candle in front of you – about an armlength away and at shoulder height. Sit comfortably in a meditation pose and close your eyes. After a few minutes of inwardly composing yourself and relaxing, open your eyes and look at the candle flame. Concentrate on the tip of the brightest part of the flame. Gaze for approximately one minute (no longer) at the flame – during this do not blink – and then close your eyes again. If your eyes water it doesn’t matter – it is a purification. Should your eyes start to burn and become painful then look at the candle for a shorter period of time.

If your gaze at the candle was completely motionless an image of the flame appears in your inner space (Chidakasha) when you again close your eyes. If this does not happen, relax and try again after a few minutes. Gaze at the flame altogether three times for about one minute each time; after each time close your eyes and observe your inner space and the reflection of the flame for about 4-5 minutes. Practise this meditation on a candle each evening before sleeping.

Trataka is an excellent practice for purification of the eyes, frontal sinuses and nasal sinuses, quietening thoughts, promoting the ability to concentrate and relax, developing clear thinking and intuition, and awakening the Agya Chakra.

CAUTION: At the beginning Trataka should only be performed under the instruction of a Yoga teacher. For very introverted people, as well as those who are inclined towards depression, hallucinations or Schizophrenia, Trataka should not be practised.

Introversion means that the emotions are predominantly directed inward, and in extreme cases are completely suppressed. When the energy of the emotions is blocked it results in various physical or psychic disturbances. It can be that the emotions are “frozen” and solidify as apathy, or are self-destructively turned against one’s own consciousness as depression or Schizophrenia.

There is also inner Trataka that is performed without a candle. When a flickering white flame appears in front of the inner eye, this is an indication that the energy in the Sushumna Nadī has begun to flow. When a blue or red-orange light appears the energy is flowing increasingly in either the Ida or Pingala Nadī.

Further Exercises that work specifically on the Agya Chakra

• Nadī Shodhana Pranayama (Purification of the Nervous System)
• Bhūmi Pad Mastakasana (Head and Feet on the Earth)
• Yoga Mudra (Forward Bend Sitting on Heels)
• Shashankasana (The Hare)
• Shirshasana (Headstand)
• Nada Sanchalana (Sound Exercise, eg singing OM)
• Kapala Bhati Pranayama (Purification of the Frontal Sinus)
• Akashī Mudra (Looking to the Sky)

Shambhavi Mudra (Mudra of Lord Shiva)

From beneath half-closed eyes look towards the tip of your nose. At the same time concentrate on the normal breath.

Khecharī Mudra

Roll the tongue backwards until (ideally) the tip of the tongue touches the soft palate. Through Khecharī Mudra both extremities, Mūladhara and Agya Chakras, are united. Khecharī Mudra helps to control the emotions, strengthens concentration and has a direct influence on the Kundalinī.

Bhramarī Pranayama

Sit in a comfortable and erect meditation pose. Close both ears with the thumbs and place the index fingers on the closed eyes. The middle fingers lie loosely on the sides of the nose; the ring fingers and little fingers lie above and below the lips and close the mouth. Deeply inhale and hold the breath inside briefly. Now press the sides of the nose slightly and allow the breath to slowly flow out with a loud humming sound. Repeat this exercise seven times, one after the other. Then remain for about 10-15 minutes in the meditation pose breathing normally . Close the ears again and support the elbows on the knees or on the Pranayama Stick. Concentrate on your inner space and listen to the inner sound.

Atma Chintana and Manana

ATMA CHINTANA is pondering over the fundamental questions about life: “Who am I? From where did I come? Where will I go? What purpose do I have? What is the goal of my life?

In the Agya Chakra we receive the answer to these questions:

The river ends as soon as it flows into the ocean. It dissolves in the ocean, not the ocean in it. When the Realised One dwells in the Supreme Consciousness, it is like a drop in the ocean – one with Brahman, the Supreme. The Realised One identifies with the Atma – “I am that – SO HAM”.

This is the essence of the philosophy of non-duality (Advaita) of which the great thinker and Saint, Srī Shankaracharya, is the best-known advocate. He said: “Recognise yourself in all beings.” In our unity with everything existing we recognise our unity with the Supreme Self.

MANANA means reflection – to patiently and unwaveringly reflect and deliberate. Manana protects us from thoughtless, rash actions, words and decisions, and from uncontrolled emotions. Allow ourselves time, because only when the fruit is ripe does it have taste. Things performed in haste often go in an unintentional direction. Remove the weeds from your inner garden with Viveka and Bhakti and – when the time is ripe – pass the flowers and fruit that you have planted onto others.

Meditation on the Agya Chakra

• Sit in Vajrasana (on the heels). Inhaling raise your arms above your head. Exhaling bend the upper body forward, keeping the arms outstretched, until the abdomen lies on the thighs, and the forehead and arms lie on the floor (Shashankasana).
• Place the thumbs at the centre of the forehead where the Agya Chakra is located. Form a fist with the fingers.
• Close your eyes and relax. Be aware of the process of breathing. Imagine that you are inhaling and exhaling through the Agya Chakra. Perhaps you see a stream of light flashing. Allow the energy to flow through the Agya Chakra – and relax.
• Remain in this position for as long as it is comfortable.
• Raise the upper body again. Relax for a short while in Vajrasana and repeat the exercise.
• At the end take the thumbs away and rest the head on the hands. Relax for a while in this position.
• Come upright again and sit in a comfortable position. For ten minutes bring your concentration to the eyebrow centre – where your thumbs were resting. Feel and observe this point no matter what emotions, images or phenomena appear there.
• Observe every thought; do not push away any thought. Analyse everything that surfaces. Ask yourself why, exactly, do these thoughts come to you or cross your mind. Observe and examine, but do not make any judgement in the sense of good or bad.
• Relax and look at the inner space behind your forehead (Chidakasha), which lies before you in a deep blue or dark violet colour.
• Now imagine an eye there that looks at you with kindness and love. This gentle and loving eye is the witness of all events. It is the eye of wisdom. It says to you: “I am your Self. You are in me and perceive the truth through me.”
• Now switch positions and look through this eye at your inner space.
• Everything before you is totally clear. You see the film of your entire existence through this eye. Without words your questions are answered, your inner problems resolved.
• Allow your inner eye to observe everything. Whatever appears has something to do with your thoughts and emotions. Look with kindness and understanding on your own reality. (It can also happen that nothing appears and you simply feel relaxed, happy and contented. Simply allow whatever comes to come.)
• The eye that you see in your inner space is the eye of your Atma. In it you recognise the reflection of the Divine Self - kindness, love, harmony, wisdom, clarity, peace, contentment and absolute certainty.
• For you it is as though you have removed the veils of delusion. You see the reality. The entire Universe radiates through this eye – completely pure and innocent. This eye has always observed you – it is the witness of your life from the beginning up until now.
• Your inner space is totally clear and filled with light. Shūnyakasha (empty space) is filled with consciousness and Ananda, bliss. Sometimes you look through the eye, other times you see it in front of you. It seems very familiar and you would like to unite with it completely.
• End the meditation by becoming aware of your body and your surroundings again.
• Sing OM three times and bend forward in gratitude before the Atma, the Divine Consciousness, through whose eye you were allowed to look in this meditation.