Trataka:A Formlessness Journey

2 days ago By Yogi Anoop

Trataka: A Philosophical Journey Toward Formlessness

The essence of any spiritual practice does not lie merely in its technique, but in the philosophy hidden behind it. Trataka is no exception to this rule. If its fundamental logic, its deeper intentions, and its inner process are not understood, and it is taken merely as a technique, its impact remains limited. The purpose of Trataka is not simply to steady the eyes; it is a practice meant to transform that deep habit of the mind which constantly remains entangled in emotions, imaginations, and forms.

Among the five senses, human beings rely most heavily on the eyes—something that has become even more evident in the modern age. The visible world is made up of form, color, and shape; therefore, it is extremely easy for the mind to extract some emotion from any visual object. This is precisely why, in devotional traditions, form-based meditation is practiced, where the sight of a beloved form naturally generates feelings.

But the path of sadhana is not confined to emotions; it leads beyond them—to that place where only the “seer” remains, not the seen.

This is why Trataka instructs the practitioner to fix the gaze upon an object that cannot generate any emotion. For example—a point. A point has shape, but it carries no story, no memory, no emotion. When you fix your eyes on a point, the mind cannot extract any feeling from it. This is where the true philosophy of Trataka begins.

Now what will the mind do? When the object in front is devoid of emotion, the mind returns to the instrument through which it is seeing the object—the eyes. The practitioner now begins to experience two things simultaneously: first, tension in the eyes; and second, the practice of relaxing them. The guru instructs the practitioner to keep the gaze fixed on the point until tears begin to flow from the eyes. This is exactly like exercising a muscle until it experiences slight pain and begins to sweat.

This is the first stage of Trataka—enhancing the capacity of the eyes and preparing them for concentration.

After this, the second stage begins. Here the nature of the practice changes. Now the practitioner continues to look at the same point, but while keeping the eyes relaxed, free of tension. The point is still emotionless—and the mind, which is habituated to generating emotions, now fails to find any emotion in any direction. Therefore, it gradually enters a new state—one in which there is no emotion in the seen object and none in the seer. Attention begins to descend into the subtle experience between the tension and relaxation of the eyes.

After some time, the practitioner is able to look at the point for a long duration without tension. This is not merely an exercise for the eyes; it is a process of transforming the habits of the mind. Whatever the mind concentrates on for longer than a certain duration leaves a deep imprint—a scar—upon its memory. Here, that imprint is the imprint of emotionlessness, a memory that begins to create a slight distance between the mind and its own emotional world.

This is the true purpose of Trataka—not to look at the point, but to experience that emotionless state where the mind detaches itself from the object of perception. This is the doorway through which the practitioner enters the domain of formless meditation.

For ordinary people, meditating on forms, colors, shapes, and emotions is easier. But a seeker must move beyond form, and Trataka is the instrument for this movement—offering stability to the mind through the stability of the eyes, and then taking the mind beyond emotions through that stability.

Thus Trataka is not merely a technique; it is a philosophy—a philosophy that leads the vision away from form toward formlessness.

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