Success With Inner Light Meditation Requires Tenacity of Purpose and Focused Concentration, By Swami Achyutanand Baba, Maharshi Santsevi Dhyana Yoga Ashram, Kolkata, India
Sant Mat Quote of the Week/Quote of the Day:
Swami Achyutanand Baba
The practice of drishti yoga [meditation upon the Inner Light] calls for utmost devoutness and tenacity of purpose. The practitioner who assiduously and patiently practices this meditation will discover that the fickleness or unsteadiness of their concentration gradually ceases and their mind becomes tranquil. It is thus that they shall, with the piercing thrust of their focused gaze, be able to break open the 'tila dwara' (the Third Eye).
This is why Gurudev (Maharshi Mehi Paramhans) said, "Drishi yoga abhyasa atihi karatahi karata, kampani sahajahi chhutai praudha hovai surat. Tila darvaza tutai nazar ke jora se. Are han re 'Mehi' lage takataki khuba, jora barajora se."
Translation: "Through regular, rigorous practice of 'drishti yoga' (Meditation on the Divine Light within), one's attention no longer remains wavering or unsteady, as the surat [the attention-faculty of the soul] slowly matures (becomes absolutely fixed, stilled)." Tila dwara (the Tenth Door or the Third Eye) will break open by the thrust of the focused gaze…So continue gazing inside constantly with all of your attention, says Maharshi Mehi Paramhans ji Maharaj."
The practitioner of drishti yoga [meditation] has to stop seeing outside, and begin to look within. As one's vision gets steadied, the grand expanse of light comes into view. This has been exquisitely portrayed by Sant Gulal Sahab: "Ulati dekho ghata mein joti pasara. Bina baje tahan dhuni saba hovai. Vigasi kamala kachanar, paithi patala sura sasi bandhau, sadhau trikutI dwara. Ganga jamuna ke wara para bicha. Bharatu hai amiya karara, Ingala pingala sukhamana sodho. Bahat sikhara mukha dwara. Surati nirati le baitha gagan para, sahaja uthai jhanakara."
Translation: "Revert within [invert] and behold the stunning spectacles of light within the body. Numerous melodies play there without the aid of any instruments. Flower-like lotuses and Kachanar (Bauhinia Variegata) blossom there. Dive deep within, rein in the Sun (the Pingla nerve or the Yamuna) and the Moon (the Ida nerve or the Ganga), and train your attention at the doors of Trikuti. In the centre of the Ganga (Ida) and the Yamuna (Pingla) lies the repertoire of elixir. Merge the currents of Ida and Pingla in the Sushumna, and lo! The stream of elixir is down-pouring from atop. When the surat (Soul) rises above and gets lost in the inner sky, spontaneously resonating currents of sound are heard."
As a matter of fact, the art of drishti yoga or vindu-dhyana is confidential and has to be taught by an adept Guru [Living One, Living Master, Sant Satguru], without whom this would be but an extremely arduous task.
(Based on an English translation provided by Pravesh K. Singh)
Swami Achyutanand Baba
