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Summary of Question:Meditation
Category:Meditation
Date Posted:Tuesday, 10/26/1999 8:24 PM MDT

Recently I went to a Khalsa camp. During the duration of the camp, Kundalini yoga and meditation were practiced and after the camp ended, I continued my practice at home. I sometimes see a very dim light, which moves around in front of my eyes (when my eyes are closed). Sometimes this light starts to move backwards towards the back of my head. Please help me understand. Thank you


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Reply
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Sat Nam ji. (By the way, this is a fairly long answer, please do your best to understand, and please feel free to ask again if additional questions arise. It is a very important question you have asked about).

By the blessing of Guru's grace and through the immense kindness of my teacher, I have had the good fortune in my own life to practice Guru's meditation in such a way that I too have experienced phenomena similar to what you describe. On one hand, it indicates a certain form of growth and development of one's capacity to meditate. On the other hand, it isn't a very big deal, and it shouldn't be exaggerated in importance. Especially, it's important not to fall into a trap of ego that one has become spiritually advanced. In fact, attitudes of self-superiority are a sign of spiritual retardation. So it's important to be grateful and to be humble. I say this as a gentle precaution and reminder, because through meditation we are intending approach the lotus feet of our Guru, and our pride must be subdued into real humility for His gifts.

I will share with you what I?ve been taught by the kindness and generosity of my teacher, and what I have learned through the experience of practice and devotion. The human psyche is composed of a number of energy centers which progress in quality from the physically <gross> to the energetically subtle. The first center of consciousness in the body, located at the base of the spine, is characterized by the element of Earth. The second center, associated with the sexual organs, is characterized by the element of Water. The third, associated with the navel point and the fire of digestion, is characterized by Fire. The fourth, associated with the the heart and lungs, and the circulation of air to all the cells of the body, is characterized by Air. The fifth, at the throat, is associated with sound and which carries the subtle vibrations of the Sacred Shabd to every cell and fiber of our being, is known by the element called Akasha, Ether or Space (these terms are interchangeable).

When we progress to the next subtle center of the human psyche, associated with the Pituitary gland in the brain, it is associated with Light (which physicists have discovered behaves something like material particles and something like energy). So, at the sixth center we have transcended the 5 tattvas, or elements, of matter. One of the primary chemical constituents of the Pituitary gland is phosphorus. When phosphorus is stimulated by energy, it glows in the dark. You can witness this on a warm, summer night at the beach in a certain phase of the tide. When the tide breaks at the beach, there can be observed a rippling phenomenon of light in the water, which is due to the phosphorus content of the seawater, the termperature, the mechanical energy of the breaking tide wave, etc. Something similar happens when your nutritional balance is right (that you have enough nutritional iodine in the thyroid gland) and the pituitary is stimulated by the concentration of your meditation practice: you will experie

nce and perceive light within the brain. This is an indication that these higher centers are being developed, activated and accessed. That is nice. We are no longer just locked into the material, more <animalistic> centers (up to the navel point: anger, lust and greed). However, just to stimulate the <third eye> of the Pituitary is just like turning on a TV set (which is also a phosphorescent phenomenon). It glows, but turning on the TV doesn?t determine what program we?re watching. The focus of human imagination can be on the divine, or on what is emotionally negative and polluted. There is plenty of negative programming on TV to confirm that. So, when we reach this pure potential of opening our higher centers, we also have to direct our minds to what is sacred and pure. That is what is meant by <giving our heads to the Guru> and getting out of the realms of ego, lust, anger, greed and attachment. When the human has saintly potential and goes for corruption instead, it is the worst tragedy. It?s

better to stay ignorant than to be saintly and fall into decay. So that?s why the gentle precaution we started with. When you begin the spiritual path and begin to walk on the Guru?s street, Guru Nanak says we must surrender out of love, purity and devotion. No ego trips allowed. There is a myth which states that the cockroaches swarming in the darkness and the sewers are like the spiritual teachers and saints who have fallen from grace into corruption. We ask the Guru to protect us and hold us to his pure lotus feet. What rises can also fall, with nature as well as humanity. That is why we pray for Cherdi Kalaa, that the Guru will hold us and keep us up in our growth from cubs to lions, from fledglings to eagles.

Even when the lights of meditation go on, we must merge our light with Guru?s light, because we must go higher to the Crown Center, what is called the Tenth Gate in Siri Guru Granth Sahib. What follows is a most beautiful passage from Siri Guru Granth Sahib, which describes what happens when the Sikh has become imbued and enlightened in Union (Yoga) with the True Guru. Please read it carefully, understand it and cherish it as a promise from the Guru himself as to where your devotions and meditations on Him will carry you. (What follows is from Siri Guru Granth Sahib).

All are brides of the Husband Lord; all decorate themselves for Him. But when the time comes to settle their accounts, their red robes are corrupt. His Love is not obtained through hypocrisy. Her false coverings bring only ruin. || 1 ||

In this way, the Dear Husband Lord ravishes and enjoys His bride. The happy soul-bride is pleasing to You, Lord; by Your Grace, You adorn her. || 1 || Pause ||

She is decorated with the Word of the Guru?s Shabad; her mind and body belong to her Husband Lord. With her palms pressed together, she stands, waiting on Him, and offers her True prayers to Him. Dyed in the deep crimson of the Love of her Darling Lord, she dwells in the Fear of the True One. Imbued with His Love, she is dyed in the color of His Love. || 2 ||

She is said to be the hand-maiden of her Beloved Lord; His sweetheart surrenders to His Name. True Love is never broken; she is united in Union with the True One. Attuned to the Word of the Shabad, her mind is pierced through. I am forever a sacrifice to Him. || 3 ||

That bride, who is absorbed into the True Guru, shall never become a widow. Her Husband Lord is Beautiful; His Body is forever fresh and new. The True One does not die, and shall not go. He continually enjoys His happy soul-bride; He casts His Gracious Glance of Truth upon her, and she abides in His Will. || 4 ||

The bride braids her hair with Truth; her clothes are decorated with His Love. Like the essence of sandalwood, HE PERMEATES HER CONSCIOUSNESS, AND THE TEMPLE OF THE TENTH GATE IS OPENED. THE LAMP OF THE SHABAD IS LIT, AND THE NAME OF THE LORD IS HER NECKLACE.|| 5 ||

She is the most beautiful among women; upon her forehead she wears the Jewel of the Lord?s Love. HER GLORY AND HER WISDOM ARE MAGNIFICENT, HER LOVE FOR THE INFINITE LORD IS TRUE. Other than her Beloved Lord, she knows no man. She enshrines love for the True Guru. || 6 ||

Asleep in the darkness of the night, how shall she pass her life-night without her Husband? Her limbs shall burn, her body shall burn, and her mind and wealth shall burn as well. When the Husband does not enjoy His bride, then her youth passes away in vain. || 7 ||

The Husband is on the Bed, but the bride is asleep, and so she does not come to know Him. While I am asleep, my Husband Lord is awake. WHERE CAN I GO FOR ADVICE? THE TRUE GURU HAS LED ME TO MEET HIM, AND NOW I DWELL IN THE FEAR OF THE LORD. O NANAK, HIS LOVE IS ALWAYS WITH ME. (Siri Guru Granth Sahib, pages 53-54).

(If you can reflect upon and understood what you have read here, you will be practicing Yoga according to the True Guru?s way. May you be so blessed by His grace).

Wahe Guru ji ka Khalsa, Wahe Guru ji ki fateh.
Humbly,
Krishna Singh Khalsa






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