Osho spoke,

The third eye is where one puts the tilak, the vermilion mark on the forehead. It was devised as a symbol of that unknown world. This point is not in the same place for everyone. It is said that if someone has meditated for a long time in his/her past lives and has had a small experience of samadhi his/her third eye will be lower down. If no meditation has been done, the place on the forehead is higher up. It can be determined by the position of this point, what the state of one’s meditation was in one’s past life; it will indicate whether the state of samadhi ever happened to one in one’s past life. If it happened often then, this point will have come down lower, it will be at the same level as one’s eyes—it cannot go lower than that. If this point has come in line with one’s eyes, then one can enter samadhi. The happening is so small that it is insignificant.

There is a story about a Zen nun. She was returning with a pot of water on her head. The pot fell and in that instance the nun became enlightened. This happened because of the work done in one’s past life. The spiritual journey is almost complete and the third eye has moved down between the two eyes.

The two Gods who have a third eye are Shiva and Durga. Shiva is called Triyambaka/Trinetra, which means three eyes. The third eye is the indication of cosmic energy. His third eye also represents Shiva’s inner mind and spiritual energy which is activated only for Shiva. Shiva’s yogic energy is present in his third eye. Whenever Shiva opens his third eye, one’s lust, desires, and ignorance are destroyed. One dissolves into Shiva. Durga is also known as the Trinayani Durga, because she has the third eye of consciousness given by Shiva. Her left eye represents desire or the moon, her right eye symbolizes action or the sun and the third eye represent fire and knowledge.

The third eye refers to the ajna chakra and it represents enlightenment one achieves through meditation. The ajna chakra also is the center of willpower, which enables one to become disciplined and attain harmony and peace.

The daily practice of Trataka

The quickest sadhana for awakening the ajna chakra is through the daily practice of Trataka. Trataka is a very beneficial sadhana as it centers the mind, reduces the thoughts and enables withdrawal of the senses. Use a bronze lamp with either sesame, coconut or mustard oil. Light the lamp. The lamp should be eye level. Close eyes and chant Aum seven times. Gaze at the flame for as long as possible. When the desire to blink overtakes, close eyes and try to visualize the flame in the space between one’s brows. When the flame disappears open eye and resume gazing. Practice for twenty minutes. End the practice by chanting Aum seven times. Try to practice at the same time every day. Trataka helps one to become focused, balanced and recharges one’s prana.

Swami Sivananda wrote,

Develop the eye of wisdom. Look within your inner third eye. The aspirant realizes immense joy when his third eye is opened. Fear, sorrow, doubt and delusion take leave of you. Unfold all the latent faculties and powers. They are lying within you.

Aim Hrim Klim