Eye
Gazing – A Meditation for Connecting to the Soul
A Timeless Practice
The
eyes are the “windows to the soul.” When we gaze deeply into the eyes of
another person, we can see beyond their physical form and personality into their
essence. The practice of eye gazing is an ancient Tantric practice. It is found
in the Hindu, Buddhist and Sufi traditions and is considered to be a path to
enlightenment. The 13th century Sufi poet, Rumi, became enlightened
while gazing into the eyes of his teacher. Many of Rumi’s poems celebrate the power
of eye gazing. Here is an example:
Both
our sets of eyes became drunk,
Utterly
intoxicated by the promise of Union.
O my
God!
What is
this union of eye to eye?!
Eye
gazing is something you have probably done naturally, such as when gazing into
the eyes of a newborn baby or when you first fell in love. Even when you are in
a conversation and maintain eye contact, you are doing a less focused form of
eye gazing.
Eye
gazing can be done as a one-on-one meditation with a friend or beloved. It can
also be done solo, by gazing into a mirror. You can integrate it into daily
life by engaging people briefly, in passing, with the intent that when you meet
their eyes you will see beyond their form, into their essence. Some of the
benefits of this practice include: becoming more present, opening your heart
and expanding your awareness of the Divine in all beings.
The Heart Salutation
You
begin this practice by acknowledging the Divine in each other with a Heart
Salutation. Sit across from your partner and look into their eyes. Maintaining
eye contact throughout the rest of the process, begin by extending your arms
towards the earth, palms together. Then, inhale and keeping your hands in
prayer position, bring them to your heart. Exhale, as you bow forward and
acknowledge the Divine in each other with the Sanskrit salutation “Namaste.”
Namaste means “I honor the Divine in you as a reflection of the Divine in me.”
Inhale, as you straighten back up. Finally, exhale as you allow your hands to
return to the starting position, pointed towards the earth.
The Bubble
Now,
create a bubble around you and your partner. Do this by waving your arms around
both of you as you define the shape of the bubble that surrounds you. Then,
gesture as if removing an object from your bubble and verbally share what you
are removing from the bubble out loud. These are things that won't serve you in this
practice (the past, distractions, anger, worry, etc.) Next, gesture and state
what things you want to bring into the bubble. These are things that will
enhance your connection (love, willingness, presence, trust etc.) At this
point, you may want to offer an appreciation or blessing to the other person
(“I honor your heart, which gives so much love to the world.”) Creating the
bubble helps to call you into present moment awareness and creates a safe space
in which to practice the eye gazing meditation.
Share Your Desires,
Fears and Boundaries
Once
the bubble is created, share your intentions/desires, fears and boundaries
related to this practice. First, one person speaks while the other person
listens without judgment or commentary. Then you switch roles. Here is an
example:
“I
desire to stay present, open and connect deeply to your soul.”
“My
fear is that I will get self-conscious and will start acting silly.”
“My
boundary is to stay connected to you, even if resistance arises.”
Why boundaries? When I teach this practice in my classes, people often have
resistance to setting boundaries. I explain that boundaries are not walls, they
are bridges. Bridges helps to bring people together. Intimacy happens when
people have healthy boundaries. Healthy boundaries allow you to feel safe, stay
open and be present. Boundaries are dynamic, so it is important to check-in
periodically with yourself to see if your boundaries have changed. If they have
changed, update your partner so they can honor your new boundaries. Here are a
few examples:
“I
need to end this practice by noon.”
“I
don’t want to be touched during this meditation.”
“I
will stay present. If I go into thinking, I will close my eyes for a moment to
bring myself back into the practice.”
Eye Gazing Practice
Once
you have created the bubble and shared your desires, fears and boundaries,
begin the eye gazing practice. Traditionally, it is recommended that you begin
by gazing into left eye. This is because the left side of the body is
considered to be the receptive side. Use a soft gaze. This is not a staring
contest. It is ok to change eyes if and when you feel called too. Just relax,
breathe and allow the experience to unfold. Notice what arises without judging
it. Be open and curious, like a child.
You
can do this practice for as long as you want. I suggest the first time you
begin with 2 to 5 minutes of eye gazing. Then, close your eyes, go inside and reconnect
internally for 1-2 minutes. When you are ready, open your eyes and begin again.
Extend the time as you get more comfortable with the process. Doing this
practice for an extended period of time can take you to new levels of
connection. Set aside a time when you can practice for 45 to 60 minutes.
Afterwards, discuss your experience with your partner.
Eye gazing is a great way to discover how open you are and to see if any
resistance arises. If you feel resistance, see if you can allow it to melt. How
does it feel to be seen? How does it feel to look deeply into another person?
This is a great practice for developing a deeper heart connection. It can be
helpful to keep a journal of your experiences.
Eye
gazing is a simple and powerful practice. It can cut though illusion and open
the door to Truth. When done regularly, it can transform your understanding of
who you are. Even if this is the only Tantric meditation you ever do, you could
awaken through this practice. I invite
you to practice eye gazing with your friends and lovers.
Crystal
Dawn Morris, is an Enlightened Intimacy Coach and Teacher of Tantric Wisdom. She founded Tantra for Awakening in 2007. Her classes,
workshops and coaching sessions give people practical tools for creating an
ecstatic life. She teaches internationally and is available for sessions over Skype. She offers a course called, The Art and Business of Teaching Tantra for those interested in becoming Tantra facilitators.
To learn more go to, www.TantraForAwakening.com.
©
Copyright 2009 Crystal Dawn Morris
Crystal Dawn Morris, Certified Sky
Dancing Tantra Teacher and Intimacy Coach
Crystal@Tantraforawakening.com * 928-862-0762
* www.tantraforawakening.com
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