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The
Third Eye
June
20, 2010
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Swami Yogatmananda
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Summary of this Lecture:
Sense organs along with mind construe our world. We are sure that
all knowledge comes to us through sense organs; therefore the efforts
to learn more go in the direction of inventing new instruments as
appendages to amplify and intensify the power of sense organs. This
is how science progresses. But there is one perception that does not
come to us through any sense organ and yet there is nothing more certain
in life than that. That is the perception of 'I am'. Knowledge of
the real Self comes by transcending the limitations of sense organs
and in Hindu Mythology, it is called the 'third Eye'. Mythological
stories describe how Lord Shiva's third eye burns the universe into
ashes. Our sense organs do not create the reality but rather distort
it; when the third eye opens - that is to say when the knowledge of
the Self dawns through spiritual practices, it removes the distortion
and the person sees the Truth. Kathopanisad describes the Self
as hidden in the cave of consciousness of every being and is not seen
by the sense organs. One can see 'It' by refining the awareness. Sri
Sankaracharya in his commentary, explains the process of refinement
through the practice of self-discipline and control of mind. Through
'third eye', the mystery of one's own nature and the nature of the
universe is unfolded and all doubts are completely resolved. Sri Ramakrishna
says that by practicing spiritual disciplines, the mind and sensory
system undergo transformation and instead of perceiving the objects,
everything is seen as divine. Meister Eckhart says that you can see
God with that Eye with which God sees you. Bhagavad Gita (15th
ch.) mentions that the soul is perceived only by those who have the
Eye of knowledge. When the Third Eye opens, the hold of sense organs
goes away and one enjoys real freedom. Tao Mystic Chuang Tzu in his
poem 'The Kingly Man' describes the person of Knowledge - '...Grows
boundless, wide-minded, draws all to himself....Had he all the world's
power he would not hold it as his own...His glory is in knowing that
all things come together in One And life and death are equal.'
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