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S I X T H   G A T E:   A J N A   C H A K R A

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PART 1
"The person who focuses intensely and meditates deeply on this charka will gradually destroy the negative effects of all bad actions they have committed, either in their current or previous lives. The practitioner will become a great yogi and jivanmukta, spiritually liberated while still living on this planet. He or she will obtain the 8 great paranormal powers ( siddhis ) and the 32 minor paranormal powers." (Swami Shivananda)

Location: on a physical level, the sixth center of force (Ajna Chakra), is located in the space between the eyebrows. It is also referred to as "the third eye" or " Shiva 's eye".

Ajna Chakra represents the superior mental consciousness, which allows the direct perception of invisible worlds and of the subtler aspects of the manifested universe.

On the physical level: it coordinates the activity of the pituitary gland (hypophisis) and of the cerebellum. The hypophysis together with the hypothalamus constitutes the command system of all other endocrine glands.

On a psychic level: it induces and controls a superior form of intuition, clairvoyance, extra-sensory perceptions, the ability to anticipate certain events that have yet to happen and the instantaneous ability of perceiving all the qualities of any human being.

Characteristics of a harmonious Ajna Chakra: the harmonious activation of Ajna Chakra grants mental insight, telepathic capacities, self-control, mental understanding through intellectual identification and creative intelligence.

A harmonious Ajna Chakra grants a state of unity, of communion with the cosmic laws and of identifying with the spiritual rather than the physical nature of one's own body.

The mental center of command, influencing intuition and spiritual knowledge, Ajna Chakra is one of the three superior centers of force. As we mentioned in our previous articles, the fourth center of force (Anahata chakra), which corresponds to empathic experiences such as affection, love and compassion for all, marks the juncture between the first three centers of force (connected to survival, group, communication, relationships, sexuality and will power related processes) and the last three. Then comes Vishuddha Chakra, which corresponds both physiologically and psychically to the process of nourishment, helps in obtaining a state of superior receptivity and in opening the soul up towards divine inspiration.

On this level, a sort of inner emancipation occurs through access to the superior planes of existence found in the universe.

The following stage leads a human being to the most refined and elevated of inner perceptions, through the awakening, enhancement and control of his or her mental energies. Ajna Chakra represents the third eye, oriented towards our inner universe and towards the subtle mental aspects of the world. It also allows direct perception of parallel universes.

In the yogic tradition, Ajna Chakra is considered the center of spiritual perception. The gradual awakening and activation of one's inner vision on this level means access to certain superior levels of consciousness that we each have the potential to reach but that we cannot even imagine in our current states.

Access to these superior levels of consciousness equals total escape from the limits imposed by the reality we have to deal with every day.

Furthermore, this means evading from the limited concepts of our normal consciousness and focusing on experiences and phenomena that allow us to realize we are one with the Infinite. This also means being able to surpass the barrier of time, space and causality, which are apparently inexorable.

In the traditional yogic view, the role of Ajna Chakra as an inner eye is mostly manifested as the harmonious integration of one's own being into the universe.

Ajna Chakra is a focal point of emission and reception of energies, ideas, thoughts and mental structures. Through it we can conceive and understand the subtle mental universe exterior to our own being and its characteristic energies, thus helping us to govern "our inner universe".

Just as our physical eyes help us establish a certain rapport with exterior things and phenomena, Ajna Chakra helps us establish a rapport with things, entities and phenomena manifested in the astral and mental planes of existence.

The person who knows how to focus on Ajna Chakra, the space located in the middle of the forehead and between the eyebrows, also gains a new perspective on the principles and concepts of time, space and causality.

Inner focus on Ajna Chakra helps a human being achieve an extraordinary level of evolution in which the apparent multiplicity of events and phenomena can be simultaneously perceived in a harmonious and perfectly integrated vision.

The superior, ideal state that characterizes this center of force is the awakening of the consciousness that brings with it deep intuition and understanding about all things.

PART 1   |   PART 2